Interview with Tolga Demirdöğer, General Manager of Uz Kimya

We conducted an enjoyable interview with Tolga Demirdöğer, General Manager of Uz Kimya, about the company's establishment process and development. Demirdöğer shared important information about Uz Kimya's new targets and projects.

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

I was born in Izmir in 1979. I am married and have a 6-year-old daughter named Derin. I graduated from the Chemistry Department at Celal Bayar University. In 2002, while studying in my third year, I started working at Uz Kimya as a sales representative. I currently continue my role as company manager and partner at Uz Kimya.

Could you describe Uz Kimya's development process from its establishment to today?

It was founded in 1997 by Can Şafak Uzsoy. Until 2011, we worked as the Aegean Region representative for various companies based in Turkey. We currently serve as the Aegean Region representative for Alfa Kimya and Univar Kimya. As of 2011, we began importing products that we had previously sourced from the domestic market. Currently, 70% of our turnover consists of products we import ourselves.

As of 2019, we have exceeded our target number of export countries and reached 22 countries.

What are Uz Kimya's products and product groups? Which sectors do you serve?

75% of our products consist of paints and construction chemicals raw materials. When developing these raw materials, we tried to create a portfolio that would meet all the needs of our customers. Paint production formulations include all raw materials in our product portfolio except for standard fillers and solvents. In addition to these products, we import products for sectors such as rubber, plastics, polyester, and cosmetics.

Could you tell us about your domestic and foreign sales activities? Can you provide information about your export efforts?

Since 2014, we have started production of chrome yellow, molybdate red, and anticorrosive pigments. These pigment groups, which are not produced in Turkey, compete with manufacturers whose names have become brands. As of 2019, we have exceeded our target number of export countries and reached 22 countries. Following our research and development work, we aim to further increase the number of countries to which we export with Bismuth Vanadate, which we plan to launch in 2020.

What methods do you use when designing products that will bring innovation to the sector?

With the development of technology, reaching innovations has become much easier. Companies are aware that unless they progress in this direction, they will lose market power. We know this very well, and while following innovations, we conduct our new product search not only with the conveniences that technology provides us, but also by listening to the needs of our customers. We take our place as visitors or participants in all international trade fairs related to our sector.

Today, all sectors are keeping pace with digital transformation. To what extent do you think the paint raw materials sector is achieving this transformation?

As is known, digital transformation is the transfer of business processes and information to a digital (electronic) environment through intensive use of information technologies, providing savings in money and time. I believe the raw materials sector is quite successful in this regard. Thanks to additional software we use in our company, we can monitor our customers' needs, our shortcomings, and the tasks we need to perform much faster and more easily. In fact, perhaps it would be an exaggeration, but we can even monitor when the raw material we sold in our customer's inventory decreases and when the time for sales arrives. This way we control our market position and, based on the information we receive, we procure the correct quantities and work with minimum inventory costs.

Additionally, we will share all digital information about our products on our newly designed website with our customers. Our customers will be able to access all details regarding the products they have procured from us through our website using the login credentials we provide them, starting from the supply process. Thanks to additional software we use in our company, we can monitor our customers' needs, our shortcomings, and the tasks we need to perform much faster and more easily.

Could you tell us about your research and development and sustainability efforts?

Research and development work continues without slowing down at our pigment production facility. As is known, lead-containing pigments are not used in EU countries. We are very close to completing our research and development work on Bismuth Vanadate, which is used as a replacement for this pigment. Additionally, our work on lead-free hybrid pigments continues. These pigments have much better performance in both color strength and opacity compared to other pigment groups.

What do you do in your spare time? What are your hobbies?

I am a winter person and I very much enjoy skiing. I am fortunate that Can is the exact opposite and a summer person. While he surfs in the summer, I ski in the winter. This way, we can enjoy our hobbies without neglecting our work.