Interview with Aydan Hekim, Board Member and Deputy Chairman of Administrative and Financial Affairs at Hekim Holding

Interview with Aydan Hekim, Board Member of Hekim Holding, Deputy Chairman of Administrative and Financial Affairs

In the interview we conducted, Aydan Hekim, Board Member of Hekim Holding and Deputy Chairman of Administrative and Financial Affairs, provided information about Hekim Holding's operations.

Could you briefly tell our readers about yourself, your education and your professional background?

I was born in Istanbul in 1988. I graduated from Yeditepe University, Department of International Business Administration (German). To support my academic success, I participated in the Erasmus Program at SRH Hochschule Department of Business Administration in Berlin between 2008-2009. My hobbies include photography, swimming, nature sports and world music. In my professional background, I first worked in various departments of our family company Hekim Holding during my university years. After graduating from university, my orientation process in various departments of the Holding continued and I gained experience in each unit. Working in our family company was predetermined for me before my university life; my career choice was made according to my interests, personal preferences and the positions I would take in the company. In this regard, the guidance of our Board Chairman Mr. Dr. Öner Hekim (my father) has been of great importance to me. My goals included working at Hekim Holding, gaining experience here, contributing to the achievement of company objectives and adding value to the Holding and our companies. My family has always supported me in taking more responsibility. Currently, in our institution which has 8 companies and 8 operations, I continue my activities as Board Member and Deputy Chairman of Administrative and Financial Affairs.

Can you provide information about Hekim Holding's founding date, number of employees and production capacity?

Hekim Holding's foundations were laid in 1989 by Board Chairman Mr. Dr. Öner Hekim and Board Vice Chairman Mr. Ünal Nafiz Hekim with Prefabrik Yapı A.Ş., the Holding's first company, and it is a leading organization that has rapidly developed its services and operations in the prefabricated and light steel construction sector. With Prefabrik Yapı A.Ş., it has maintained its reputation as a pioneer in the prefabricated construction sector in Turkey with projects and business partnerships that achieved many firsts in the country. Hekim Holding encompasses within its structure companies and operations that are professional in their respective fields and have brand value in the sector: Prefabrik Yapı A.Ş., Özge Yapı A.Ş., Hebo Yapı A.Ş., Hekim Süt A.Ş., Hekim Yapı A.Ş., Hekim Boya ve Plastik Ltd., Piraziz Foreign Trade Co., and operations including Hekim Madencilik, HekimBoard, HekimPanel, HekimPor, HekimPlast, Yapıpan, Hekim Profil and Steelin. The Holding has proven its success with 170,000 square meters of production area, 17,000 square meters of prefabricated construction exhibition area, over 1,000 employees, exports to over 80 countries on 6 continents, more than 100 distributors domestically and internationally, and over 42,000 references, thereby developing its reputation in the global arena. Through R&D and Production Development activities, the Holding has introduced new technologies to the sector and pioneered initiatives with Turkey's first autoclaved fibercement and welding-free construction production technologies. With many integrated facilities in the prefabricated construction sector that produce its own materials, Hekim Holding is one of the world's leading organizations with technology, facilities, production, high capacity and a wide product range.

Can you provide information about market share in the prefabricated sector?

Since prefabricated sector production is a newer system and application compared to other construction material production, it is difficult to convey precise information about market share and size globally. Different products are produced ranging from prefabricated wooden structures to prefabricated concrete bridge piers. Although some countries have conducted certain research on the sector's market size, these research efforts have largely remained within the scope of local market research. Due to the absence of any Light Steel Construction Association operating under a single umbrella structure in the sector, it may not be possible to mention precise figures.

Could you tell us about your R&D activities? How much do you invest in R&D?

Undoubtedly, in the age of innovation, R&D and Production Development activities are of great importance. Continuity and development are among our most fundamental principles. Among our R&D and Production Development activities, welding-free construction technology, containers that can be set up in as little as 2 minutes and are foldable and nestable, zero-carbon emission modules, and nature-friendly ecological structures stand out among the innovations we have brought to the sector. In 2014, we plan to continue bringing new products that create differentiation in our sector and increase our competitive strength in world markets to our country. We have completed studies on wide-span industrial structures in the R&D area, and we will introduce an important innovation in the sector as multi-story light steel structures. With a new technology used in multi-story light steel structure systems, it will become possible to design and implement light steel structures up to 8 stories. We will develop a new system in this field alongside all sub-components including high-tech processing machines, R&D activities and tests.

How did you spend the past year?

2013 was a productive year in which we implemented successful collaborations both domestically and globally, signed important projects and strengthened our institution with our initiatives. With the launch of 8-story light steel structure applications that we have led, which will be implemented for the first time in Turkey, our trade fair participations of a value that will create difference internationally and domestically, and our projects carried out in North Africa, Asia and Middle East countries, we have demonstrated our strength in the sector once again. Additionally, at the opening of Hekim Yapı A.Ş.'s 3rd Hekimboard Facility and Brand Launch that we held in Suada this year, we have set an important precedent in the sector. In Hekim Yapı's fashion show consisting of facade and insulation materials, we have presented the sector's innovations, the different perspective it brings to architectural design and an unprecedented concept. We are proud to state that our growth figures have been accelerating since our founding year, and we have ensured the continuity of our service quality in line with our rising business volume with a 30% capacity increase in the past year. With our technological investments, ecological sensitivity, selected product range and professional solutions we provide to our customers, we continue to be the priority choice for new and important projects.

Can you provide information about your quality standards?

We particularly wish to emphasize the importance of ensuring that quality and standards are applicable in the sector. Production is carried out in accordance with world norms and quality standards with our 21 certifications. The NPFA 5000 Fibercement Panel Fire Resistance Certificate and Metal Cabinets Product Certificate are found only in our organization's production in the sector. From this perspective, manufacturing innovative products in international quality standards is at the forefront of our basic principles and values. The existence of companies with the TSE K 118 certificate created in cooperation with the Turkish Standards Institute and unmonitored companies without this certificate provides the need for a structure that controls quality standards in the sector.

Could you tell us about your export activities? Are you targeting entry into new markets?

In 2014, preserving our existing brand value in global markets is among our priority objectives. We have completed our long and medium-term strategic plans for the next five years; we aim to complete subsequent periods in a way that reflects our investment power and the importance we place on the sector.

With which competitive features does Hekim Holding stand out in the sector? Could you tell us about your achievements?

As Hekim Holding, we always stand out in the sector with innovations and products that have first and unique qualities. With our sustainable brand principle, our stance in the sector and our innovation power, we always create distinction. We are an organization that achieves success without compromising on quality, has its signature on important projects, and plans its investments at a level that will add value to development. Hekim Holding creates difference with its structure that creates its own competition in the sector with its existing companies and brands. Our success graph continues day by day in line with the trajectory we target. The innovations we have brought to the sector are always followed in the competitive environment and this success brings us honor. Can you provide information about the development of the prefabricated sector? Development in Turkey's prefabrication and light steel construction sector is very rapid. In parallel with this development, we deem it necessary to establish an association or union structure to maintain certain standards, preserve quality levels and control ethical values. The absence of official standards in the sector regarding light steel prefabricated structures may lead to small-scale companies continuing their inadequate services regarding quality sensitivity. This in turn leads to unfair competition and most importantly reduces the perception of quality among customers. Our suggestion, based on our stance in the sector and our leadership role on the board of the Turkish Construction Materials Industrialists Association (İMSAD), could be to establish an association under it. Through the work of a council that includes relevant official institutions, sector representatives and universities, international norms can be integrated into our country.