Demmerg Kimya A.Ş. General Manager Bülent Öntaş Answers Our Questions

In the interview we conducted, Demmerg Kimya A.Ş. General Manager Bülent Öntaş answered our questions. Öntaş provided detailed information about Demmerg Kimya's operations and products.

Could you tell our readers about yourself and your company, including matters that you prioritize and consider important in business life?

For nearly 25 years in my professional career, I have held various positions and responsibilities in different sectors and fields of work. Depending on the distinct characteristics and scope of the business areas where I worked, I have practiced the profession of Mechanical Engineering while also positioning myself as a professional manager in business life. In the early years of my career, I worked as an engineer and manager in enterprises engaged in the manufacture of packaging and insulation products and heating-cooling products. Subsequently, I held management positions in private and public workplaces operating in the engineering profession field. I took on roles in the execution of various projects in professional areas. I contributed to the execution of scientific and technical organizations that took place at different times. I served on the executive and organizing boards of these organizations. Among these, I can list work related to mechanical engineering, project management, business development, institutional development, hydrogen energy, hydraulic pneumatics, manufacturing industry, university-industry cooperation, in-service training, vehicle inspection, traffic safety, occupational health and safety, engineering profile research, etc. Additionally, I sought to contribute to and participate in processes as a court-appointed expert, consultant, trainer in professional and technical subjects, and in a teaching position at university. While continuing my professional career, I still try to participate in such scientific and technical work whenever the opportunity arises. I have held management positions for nearly 5 years in the group of companies that includes Demmerg Kimya A.Ş. In this regard, since 2018, I have served as General Manager of Demmerg Kimya A.Ş. Within Demmerg Kimya A.Ş., having experienced colleagues who love their profession and work, possess high motivation, and have expertise in building chemicals has been a major source of joy for me. For this reason, I consider it an important responsibility to mention our team consisting of experienced professionals in my statements and to speak of their efforts and achievements. Because we produce together, we make decisions together. One of the cornerstones of implementing a quality production process in the field of building chemicals is our understanding of producing together.

"I experienced great joy from being part of a system that contributes to traffic safety"

I mentioned that I have held positions in various fields in my professional life. In one of them, I worked as a professional manager on technical and administrative matters within a nationwide organization. During the time I served there, I experienced great joy from being part of a system that contributed to traffic safety in our country. Taking on a role during the establishment phase, participating in a process professionally and technically beneficial to society in terms of traffic safety was truly very enjoyable. Within the Chamber of Mechanical Engineers of TMMOB of which I am a member, I participated in important work and projects. When responsibility and volunteering principles unite in the work and projects we participate in together with our colleagues, good results emerge. I found the opportunity to experience the honor of producing work beneficial to society based on our professional fields. In carrying out my duties and responsibilities, I acted with the awareness that the future of our country always lies in production—as someone who feels responsible to the geography we live in and our people who shape us and direct our future. Because I believe that producing together for the future using our own resources is truly a strength and will bring benefits for everyone.

"Based on my professional and business experience, I am careful to act with the aim of adding strength to the power of production when making decisions and determining preferences in business life"

I believe that with everyone who believes in this strength, with my colleagues I work with, our business partners, and all our stakeholders, we can achieve a good production process, quality business processes, qualified results, and successful work. In our professional fields and in every task and project we undertake, we have the responsibility to make extraordinary efforts with all stakeholders to achieve excellent results.

Could you provide information about the establishment process and current structure of Demmerg Kimya?

Demmerg Kimya A.Ş. strengthens the chemical sector in the field of building chemicals as an important result of the business and professional experience that the Sepici Family possesses in various fields and the knowledge accumulated over many years. We produce our building chemicals products in our modern factory in Istanbul Tuzla Organized Leather Industry Zone with advanced technology, specially designed machinery and experienced personnel. Together with our expert suppliers strong in our field and our applicator dealers and team, we work toward the goal of flawless production. At every stage of this production, we operate with a perfectionist approach. With our customer-focused business strategy, we aim to achieve continuous successful work in our field of activity and to be the best. For this reason, we place great importance on experienced human resources. Among the fundamental principles within the corporate understanding of Demmerg Kimya are: not forgetting that development comes from creating a correct and reliable source, making business ethics and integrity a prerequisite, and being aware of adding more strength to our country's national production power. Demmerg Kimya has reached an important position in a short time from its establishment to today. The fact that it is one of the important institutions known by name in the field of building chemicals proves this. We have a debt of gratitude to everyone who contributed to bringing our institution to this point through great effort and to its continuous progress.

