MAT Filtration Technologies, a manufacturer of high-efficiency water filtration equipment and provider of engineering services, has doubled its production capacity with the opening of a new factory.
This fourth facility was announced at the start of 2025, among several significant milestones planned by the company.
Situated in Izmir’s Aegean Free Zone (ESBAŞ), Turkey, the new facility covers 10,000 square meters and will bring MAT’s annual production capacity to more than 2,000 containers.
Green, efficient, and growing
As with the other factories in the city, the new plant will produce Life Support Systems (LSS) and Aquaculture equipment.
While it now employs 60 professionals, including specialists, engineers, and operators, MAT plans to expand this number to more than 250.
This growth will bring the company's global workforce to over 800 employees, an increase of more than 30%.
The facility also brings the company's total indoor production space to 25,000 square meters.
With this increased production capacity, Erdem Akartepe, MAT’s chairman and founder, says that the company will be able to handle more projects and deliver them more efficiently.
Erdem Akartepe during the opening ceremony
This growth supports MAT’s aim of reaching a revenue of more than $100 million by 2026.
The growing international concern over water scarcity and climate change is also a key consideration, says Akartepe, who highlighted how these issues motivate MAT to explore ever more sustainable technologies and production practices.
The new factory exemplifies this commitment by adopting more sustainable practices across its operations and the equipment it manufactures. Green initiatives permeate the entire building, which is powered by solar panels, further reducing its environmental impact.
Its design and processes play a key role in conserving natural resources and improving energy efficiency. Closed-circuit water recycling systems allow for water reuse, lowering overall water consumption and reducing pollution.
The factory’s energy-efficient equipment can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%, while automatic backwash systems lower manual cleaning and maintenance expenses.
Reducing the facility’s carbon footprint is also crucial. Using reusable filters, durable filtration parts, and less water helps cut waste.
Additionally, MAT’s systems reduce the need for chemical coagulants and disinfectants, benefiting human health and the environment and supporting marine life’s well-being.
The first equipment manufactured at the new facility
"Our shareholders are highly supportive and enthusiastic about our ongoing investments in engineering and R&D, which aim to boost exports and advance our innovative solutions," says Akartepe.
"Aquaculture in Turkey has already surpassed $2 billion in export volume, and we see great potential to expand this further through our technologies and sustainable actions.
"With this new facility, we will provide world-class equipment and systems to local producers, enhancing both quality and efficiency. Our ambition is to strengthen Turkey’s position in global markets."
Increased production
The new facility’s position in the Aegean Free Zone provides notable benefits. Companies situated in Turkey’s free zones must export at least 85% of their output each year and, in exchange, receive special tax advantages and streamlined administrative rules.
Gökhan Birlikci, MAT’s general manager, says the company is celebrating the opening of the new facility and preparing for a substantial increase in production and design capacity in 2026.
Bureau Veritas, MAT’s third-party quality control partner, is overseeing both the production process and logistics management for all products manufactured in the new plant.
Cumhur Topal, production and quality director, says: "As our products, especially RAS systems, continue to grow in size and complexity, we need more space to handle large-scale projects simultaneously.
"An Integrated Management System will also be implemented in this facility, and certification by Bureau Veritas is scheduled for the first week of December."
International expansion
Speaking on future developments, Akartepe says that MAT has already defined its upcoming milestones.
With an expanding network of global partners, the company plans to expand its manufacturing presence to the US and China. The US facility is planned to open in 2026 and will be MAT’s fifth factory.
This will be followed shortly by the launch of its Chinese plant, with support from local investors.
"We will primarily produce equipment for water treatment and fish farms, utilizing thesame advanced technologies we develop here," says Akartepe.
"From our US factory, we will serve the entire American continent, while our Chinese factory will focus exclusively on the domestic market."
With steady growth, MAT's increasing investment in Research and Development has led to enhancements in its product range, catalogue, and quality.
Akartepe says: "We are actively engaged in the Middle East, with projects in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, and we also collaborate closely with partners in Norway and Japan.
"Today, we export to 56 countries, have completed over 650 projects, and produced more than 7,500 high-tech products. With a team of over 600 employees worldwide, we proudly bring Turkish engineering and technology to the global stage."
Commercially, MAT aims to bolster its operations in key markets such as Saudi Arabia and Japan, where multiple projects are already underway.
From its humble beginnings in 2014 with a 3,000-square-metre facility, the company now operates over 25,000 square metres of production and processing space across its factories.
The new plant in Izmir is poised to serve as the centre for MAT Filtration Technologies’ export and logistics operations.
Earlier this year, MAT Filtration Technologies shared how it is connecting innovation with commercial alignment through the strategic focus of its R&D department.
