Putech Eurasia and Eurasian Composites Show

Putech Eurasia 2019 and Eurasian Composites Show 2019 brought together the global polyurethane and Eurasian composites sectors. On the second day of the fairs, visitors and purchasing delegations from 69 countries transformed the event into a full technology showcase. The polyurethane sector leaders' panel left its mark on the fair. Industry leaders reached a common consensus that they expect the state to establish sector standards for higher-value production. The polyurethane and composites sectors in Turkey, which grow at an average of 10% annually and have a combined volume exceeding USD 3 billion, successfully completed Putech Eurasia 2019 (6th International Polyurethane Industry Fair), the world's second-largest polyurethane industry fair, and Eurasian Composites Show 2019 (4th International Composite Raw Materials, Semi-Finished Products, Products and Technologies Fair), the professional meeting point for the composites industry in Eurasia. The fairs, attended by 203 participants from 21 countries, received nearly 6,000 visitors and purchasing delegations from 69 different countries. PUTECH EURASIA 2019, the world's second-largest polyurethane industry fair, attracted 144 participants, 85 of them foreign, from 21 different countries. A total of 5,017 professionals from 69 countries, 932 of them foreign, visited the fair. EURASIAN COMPOSITES SHOW 2019, the regional largest gathering of the composites sector held simultaneously, hosted 55 company participants, 26 of them foreign, from 11 different countries. Approximately 3,000 professionals from 69 countries, 786 of them foreign, witnessed this historic technology showcase. Notable participation came particularly from Iran, Germany, Russia, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, and Ukraine.

Sector Expects State to Establish Standards

At the sector panel bringing together leading polyurethane figures, consensus was reached on establishing sector standards to reach 2023 targets. Kimteks Polyurethane Chief Executive Officer Cavidan Karaca, announcing that Turkey's polyurethane exports reached 60,000 tonnes in the first ten months, stated that the sector can become more sustainable and export-oriented with regulation and standards.

"Turkey Is a Very Important Country for the World and the Region"

Bart ten Brink, Chairman of the European Flexible Polyurethane Foam Block Producers Association (EUROPUR), who came to Istanbul for the fair, said: "In flexible foam polyurethane, Turkey is Europe's second-largest market. Poland ranks first. With 142,000 tonnes of production in 2018, Turkey surpassed strong competitors like Germany and Italy in production scale. In the period ahead, Turkey will continue to be a very important country for the world and the region."

Dr. Yıldız: "Polyurethane Is Like Forming Different Sentences with Different Words"

Dr. Başar Yıldız, Member of the Executive Board at Flokser Kimya, who compared combining polyurethane components like different words into different sentences, stated that the sector's research and development strategy should involve new human resources and collaborative research and development efforts. Atmaca: "We Should Focus on Added Value" Levent Atmaca, Director of DOW Turkey Polyurethane Systems Center, who said research and development work can succeed by conducting it with value chain stakeholders, noted that all developments that would discredit polyurethane must be avoided, saying: "We need to move away from cost competition and progress toward value creation."

Şişmanoğlu: Electric Vehicles Growing with Polyurethane

Mehmet Şişmanoğlu, General Manager of Pürplast, pointing out that polyurethane is increasingly used especially in electric vehicles due to its unique lightweight properties and that this will increase, continued as follows: "In the automotive sector, when you say electric vehicle, there are two important criteria; one is weight, the other is noise. Noise is the most important issue. To give an example, we are currently tracking noise in seatbelts and producing products that eliminate it. Given this situation, the importance of polyurethane is steadily growing. Today we are at 25-26 kilograms of polyurethane weight in vehicles. Non-polyurethane parts, with their weight advantage, are becoming acquainted with polyurethane. It is forecasted that in 2025, 75 out of every 100 cars on the market will be hybrid and electric vehicles. Therefore, in light of this information, the future of polyurethane looks bright."