KCC has been operating for over half a century since beginning operations in 1958 as "Kaumkang State Industries Inc." and continues to assert itself as a technology innovation leader in construction materials such as glass, windows/doors, exterior/interior materials and floor coatings.
Operating under the motto "Creating better value for everyone," KCC Turkey pursues strategic objectives including financially sound and stable growth through creating high-value products and services; continuous innovation and innovative management; and nurturing global talent through intensive and effective investment in education while leading in advanced technology. We spoke with General Manager Dr. Tuğrul Aydın Kayı.
KCC – South Korean Firm Growing in Technology and Innovation
Founded in South Korea in 1958, KCC has become a major global corporation thanks to its consistent strategy and solid technological infrastructure. Today, KCC operates a total of 21 factories, 12 of which are located abroad, and demonstrates its sector strength with annual sales revenue of approximately USD 5.5 billion.
KCC's Strong Presence Across Different Sectors
KCC's product range is broad and diverse: In construction products, it highlights windows, glass frames, frame systems, ceiling products and inorganic insulation materials, while in the paints sector, it provides solutions across various fields such as construction, automotive, general industry and protective coatings.
Following completion of the acquisition of Momentive Materials in 2020, KCC has achieved a position among the world's top three silicone producers. With silicone solutions for personal care, electronics, mobility, construction and other industrial sectors, KCC has become a significant player.
Could you tell us about yourself and your professional background?
I have worked for over twenty years in various sales and marketing positions, particularly in the paints sector. During this period, I have held positions primarily in sales and marketing both domestically and internationally at various international companies. For the past seven years, I have served as General Manager at KCC Paints, responsible for sales in the Refinish, General Industry and Epoxy floor coatings sectors. Additionally, I have taught marketing management courses at a private foundation university.
Could you describe KCC Paints' organizational structure? What sectors do you serve?
KCC Paints is a 100% South Korean-financed company with a production facility in Turkey. Our factory in Gebze produces both powder and liquid paints. Additionally, KCC is an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) supplier for Hyundai Turkey and has a central agreement with Hyundai in the authorized service market following sales. We supply our refinish paints to this sector as well. We meet different requirements and provide various solutions with our general industry, epoxy floor coatings, marine, coil coatings and powder paint technologies.
What products do you supply to the automotive industry and what are the distinguishing characteristics of these products?
We supply both OEM and refinish products to the automotive industry. With products developed in South Korea and Turkey, we serve the automotive industry with a very broad product portfolio. The most notable characteristics of our products are that they are manufactured at consistent quality at all times and are developed according to customer needs. To put it briefly, we anticipate customer needs beforehand and design our product portfolio accordingly. When we identify such a need, we can research the KCC Korea product portfolio and import directly. Additionally, to provide better service, we can obtain the recipe and raw materials of this product and manufacture it at our own factory. When both alternatives are insufficient, our R&D department in Turkey can develop our own formulas and launch new products.
How is durability of paints against environmental factors (UV rays, moisture, temperature changes, etc.) ensured?
Although paint manufacturing does not require very advanced technology, the mentioned conditions are provided through formula design, advanced technology raw materials used and additives. Before launching a new paint technology, it undergoes various tests such as UV, impact and aging tests in line with customer expectations. Another subject to which we attach great importance is manufacturing the same product consistently at the same quality.
One of the most important topics today is sustainability. What work are you doing at KCC Paints regarding environmentally friendly automotive paints?
Under our management philosophy of "Creating better value for everyone," we combine our technology with our environmentally friendly management. Regarding our environmentally friendly management, I would particularly like to emphasize that we are one of the facilities with the most environmentally friendly certifications. We aim to manufacture our products with natural materials and are increasing these ratios day by day. By establishing CO2 emissions reduction facilities and introducing systems that emit less gas and consume less fuel, we are creating a sustainable future together with our customers.
Could you tell us about KCC Paints' sales activities? Which regions and countries do you conduct the most business with in the automotive sector?
As KCC Turkey, we have export activities in refinish paints to the Middle East, Turkish Republics and the Balkans. Among our short-term objectives is to further increase our exports to these regions and significantly raise the amount of added value we provide to the national economy.
Finally... When you evaluate the automotive sector, how do you see its future? What are your objectives in this sector?
The automotive sector, together with its manufacturing and supply chains, is Turkey's largest exporting sector. This sector concerns paint manufacturers in two aspects: paints used in automotive production and later, paints required for repair and maintenance. Both OEM and post-sale decision-makers differ. Again, in the manufacturing section, both exports and domestic demand are important. Particularly in the past year, with expectations of continuously rising prices, unexpected demand increases occurred domestically; this stimulated sales of both new and used vehicles, and of course this situation had very positive effects on paint manufacturers' business. However, the measures implemented in line with this year's inflation-fighting policy still did not seriously affect this market.
The reality is that BYD's new investment in automotive will expand the sector further. Beyond this, an important brand like Chery is also evaluating making investments in our country. We expect this to mean that our sector will continue to grow and that Turkey will experience increasing electric vehicle production and sales. This prompted us to prepare our product portfolio now for the repainting of electric vehicles.
Our objective at KCC in this sector is to be both an OEM and post-sales supplier with our broad product portfolio to manufacturers located in or investing in our country.
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