Executive Board Member Burak Uçar of Frimpeks Answered Our Questions

Burak Uçar, Member of the Executive Board of Frimpeks, answered our questions in an interview we conducted. Uçar described Frimpeks' successful development and growth process. [caption id="attachment_128897" align="aligncenter"] Burak Uçar[/caption]

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

I have been working in the chemistry sector for approximately 25 years. I am an industrial engineer. I worked for many years as a senior executive at international chemical companies such as Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Huntsman and Sika, in the sectors of textile chemicals, plastics, paint industry and construction chemicals. I am now serving as Member of the Executive Board responsible for the Chemistry Division at Frimpeks.

Could you provide information about Frimpeks' foundation process and the stages it has gone through to the present day?

When did Frimpeks start operations in Turkey? Frimpeks® was established as a family company in 1988 and focused on supplying products to the printing and construction sectors. With the development of Turkey's printing sector, a chemical facility was established at our production plant in 2006 for the purpose of manufacturing UV varnish. Following the opening of our facility, with the acceleration of label product manufacturing, Frimpeks became an important brand in the region. The company's rapid growth was followed by the opening of numerous distribution centers in Germany, Southern Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Thanks to our effective and professional production systems, research and development and sales teams, our sales developed rapidly across all these regions and we entered among the sought-after companies in the sector, reaching levels where we compete with many international chemical giants. Today, Frimpeks has established itself at very high levels in the sector with a wide range of products and high quality in water-based and UV lacquers and inks for the wood and printing sectors, and PSA/PVA adhesive manufacturing, and has risen to rank 339 among Turkey's first 500 companies. Frimpeks, which places great importance on research and development activities, is growing by expanding its product range day by day with four separate laboratories dedicated to specific sectors and a strong research and development team, and providing customized solutions to its customers. In 2021, Frimpeks made a significant investment for the production of polyurethane reactive hot-melt and related polyester, aiming to be among the first in the production of these high-value PUR adhesives to be used in large sectors such as wood flat-lamination, profile wrapping, flexible packaging and textiles. In addition to all these investments and production technologies, it has reached the level of international companies by maintaining very high standards in health and environmental matters. Worker health safety and environmentally friendly production are essential for Frimpeks.

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

We have a 40% export ratio in the total of our label and chemical products. We found the opportunity to strengthen this export share through the factories we have put into operation abroad. Thanks to our regional facilities in America and Europe, we are able to provide our customers with both fast delivery times and quick technical service. We believe that thanks to the competent technical service approach that Frimpeks has adopted as a principle since its establishment, we have become competitive abroad as well.

What kind of work do you carry out in the areas of technology, innovation and research and development as Frimpeks? Do you have projects developed within the scope of university-industry cooperation, and if so, what are they?

We provide services at our chemical plant in Çorlu with four separate sector-specific laboratories and a large research and development team. Our wood technical laboratory, printing lacquer and ink laboratories, PSA adhesive and PUR laboratories have extensive technological capabilities and we carry out all research and development and development work in these laboratories. Thanks to production simulation and application machines and equipment that will carry out all sector-specific applications, we are able to conduct many customer applications and techniques in these laboratories. In addition to our expert research and development team, we also work with many foreign consultants abroad. Moreover, we continue our research activities by developing joint projects with many local universities. As Frimpeks, we also have a research and development laboratory in Slovenia that works jointly with a university.

Could you provide information about Frimpeks' environmental policy and sustainability approach? What can you tell us about your work related to worker health and safety?

We can clearly state that as Frimpeks, we are very sensitive to environmental issues. Our products definitely do not contain solvents, carcinogens, or substances harmful to the environment and nature. Through our environmentally friendly production systems and our 24/7 chemical and biological treatment systems, we show respect for nature and place great importance on worker health and safety. When Frimpeks investment plans are formulated, what criteria are prioritized? Does Frimpeks have investment plans for the coming periods, and if so, what are they? Frimpeks always aims to increase the amount of national products in the sector by making investments in products that are not produced much in Turkey and have to be imported from abroad. In addition, Frimpeks aims to provide as complete a system as possible in relation to the sectors in which we operate. Thus, we expand our product range to be able to meet all the needs of our customers as a complete system, from their labels to adhesives, from UV/water-based inks to varnish, and make the necessary investments. After the 2020-21 PUR project and investment, we are planning the 2022 PUD polyurethane dispersion project and related investments.