Turkey-based Yapý-Tek Çelik Sanayi Resumes Operations

Kocaeli, TURKEY (29 Sept 2007) – Yapý-Tek Çelik Sanayi A.Þ. (YTCS), Turkey’s oldest private forging facility resumed production today after an extended hiatus. The reopening of the 20,000 ton/year capacity plant provides major manufactures a cost-effective, quality subcontracting solution - filling the gap created by frequent closures of forging plants across Europe over the past decade.

Recommencement of production also marks the completion of facility-wide technological, mechanical and staffing upgrades commissioned following the company’s 2005 acquisition by Yapý-Tek, an Ankara, Turkey-based conglomerate.

Targeting the automotive and railroad industries, YTCS historically supplied forged components for leading OEMs including Mercedes, Renault, Ford, et al. Under the new management, YTC implemented a customer partnership program focused on streamlining supplier-buyer interactions, developing business partnerships based on trust.

“Our innovative customer partnership program and state-of-the-art facility upgrades reposition Yapý-Tek Çelik Sanayi as one of the most cost-effective, quality-oriented forging facilities in the world,” explains Gunay Kose, President of YTCS. “We are reentering the market at a critical point. Leading OEMs find it increasingly difficult to find quality forging partners. We offer a source of relief within a now bleak marketplace."

ABOUT YAPI-TEK ÇELIK SANAYI:

Turkey-based Yapý-Tek Çelik Sanayi A.Þ. is a manufacturer of custom and mass-produced hot forged steel products and forging dies. Its current production capacity is 20,000 tons per annum. Established in 1959, Yapý-Tek Çelik Sanayi was the first privately-held forging factory in Turkey. Pending its 2005 acquisition by Yapý-Tek, the company operated under the name Çelik Sanayi. Yapý-Tek currently incorporates a total of four companies, maintaining a significant presence in key sectors of the Turkish economy, including construction, energy, software and forging. The acquisition of Çelik Sanayi strengthened the facility’s position through multiple technological and staffing upgrades. Yapý-Tek Çelik Sanayi is an ISO 9001:2000 certified organization. ISO/TS 16949 certification is in process.