A Turkish provider of tempered glass is opening a new sales office in Atlanta as it eyes a clearer view of the U.S. market.
Located in the city of Çerkezköy west of Istanbul, Astro Tempered Glass is part of a family-owned company, Saban Acikgoz A.S., that got its start in construction materials about 70 years ago and gradually built up its own manufacturing capabilities. Glass production began three decades ago in 1994.
Now with nearly 7.5 million square feet of annual tempering capacity across two facilities, Astro provides customers in Europe and around the world glass for shower enclosures, commercial refrigeration and interior architectural applications.
With 100 employees in Turkey, the company is opening a small sales office in metro Atlanta, aided by insight from two chambers.
“They’ve contacted us trying to find the best location in the U.S. to have their Americas presence,” said Zeynep Cevikel, a vice president and founding member of the Turkish American Chamber of the South, which covers 16 states from Miami, including Georgia. “After much research and consideration, they have finally decided to be headquartered in metro Atlanta.”
Ms. Cevikel, who serves on the chamber’s business advisory committee, is based in metro Atlanta, and she joined Astro representatives and other Turkish chamber members at the Metro Atlanta Chamber to celebrate the relocation with Vice President for Global Commerce John Woodward.
In a LinkedIn post, Mr. Woodward said interest from Turkish companies is growing in the region. He has traveled to Istanbul multiple times to pitch the city there, with some results: EAE Elektrik opened a Dekalb office in 2020, and in the same year, auto supplier Teklas committed to a plant in Calhoun.
Ms. Cevikel, a human resources consultant, said Astro’s small start belies bigger plans for the U.S. market.
“Their current presence is in sales, and they are looking to expand to have a…
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