Bostik, one of the leading global companies in adhesives and sealants, develops reliable solutions for professional applicators and large-scale projects through its holistic approach. In our interview, Bilgehan Türkkan, Business Unit Director of the Construction and Consumer Department at Bostik Turkey & Central Asia, provided information about the company's fields of activity and product offerings.
Interview: Murat Soygür
Bostik, a leading global company in adhesives and sealants, develops reliable solutions for professional applicators and large-scale projects through its holistic approach.
In an interview we conducted, Bilgehan Türkkan, Unit Business Director of the Bostik Turkey & Central Asia Building and Consumer Department, provided information about the company's areas of operation and the products it offers.
Could you first tell us briefly about yourself and your professional background?
I am originally from Bursa. After completing my primary and secondary education in Bursa, I went to Canada for high school and university education. After completing my studies, I returned to Turkey and began my professional career. Music has always held an important place in my life; I have been playing electric guitar since high school. I believe that combining an analytical perspective with creativity creates value both in music and in business life.
I started my career in 2009 in the natural stone sector, and later worked at a global steel manufacturer. Since July 2014, I have served in various strategic positions at Bostik Kimya San. ve Tic. A.Ş. Starting as Export Manager, I focused on developing new markets and structuring export operations. Subsequently, as Product Manager, I managed product portfolio, pricing strategies and market introduction timelines.
During my tenure as Marketing Director for the SEMEA Region, I took responsibility for developing marketing strategies in a multi-country structure and formulating regional growth plans.
As of July 2023, as Sales and Marketing Director for the Turkey and Central Asia Region, I am responsible for determining commercial strategies, managing sales organization and implementing sustainable growth targets.
Could you describe Bostik's product portfolio in general terms?
We are a technology company operating in four major markets globally. We position intelligent adhesive solutions developed with the R&D strength of the Arkema Group and over 130 years of chemistry experience across building and construction, industrial adhesives, hygiene and consumer end-user segments worldwide.
In Turkey, the area where we most powerfully reflect this global strength to the market is the sealants and adhesives product group. Our expertise in this segment and market knowledge are the fundamental elements that determine our position in building chemicals.
In the Turkish market, we have focused our attention particularly on building and construction solutions. Leading in the sealants and adhesives group, we offer a broad and integrated portfolio with flooring systems, ceramic adhesives, waterproofing and decoration & wall repair products. Through this holistic approach, we provide strong and reliable solutions for both professional applicators and large-scale projects.
Can you provide information about Bostik Turkey's organizational structure and positioning in the Turkish market?
As stated in the previous answer, in Turkey we hold a strong position, particularly focused on building and construction solutions and leading in the sealants and adhesives group. Our organizational structure supporting this product strategy is built on a foundation of high technical expertise, field-focused and agile operations.
As Bostik Turkey, we have a strong organizational model where sales, product management, technical services, marketing, operations and supply chain teams work in an integrated manner. While working in close cooperation with global R&D and technical teams, we operate with a structure that can quickly adapt to local market dynamics.
Our two production facilities in Turkey play a critical role both in meeting the needs of the domestic market and supporting our regional operations. Our local production capacity provides flexibility, speed and cost advantages while supporting our sustainable growth without compromising our quality standards.
Turkey is a strategic center for Bostik due to its geographical location and production infrastructure. We are responsible not only for the Turkish market but also for countries in Central Asia. This regional structure directs us to operate with a broader commercial perspective and play a more effective role in the geography where we are located. We position Turkey not only as a strong domestic market but also as a regional center providing technical knowledge and high-performance product solutions to neighboring countries.
What technological advantages do you emphasize when offering customer-specific formulations?
The foundation of our customer-specific formulation approach rests on a strong R&D infrastructure and global knowledge accumulation. As part of the Arkema Group, we have direct access to advanced polymer technologies and raw material development capabilities. This provides us not only with the ability to optimize existing products but also the flexibility to develop new solutions tailored to customer needs.
Our technological advantages include high-performance hybrid polymer technologies, advanced adhesion systems and formulation capabilities resistant to challenging field conditions. In developing our products, we consider not only performance criteria but also real field requirements such as long-term durability, ease of application and worker productivity.
Furthermore, quality and sustainability are two inseparable elements for us. The performance of our products is validated through international standards, certification processes and technical tests. Through low VOC values, environmentally conscious formulations and sustainable production approaches, we address both technical and environmental expectations.
By combining global know-how with our local production capabilities, we can provide solutions that quickly adapt to market changes, comply with regulations and are optimized for customer specifications. This flexibility and technological strength makes us not just a supplier but a long-term solution partner.
How do you view the current size and growth potential of the Turkish adhesives market?
The Turkish adhesives market has a broad and dynamic structure, with demand created by many sectors including building and construction, packaging, automotive, furniture and general industry. The building and construction segment in particular is one of the most defining areas of the market.
In the short term, economic fluctuations and financing access conditions can create cyclical effects in the market. However, looking from a broader perspective, Turkey's production capacity, young building stock and ongoing urban transformation needs demonstrate that the market has a structurally strong foundation.
From a 5-10 year forward perspective, we believe the Turkish adhesives market will maintain its growth potential with urban transformation projects, post-earthquake reconstruction processes, renovation investments and developments in industrial production.
We anticipate this growth not only to be volumetric but to occur as a quality transition toward higher-performance, more durable and more sustainable products. Therefore, competition in the market is shifting from price-focused approaches toward axes of technology, certification and long-term performance.
As Bostik, we aim to be not only a market share player in this transformation but also a player who shapes direction through our technology and solution-oriented approach.
Finally, could you provide our readers with information about your sustainability policies?
Sustainability for us is more a matter of responsibility than an obligation. Frankly, at Bostik this issue is taken seriously; it is treated not only on the product side but as part of company culture. Within the Arkema Group, we have teams working on sustainability globally, and these teams undertake concrete projects across many areas from carbon reduction targets to product content safety. We as the Turkey organization are an active part of this vision.
In our product development processes, we evaluate environmental impact alongside performance. We focus on low-VOC, solvent-free and safer formulations. At the same time, we attach importance to validating our products with various environmental and technical certifications. Because for us, sustainability does not simply mean "being environmentally friendly;" it means providing longer-lasting, more durable and more efficient solutions. On the operations side, we conduct ongoing improvement efforts in our production facilities on energy efficiency, waste management and process optimization. Reducing logistics-related emissions through our local production capacity is part of this approach. We view sustainability not as a communication tool but as a fundamental way to create long-term value. We operate with safer structures, lower environmental impact and more conscious production practices.
In short, as Bostik, we work with the awareness that we bear responsibility not only to today's needs but also to tomorrow's world.
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