A Pleasant Conversation with Mehmet Bayrak, Board Member of Baymel Poliüretan

We conducted an interview with Mehmet Bayrak, Board Member of Baymel Polyurethane Systems, about his professional background and the product groups the company has offered to the sector.

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

I was born in Çorum in 1955. I completed my undergraduate education at Hacettepe University in 1977 and my graduate education from the same university in 1980. I began my career in the polyurethane sector in 1996 with Hayat Shoe, and have continued my career in the polyurethane sector subsequently as founding partner of Gürel Polyurethane in 2000, EMA Polyurethane in 2006, Flokser Teks. in 2009, and finally Baymel Polyurethane in 2011.

Could you provide brief information about your company's establishment process, facilities, production scope and market share?

We were established in Gaziantep in 2011 on an 11,000 m² area with our own knowledge and experience, and began production in early 2012. Our main sectors of service are footwear, insulation and furniture. By 2016, with additional investments we made, we have annual production capacity of 30,000 tons of base saturated polyester polyol and 20,000 tons of prepolymer. We have a fully enclosed facility with complete automation. Our foreign sales account for approximately 45% of total sales, covering Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Algeria, the Balkans and Turkic republics. In the markets where we operate, our domestic market share is approximately 25% in the footwear sector and approximately 20% in the insulation sector.

Could you describe your product groups and product features? Which sectors do you serve?

Under the BAYFOOT brand, we manufacture various polyurethane systems for the flip-flop and sole, work safety and footbed sectors. Under the BAYRIGID brand, we manufacture various polyurethane systems for the insulation sector in the sub-sectors of sandwich panels, cold storage panels, EPS–stone wool adhesives, pipe insulation and spray application. Under the BAYFUR brand, we manufacture wood-look polyurethane systems for the furniture sector. Under the BAYFOAM brand, we manufacture molded foam polyurethane systems for the automotive and office furniture sectors.

Could you provide information about your laboratory and R&D activities? What can you say about your investments?

By the nature of our work, we must continuously conduct R&D activities. The market is very dynamic. When you look at the product aging curve, this timeframe is quite short. Our main goal is to continuously develop systems that will keep us ahead in competition. We have many ongoing or completed projects with TUBITAK (TEYDEP). We try to conduct joint projects with universities as much as possible.

What are your views on the polyurethane sector? Finally, do you have a message you would like to convey to the sector?

Polyurethane consumption in Turkey is growing at approximately 8% annually. This rate is higher than our country's annual growth rate. Due to geopolitical developments and perhaps trade wars, 2016 was unfortunately not a year of significant growth. As Baymel, we grew sales by 12% compared to 2015. With this growth, we achieved penetration into new export markets. Evaluating the markets where we sell; particularly within Turkey, amid increasing risks, we see benefit from footwear and furniture sector manufacturers reconsidering their sales and marketing activities. For this reason, we are seeking growth in the footwear sector entirely in foreign markets. Sandwich panel production, which is the driver of polyurethane consumption in the insulation sector, has become a sector that requires careful attention due to increasing competition and unfavorable conditions resulting from developments in neighboring countries and domestic investments never reaching desired levels. In this sector, we are focused on panel manufacturers in countries with high panel consumption. Our growth strategy in the insulation sector is entirely export-based. Furthermore, on 25 January 2017, we were selected as one of Turkey's 100 fastest-growing companies of 2016 by TOBB, becoming one of the companies that add value to our country's economy. With the mission of being a system house that creates value beyond expectations for our customers, employees, partners and all stakeholders, we are continuing on our path rapidly. 2017 appears to be a year in which we will deal extensively with commodity fluctuations. I wish 2017 to be a successful year for all of us.