Eti Alüminyum Showcases Innovation and R&D Projects at ALUEXPO

Eti Alüminyum introduced its R&D projects, including the new rolling mill investment, petrochemical catalysts, special alumina production, and lithium recovery, at the 9th ALUEXPO International Aluminium Technologies, Machinery, and Products Exhibition held in Istanbul. As Turkey’s sole integrated primary aluminium producer, the company presented innovative solutions at the fair aimed at contributing to the national economy and reducing foreign dependency across various sectors, particularly in the defense industry.

A Cengiz Holding group company, Eti Alüminyum participated in the 9th ALUEXPO, held at the Istanbul Expo Center from September 18–20. Being Turkey’s only integrated aluminium facility capable of production from mine to end-product, Eti Alüminyum brought its innovative investments and R&D projects together with industry professionals.

TRY 3 Billion Investment in Rolling Mill One of the most prominent highlights at the fair was Eti Alüminyum’s TRY 3 billion investment in a new rolling mill. Aimed at reducing Turkey’s growing imports of rolled aluminium products, the facility will enable the domestic production of critical items for the defense industry. Initially launching with a capacity of 100,000 tons, the rolling mill's production capacity is expected to reach 200,000–250,000 tons in the future, providing a significant boost to Turkey’s industrial infrastructure.

Value-Added R&D Projects Eti Alüminyum stood out at ALUEXPO not only for its manufacturing investments but also for its R&D projects. Among the featured projects was the petrochemical catalyst—developed for the first time in Turkey—used in the separation of petroleum products. Currently undergoing testing, this product will allow a critical import item in the petrochemical sector to be met through domestic production. The special alumina production line, which the company commissioned in May, offers a strategic raw material for the defense and high-tech industries due to its high-temperature resistance. Additionally, pilot production efforts for lithium recovery from bauxite residue, a world first, were shared at the exhibition.

'Aiming to Be a Global Reference Company' Yaşar Bayraktar, Deputy General Manager of Eti Alüminyum, shared his evaluation of the fair: “In line with Cengiz Holding’s vision, we are working toward becoming a reference company in the field of aluminium, not just in Turkey but globally. Our top priorities include contributing to the reduction of our country’s current account deficit, decreasing foreign dependency in strategic sectors—from defense to energy, and aviation to high technology—and developing new technologies for a sustainable future. Today, we bear the responsibility of being the only integrated facility capable of production from the mine to the final product. We will continue to lead the sector with both investment and R&D-oriented projects in the coming period.”

ABOUT ETİ ALÜMİNYUM: Founded in 1967 and commencing production in 1973, Eti Alüminyum has been operating under the umbrella of Cengiz Holding, one of the leading industrial groups, since 2005. Following its acquisition from the Privatization Administration, investments exceeding $700 million have been made into the facilities to accelerate renewal, capacity expansion, and technological upgrades. Thanks to these investments, Eti Alüminyum now operates Turkey’s only integrated facility capable of production from mine to end-product, producing 82,000 tons of aluminium annually. The company's products are used in a wide range of applications, from window profiles to aircraft, and from tourism to the defense industry.