We Conducted an Interview with Deniz Er, R&D Center Group Leader at Kayalar Kimya

We had an enjoyable conversation with Deniz Er, Group Leader of Kayalar Kimya R&D Centre. Er stated that more than 70 personnel work at Kayalar Kimya R&D Centre and that this team develops dozens of projects every year.

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

I was born in Uşak in 1969. I completed my primary, secondary and high school education in Uşak. I completed my undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering at Anadolu University in 1990. After graduation, I worked in the textile sector for the first two years. I then entered the paints sector by starting work at Meges Boya company in 1993. I began my position as R&D Manager at Kayalar Kimya in 2002. I continue to work as Group Leader of Kayalar Kimya R&D Centre. We have conducted work on many projects together with TÜBİTAK and universities, and continue to do so.

Could you provide information about Kayalar Kimya's founding process and the stages it has gone through to the present day? Taking into account production facilities, machinery fleet and number of employees, as well as turnover and production volume, what is your company's current structure?

Kayalar Kimya, which began production in 1976, operates production facilities equipped with the latest technology and advanced automation systems spanning a total area of 59,000 m² in Turkey and Spain, providing a stable and reliable production environment. With a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes, it is one of Europe's largest manufacturers of furniture paints and varnishes. The R&D Centre, with its 1,700 m² of laboratory space and professional staff of 70 people, is one of the important reasons why Kayalar Kimya has become one of Europe's leading manufacturers. With a 23% market share in Turkey, 500 different products and production capacity of 3,000 different varieties, as well as more than 4,000 national and international customers, Kayalar Kimya implements globally recognised best practices and thereby increases its competitive strength. With its export performance to 60 countries, it has succeeded in establishing itself among the best.

What main sectors does Kayalar Kimya serve and what types of products does it provide? Can you provide information about your company's products, brands and services?

Kayalar Kimya can generally be summarised under five brands. It manufactures furniture paints and varnishes under the GENÇ and GRALSA brands, construction paints under the DÜFA brand, and industrial paints under the GENÇNOROO brand. In addition, Kayalar Hammadde provides raw material supply.

What kind of work do you carry out in the areas of innovation and R&D at Kayalar Kimya? Do you have projects developed under university-industry cooperation, and if so, what are they?

At Kayalar Kimya R&D Centre, more than 70 personnel work, holding associate degree, bachelor's, master's and doctoral qualifications. Our team, which conducts research and development on wood protection systems, completes dozens of projects every year on topics such as resin synthesis and development work, new product development, and quality improvement work on existing products. Always ready with its current technical infrastructure to take the first steps towards innovations in the wood coating field, Kayalar Kimya R&D Centre participates in projects supported by TÜBİTAK Teydeb. The company, which currently has personnel continuing doctoral and master's studies, has undertaken and continues to undertake various TÜBİTAK projects through university-industry, industry-industry cooperation or its own applications. Through these projects, Kayalar Kimya, on the one hand, keeps track of technological innovations worldwide, while on the other hand, leads the development and market adaptation of innovative products, transforms the knowledge accumulated into a knowledge bank, and continues its leadership in the wood protection systems market.

Can you tell us about your domestic and foreign sales activities? What types of products do you primarily sell to which regions domestically and abroad?

With a 23% market share, Kayalar Kimya holds a leading position in Turkey with its GENÇ brand. With the DÜFA brand, it has made a solid entry into the construction paints field and quickly established its name and quality. The "Paint Technologies Centre" opened by Kayalar Kimya in Antalya in March will be an essential destination for construction and hotel projects in the Antalya region. At the centre, established in 1,000 m² of enclosed space, training will be provided on all topics of interest in the sector. Thus, the "Paint Technologies Centre", where innovations and state-of-the-art solutions will be demonstrated practically, will close the gap in getting products in the sector better acquainted. With its export performance to 60 countries, Kayalar Kimya has been deemed worthy of the "Star of Exports" award by the Turkish Exporters Assembly since 2012. We can summarise the geographies where we export as the Turkic Republics, the Middle East, North Africa, the Far East, Central and Eastern Europe. In addition to its headquarters in Tuzla, Kayalar Kimya also has a production facility in Spain. Furthermore, Kayalar Kimya has opened an office in Italy. In this way, it would be quite accurate to say that Kayalar Kimya has taken a new and confident step in a country that is very important for the furniture sector, with the GENÇ brand, to strengthen its market share.

Can you provide information about Kayalar Kimya's environmental policy and sustainability approach? What can you tell us about your occupational health and safety work?

Kayalar Kimya, through its indoor and outdoor products, carries out activities aimed at creating liveable environments, enriching people's lives and making them happier, while prioritising the protection of environmental values. Protection of natural resources, minimisation of environmental pollution, maximum compliance with applicable regulations, producing less waste and consuming less energy form its general environmental policy. Kayalar Kimya is an organisation that holds an Environmental Permit Licence for Emissions. Emission measurements are taken every two years from stacks prepared in accordance with regulations to keep air pollution under control. The disposal or recovery of chemical waste and wastewater is carried out in accordance with legal regulations. For the continuous and regular implementation of environmental regulations and practices, consulting services are obtained from a firm authorised by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation. In addition to all of this, providing training to employees on developing general environmental awareness is one of the important steps taken in terms of sustainability. Kayalar Kimya, in addition to applying the provisions of current occupational health and safety regulations, is a pioneering organisation in its sector that aims for the continuity and continuous improvement of occupational health and safety activities, establishes occupational health and safety policies based on its approach in advanced management practices and its accumulated know-how. Through the synergy created together by management and employee personnel within Kayalar Kimya, proactive applications enable us to achieve our zero accident-zero occupational disease targets. With a continuous improvement approach, our aim is to raise occupational health and safety performance and awareness, and to create a corporate culture where these safety rules are seen as "a system that supports the health and safety of employees" rather than as a requirement to be complied with. In order for the established system to be sustained, resources must be created and the continuous support of senior management is an indispensable condition for mobilising the implementers in the company. In this context, Kayalar Kimya's senior management's awareness of these facts and their determined and committed efforts to implement applicable technologies in their sector are highly important in terms of the company's sustainability and the value it places on its employees.

What criteria are prioritised when Kayalar Kimya draws up investment plans? Do you have investment plans for the coming periods, and if so, what are they?

Investment plans are certainly determined taking into account many factors. What the market wants and what it needs is important to us. We are especially careful to take positions in rapidly developing markets. Our aim is to contribute to our customers and the economy with low cost and high efficiency.

Do you have a message you would like to convey to the sector?

Kayalar Kimya's growth strategy is based on a mission focused on developing innovative products and services, possessing the ability to act quickly and flexibly, and with a horizon open to world markets. With its 40-year history, Kayalar Kimya develops and renews itself day by day. By following the latest technology and developing new products and applications, it continues to contribute to the country's economy by adding strength to itself through its achievements in Turkey and abroad. It works in unity with all its personnel to live up to the rights of its Ministry-approved R&D Centre certification.