We Had an Enjoyable Conversation with Orkun Ataman of Osa Kimya

We had a pleasant conversation with Osa Kimya Founder Orkun Ataman about the company's development from its establishment to today, its entry into the Turkish market, product groups, projects and investments.

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

I was born in Istanbul in 1979. I graduated from the Economics Department at Uludağ University. I worked in the automotive sector at various companies, first as Sales Manager, then as Sales Supervisor and finally as Sales Director.

When was Osa Kimya founded? What development process has your company undergone since its establishment?

Osa Kimya is a company founded in Istanbul in 2012 and carries the distinction and pride of being Turkey's only 100% domestically-owned systems house. Our company has followed a continuously growing and developing process through the investment policies we have implemented since its founding day. In early 2015, we relocated our factory to the Tuzla Organized Leather Industry Site. With this move, we increased our production area to a total of 3,000 m² with 2,000 m² enclosed. In line with this, in response to demands from our customers, we established a production system supported by the latest technology and increased our production capacity to 20,000 tons/year.

Could you tell us about your products and product groups? Which sectors do you serve?

We can classify our products into 4 main groups. We offer products suited to 4 different sectors, practical, easy to use and providing advantages in line with sectoral development. To the furniture sector, we offer our 3-component SENTA product. To decoration companies, we address them with our ORNA series products used in decorative systems. In the insulation sector, we produce spray polyurethane systems. We also have products used in Panel (Continuous and Discontinuous) systems. In the sectors we serve, we also supply auxiliary chemicals in line with our customers' needs. In all sectors we serve, we share the information and equipment our customers need at the highest level.  

Could you tell us about your domestic and foreign sales? Which regions do you primarily serve domestically and abroad?

In our domestic and international operations, we provide intensive service with our sales and after-sales expert team. Domestically, our leading sales product is our Wood-Imitation Polyurethane System. In this product, our company accounts for 75% of market share. In our other products, we have an increasing sales graph with each passing day. Generally, we have customers in nearly all provinces of our country. Our international sales reached 35% of our total turnover as of the 10th month of 2017. We generally conduct our international operations using a sole agent system. We arrange the distribution of our products by contracting with a company we designate in the export country and carry out distribution through that company. We export to 12 countries. Middle Eastern countries, African countries and Turkic Republics are the regions where we conduct exports.

What can you tell us about your factory's production capacity? Could you tell us about your R&D activities?

Our factory's production capacity is 20,000 tons/year. We have 3 projects approved by TÜBITAK and 11 projects submitted to TÜBITAK awaiting approval. With our approved projects, we will achieve firsts in our country. We will launch our products related to the project in the first quarter of 2018. These products that we will bring to our country as export products will take their place among Osa Kimya's locomotive products.

What can you tell us about your company's vision, mission and quality policy?

From the day we were founded, we adopted the goal of doing work that could contribute to our country's economy as the Osa Kimya family. In parallel with this, our vision is to be among Turkey's top 10 companies exporting in the polyurethane sector by 2023 in terms of turnover. Our mission, which we have continued with success and which we are carrying out all necessary work to maintain, as Osa Kimya, is to be a company that prioritizes customer satisfaction, provides timely, supply and quality products, and manufactures its own products.  

Could you provide detailed information about your polyurethane sector products?

Our SENTA product used in the furniture sector is a product that meets all sector needs with its low reaction temperature, fast mold setting properties and high strength. This product is also used in home decoration products. Our ORNA series products are in B2 fire rating class and are in different free density (50-180) ranges. They have short mold setting times, high abrasion resistance and high insulation properties. Our product using new generation gas systems is an ozone-friendly product. This product is also used in pipe insulation systems. Our spray product used in the insulation sector is a new generation gas system. It can be used in many areas such as barracks, buildings, factories, animal sheds and more. Our products with different densities for use in the panel sector are used in cold room panels, refrigerators and solar energy systems. We have products using pentane, c-pentane and new generation gas systems.

What services do you provide for customer satisfaction? Do you provide technical support to your customers after the sale?

As Osa Kimya, we operate with an approach that prioritizes customer satisfaction. Our sales and after-sales service team works with extreme diligence towards this goal. I should note that we are the leading company in product delivery speed domestically. We are aware of the time lost to customers in procedures such as order confirmation, notifying the factory of the order, etc., following product order intake, which is why this process is minimal at our company. Domestically, our maximum product delivery time to the most remote point following order intake is 2 business days. Additionally, by maintaining stock across all product groups, we work with zero problems in product procurement for our customers. We have an after-sales support policy that maintains customer satisfaction at the highest level. Through routine visits we make to both our domestic and international customers for inspection purposes, we can identify in advance any needs that may arise after the sale and provide solutions. We conduct customer satisfaction surveys twice a year. We evaluate these survey results seriously together with our entire team and reflect the findings in our service.

Could you tell us about your new targets and projects? Are there new products you are planning to launch to the market?

All our personnel have technical knowledge and experience in their respective fields and are our greatest assets. Our R&D department, with its continuously evolving and changing structure, has made important contributions and continues to make them in the development of our existing products and the creation of new product groups.

How was 2017 for your company?

In 2017, despite raw material procurement difficulties in the sector and unforeseen significant increases in exchange rates, there was an increase in both our domestic and international customer portfolio. As of the 10th month of 2017, our total domestic and international turnover showed a 23% increase compared to the same month in 2016. Based on this picture, I can say we had a truly successful year.

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

Wishing to see developments that strengthen and grow the country's economy, I wish for a successful 2018 that exceeds 2017. Thank you.