"With its R&D activities, success in meeting customer needs, rapid delivery process, solution-oriented approach, and constructive corporate identity, it gives confidence to all its stakeholders"

As a result of the valuable work and contributions of our applicator dealers, who are widespread throughout the country, we are engaged in a qualified and continuously developing activity. From the production process onwards, we conduct work in all operations to show Demmerg Kimya's presence in all subsequent stages. The operation of a qualified system that ensures customer satisfaction from the application of our products through to the final delivery to the end customer by our dealers is very important to us. Every stage must be properly completed on the road to customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is one of our priority objectives. Demmerg Kimya gives confidence to all its stakeholders through its qualified supply process, product quality, a dealer network widespread throughout the country, modern facilities, a dynamic organization based on solid foundations, experienced employees with professional and technical knowledge, continuous development, R&D activities, success in meeting customer needs, rapid delivery process, solution-oriented approach, and constructive corporate identity. Ultimately, the reason that Demmerg Kimya products are preferred in public and private sector projects lies in our success as a "reliable institution." Our reliability covers a broad spectrum extending from the quality of our products to our pricing policy. The Demmerg brand is the perfect result of a process that provides confidence and adds value. We will carry this confidence and value further with all our stakeholders. The Demmerg corporate structure is qualified and strong enough to meet all domestic and international demands. We will continue to use our strength as we have until today to produce qualified, fast, and constructive solutions.

What main sectors does Demmerg Kimya supply to, and what types of products does it provide? What are Demmerg Kimya's products, brands, and services?

Demmerg Kimya manufactures a wide range of epoxy, polyurethane, and acrylic-based coating products that provide maximum performance from foundation to roof. All products produced in our factory, which has advanced technology and specially designed production and R&D laboratory, pass quality control approval in accordance with relevant standards. Our products, which we name under the brands DEMCO, DEMCO EPOX, and DEMCO PUR, are produced in our Istanbul factory in the following groups: Epoxy and Polyurethane Products (Concrete primers, intermediate and topcoat materials, polyurethane concrete coatings), Antistatic Floor Coating, Terrazzo Floor Coating, Tartan Track Floor Coating, Topcoat Paints, Steel Coating Materials, Polyurea Coating Materials, Transparent Coating Materials (Transparent Varnish), Food-Contact Compliant Materials, Structure Reinforcement Materials, Concrete Repair—Adhesive Materials—Structure Reinforcement and Special Materials groups. Our products are used in many private and public areas including the construction sector, parking lots, sports halls, industrial facilities, food establishments, flour mills, textile enterprises, shipyards, hospitals, storage facilities, schools, hotels, shopping centers, laboratories, heavy industrial establishments, etc. The use of epoxy and polyurethane products in various fields is becoming increasingly widespread.

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

We are at an advanced stage in our domestic sales and marketing efforts. Seeing our products preferred as a priority in important projects in different regions of our country increases our determination to work. There may be variations in product preferences by region within the country. Generally, the Demmerg Kimya brand is preferred in the following product groups: roof, foundation, precast concrete, insulation material, external facade acrylic-polyurethane coating systems, terrace roof spray and spraying insulation materials, adhesion bridges for all types of surfaces such as old and new concrete, wood, marble, stone, ceramic, reinforcement materials and dilation-insulation systems, polyurethane tartan track sports floor coatings, antistatic coatings, chemical-resistant coating systems, decorative 3D coating systems, decorative and industrial floor coatings, etc. Our company's foreign sales activities have been carried out since its establishment. Our products have been preferred in important projects in various countries around the world. Our products have been successfully applied by our applicator dealers in the country and by applicator companies abroad. As a result, our products have been preferred on a global scale, applied in important projects, and continue to be applied.

"An issue we prioritize in our sales activities is maintaining an attitude 'committed to ethical values'"

We sell our products to different parts of the world. As we move forward with confident steps into the future together with our domestic and foreign stakeholders, we consider two important criteria in our relationships. These are "win-win" and "trust-trust" relationships. In our view, economic interests alone cannot provide a long-term relationship. It must certainly be reinforced with a trust relationship. In a system where stakeholders trust one another, everyone wins. Producers, suppliers, dealers, customers, employees, employers, contractors, end users, etc.—if everyone feels secure in a trust environment, there is a gain in this partnership. Without trust, there is no real and lasting gain. An issue we prioritize in our sales activities is maintaining an attitude "committed to ethical values." For this reason, we do not view anyone as a competitor and we absolutely do not adopt an attitude that harms the sector. We view providing equal quality service and conditions to every region of our country as an obligation. This approach enables us to come together at the right time, in the right place, with the right people, and with the right institutions and organizations.

What types of work do you conduct in the areas of innovation and R&D as Demmerg Kimya?

