Interview with Mehmet Ak, Unit Director at Safir Kimya

Safir Kimya Epoxy Flooring & Coatings & Paints Unit Director Mehmet Ak answered our questions about his professional background, the company's development since its founding, areas of activity, objectives and projects in a pleasant interview.

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

I graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Marmara University. During my university years, I worked for one of the leading private banks of the time. I left the bank due to military service. After military service, I had the opportunity to work at a leading firm in the sector that introduced epoxies and many technological paint raw materials to Turkey's paint industry and provided technical support. I was involved in the development of anti-corrosive coatings and epoxy systems in Turkey for what could be considered a very long period, acquiring valuable knowledge and experience. In 2002, I established my own company and worked as Turkey Distributor for Huntsman Advanced Materials division (ARALDITE–ARADUR-EURELON), transferring the knowledge and experience I had acquired into business. In 2009, the distributorship of Huntsman Performance Products was added to our company. Our work continued until 2013, when we transferred our Huntsman Advanced Materials distributorship to Veser A.Ş., and I began working as a Consultant at Veser A.Ş. With the completion of the transfer process operationally at the end of October 2015, my assignment at Veser A.Ş. ended. Since November 2015, I have been taking part in this new formation along with the Huntsman–Safir sales.

Could you outline the development process of Safir Kimya since its establishment?

Safir Kimya, established in 2009, initially began production and service delivery in the field of textile chemicals as its main area of activity. Our company, which successfully carried out polymerization and esterification reactions, developed its business by producing semi-finished products for other industrial sectors, and in 2012 began construction of the factory in Çorlu where we currently operate, in order to meet growing market demands and provide product development with a solid infrastructure. In 2013, it incorporated Doğuş Kimyevi Maddeler, a company that had been operating in the sector for 13 years, and began serving sectors such as packaging, printing, wood and marble through water-based industrial adhesive production. In 2014, emphasis was placed on export activities of water-based polymers, particularly water-based adhesives, rapidly increasing export figures by 100%, and by the beginning of 2016 the company was exporting to 15 different countries. In October 2015, it moved to modern and technological production facilities with 8,000 m2 of closed area, completed in Çorlu, and increased production capacity as planned. On 19 November 2015, it purchased all shares of Huntsman Advanced Technology Products San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti., a global leader with approximately 33 years of history in Turkey, as well as trademark and license usage rights for ARALDITE–ARATHANE, making an investment in a different sector. Our company continues to serve domestic and foreign customers in modern production facilities in Çorlu and Tuzla BOSB built using environment-friendly technologies.

What does the Turkish market represent for your company?

Safir Kimya has purchased all shares of Huntsman Advanced Technology Products San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti., along with ARALDITE–ARATHANE trademark and license usage rights. Therefore, it would be more appropriate to answer this question as Safir. To briefly summarize: CIBA began production and applications in Turkey in 1983 under the ARALDITE brand and became a determining actor in the sector, setting the direction for flooring coatings since that time. In subsequent years it became known through global sales as VANTICO, and finally became part of Huntsman in 2004, with continuous increases in product quality and variety. On 19 November 2015 it joined Safir, the merger process was completed, and it took the name Safir Kimyasallar Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. The Huntsman epoxy and polyurethane systems that have been used for years continue to be produced without interruption in the same facility with the same quality and Huntsman brand assurance and experienced technical staff. Returning to your question: in Turkey we are the oldest and longest-established company in the field of epoxy–polyurethane flooring coatings. With our 33-year history and countless references, and with the logistical advantage that our geographical location provides for reaching neighbouring countries and regions, the Turkish market holds great importance for our forward-looking activity programmes.

Could you tell us about your areas of activity, product groups and product characteristics? Which sectors do you serve?

We can classify our areas of activity as Anti-corrosive Coatings and Building Chemicals as main headings. As sub-headings: Industrial Flooring Coatings, Decorative Flooring Coatings, Antimicrobial Flooring Coatings, Protective Flooring Coatings, Epoxy Mortars and Adhesives, Epoxy Joint Filling Systems, Water Insulation Systems. The epoxy and polyurethane systems we formulate are used in various sectors due to their many characteristics such as hygiene, absence of bacteria, resistance to acids and certain chemicals, and high wear resistance. To give a few examples: hospital operating theatres, intensive care units, food processing plants, factory production areas, raw and finished product storage areas, automotive factories, service stations, airport hangars, shopping mall car parks and showrooms, drinking water tanks, pipe interior coatings, building reinforcements and many other sectors have areas of application.

Could you tell us about your sales activities? Which regions do you primarily serve?

We serve all regions of Turkey together with our applicator business partners with whom we have worked for a long time. We also continue our activities in Balkan countries, Croatia, Azerbaijan and Turkic republics.

Do you provide pre-sales and after-sales support activities for customer satisfaction?

Since the systems we formulate and present for application are technological products, our customer support continues before and after the sale. Projects are examined and evaluated together in their finest details, the product system is created, and the work is carried out. Even if the implementation phase of the work requires a long period, our support and partnership with our customer continues throughout the entire process and beyond.

Could you provide information about your laboratory and R&D activities? What can you say about your R&D investments?

We will continue with sensitivity to Huntsman's policy of valuing R&D work from the years it began operating in Turkey. Our experienced and competent Laboratory and R&D team works on new projects and develops new product systems. Our test equipment is renewed in parallel with technological advancement, strengthened with new equipment, and when necessary we receive help and support from official and private test laboratories.  

Could you tell us about the quality principles you apply for the reliability of your products and the continuity of your company?

We ensure the reliability of our products through test reports obtained from independent accredited and official laboratories, our technical knowledge base, our dynamic engineering team that is open to developing technology with each passing day, and our CE certificate. With the work solutions we provide to our applicator partners, we are always by their side in official and private projects.

What activities do you undertake regarding environmental protection and occupational safety concerns?

As Safir Kimyasallar A.Ş., we aim to contribute to a sustainable future by adopting a continuous improvement approach for our employees, our company and our customers and suppliers in terms of environment and human health. We directly adapt our processes to environment and occupational safety systems. Our employees have adopted a safety culture through the work and sensitivity we have carried out over time. We conduct environmental dimension analyses for all our processes and assessment studies for occupational safety risks. Within this scope, we implement OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System and ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems, maintaining the zero-accident principle at the highest level, keeping natural resource use and waste generation at a minimum, and conducting production that is compliant with all relevant local regulations and EU standards.

Could you provide information about your objectives and projects?

Our objective is to play an active role in international projects and to increase our market share domestically. In the final quarter of the year we are conducting intensive work to operate in different sectors with new products. We continue our work on low and even zero VOC epoxy coating systems. Among our objectives is to be a leader in the application of human and environment-friendly systems.

What are your thoughts about the sector?

In terms of our production and products, it would be more accurate to say that we are part of the flooring coatings and anti-corrosive protective coatings sector. In this sense, particularly with new shopping mall investments, the increase in flooring coating areas in large residential areas continues to expand the market. While there are many small and large applicators and manufacturers in this market, those companies that have become brands and whose products have proven themselves through references, both domestic and foreign, remain advantageous and permanent through continuity and product stability.

Finally, do you have a message you would like to convey to the sector?

With the growing importance of awareness regarding human and environmental health, we as a sector should concentrate our work and R&D activities in this direction and contribute to creating a liveable environment and world for the future.         SaveSave