In 2001, when the word innovation was not as widely used in our country as it is today, an organization that I contributed to took place at Yıldız Technical University Davutpaşa Campus with the participation of our professional chambers, universities, industrial establishments, relevant foundations, associations, and organizations, and was realized through great effort. As someone involved in this process, I have always been close to innovative approaches and R&D work. Where science and technology are the basis and priority, the results of work conducted will certainly be scientific. These scientific results will receive the value they deserve to the extent they are applied for the benefit of society. Demmerg Kimya is a brand that has signed many successful work in a short time with production and service quality. This success is certainly a result of the importance we attach to R&D. Our brand, which focuses on providing correct solutions by analyzing customer needs, has created a wide product range and achieved its objectives in this field. Continuous research and development activities form the foundation of the work conducted within Demmerg Kimya.

"With its R&D activities, success in meeting customer needs, rapid delivery process, solution-oriented approach, and constructive corporate identity, it gives confidence to all its stakeholders"

One of the most important aspects that makes us different and valuable in the sector will certainly be these activities. Since its establishment, our product development work in the field of building chemicals continues constantly. Everyone who contributes to the process of correctly identifying and communicating wishes and needs to us is actually part of this development. Customer requests, applicators' findings and recommendations, our responsibility to conduct innovative work according to our objectives, our team's desire to create and produce new things based on knowledge and experience in their professional fields, etc. already produce good and successful results. With our R&D activities, success in meeting customer needs, rapid delivery process, solution-oriented approach, and constructive corporate identity, we give confidence to all our stakeholders. In our interviews, meetings we attend and organize, training we conduct, and our corporate announcements and communications, we aim to create the infrastructure for making correct system and product choices. We work in cooperation with universities and institutions and organizations engaged in professional, scientific, and technical work. In this relationship, we are both supporters and supported. The key to conducting innovative work, continuous development, and change lies in this cooperation.  

Could you provide information about Demmerg Kimya's environmental policy and sustainability approach? What can you say about your work related to occupational health and safety?

In these matters, we continue our work in compliance with legal requirements and ethical values. Due to this approach, we are in complete harmony and cooperation with relevant institutions, organizations, and expert individuals and companies from whom we receive services. To bring our employees' knowledge, awareness, and sensitivity in these matters to better levels than they currently are, we operate theoretical and practical training and information processes. Our approach is based on an understanding of an environmentally friendly and secure system where the human factor also plays an important role. It is impossible for things to be imposed from top to bottom and for things to be accomplished based on this in any field. Instead, within the framework of rules determined in the light of science and technology, a process in which those within the system can express themselves, participate, and contribute, and see the results in implementation, will naturally produce correct results.

"Within this framework, we are careful to make our efforts to implement collective protective measures and personal protective measures together in front of all our colleagues and together"

Environmental protection, occupational health and safety are important points that must be insisted upon regardless of the field of activity of enterprises. For example, everyone must know that it is impossible to protect employees only with personal protective measures in a work environment where collective protective measures are not adequately provided. Everyone must also know that if theoretical training, information, etc. are not followed by implementing these in practice, no result will be achieved. Real positive change and progress in all areas can only be achieved through correct implementation and participatory understanding. Within this framework, we are careful to make our efforts to implement collective protective measures and personal protective measures together in front of all our colleagues and together. When necessary, we conduct toolbox talks to contribute to the establishment of awareness of environment, occupational health, and safety. We value the guidance of professional experts in this field. Within our establishment, we provide the necessary management support for protecting the environment and taking occupational health and safety measures in the work conducted.

What criteria are prioritized when developing Demmerg Kimya's investment plans? Does Demmerg Kimya have investment plans for the coming periods, and if so, what are they?

Our primary objective is to provide innovative, quality products that prioritize customer satisfaction and, in this context, to become the leading company sought after and trusted in the sector that adds value. As we have expressed at every opportunity, our most basic criteria are to continue to aim for "the best" with a customer-focused business strategy in the future as we do today, to give necessary importance to human resources, not to forget that development comes from creating a source, to make business ethics and integrity a prerequisite, and to be aware of the strength that comes from adding strength to our country. With R&D activities in the production facility we have created as a result of significant investments, we both increase our own product diversity and develop products suitable for our customers' requests. By combining our production capability in the field of building chemicals, our production capacity, our product and service quality, and our professional and technical knowledge, we will continue to give confidence to our customers and prioritize R&D investments, which we have identified as the heart of the system, at all times.

What messages do you wish to convey to the sector?

All values, productions, and work created through the efforts of all people, institutions, and organizations in the chemical sector are our common denominator. We will win together through production. Our greatest desire is for the values created as a result of these efforts to bring more benefit to our country than they do now. I particularly congratulate you for being a valuable publication in the sector and for your successful publishing activities. We closely follow your work. We always wish to be together with the components of the sector. I want to express that we will always feel satisfaction in producing together with you and contributing to and participating in your work. I wish for your successful work to continue and increase.