We Conducted an Interview with Emre Tezgören, Chairman of the Board of Tezkom Kompozit

We had a conversation with Tezkom Kompozit Board Chairman Emre Tezgören about the company's establishment process and the products they have offered to the industry.

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

I was born in Eskişehir in 1982. I graduated from Istanbul University with degrees in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry. I completed my Master's degree at Manchester University in Polymer Materials. For many years, I have been engaged in R&D activities at our group companies Eskim Kimya and Tezkom Kompozit. Can you tell us about your company's development process from its foundation to today? Tezkom Kompozit Teknolojileri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. was established in 2013 in Eskişehir Organized Industrial Zone with an R&D innovation project on 3,000 m² of closed space and 7,000 m² total area. In 2015, the company relocated to a new facility with 13,000 m² of closed space and a total area of 25,000 m² in order to respond faster to customer needs and offer innovative solutions to the market with new R&D products. What can you tell us about your company's vision, mission and quality policy? Our mission is to make the Tezkom Kompozit Teknolojileri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. brand recognized not only in Turkey but worldwide, to be a solution partner by recommending quality and affordable composite products to our customers, and to facilitate life by producing products that our customers find difficult to imagine and implement. What can you tell us about your factory's production capacity? Our factory carries out pultrusion and grating production. Through our R&D work in profile production using pultrusion, we have doubled our production capacity, reaching up to 450 tons per month. With the moulds we recently added to our grating park, we have the capacity to produce 7,000 square meters of grating per month.

Can you provide information about your laboratory and R&D work?

In our 1,500 m² laboratory, we can perform all types of mechanical and chemical tests applicable to composite materials. We have a laboratory that is better equipped than most university laboratories in our country. In our ongoing TUBITAK TEYDEB project, we aim to adapt polyurethane resin to pultrusion technology and produce much more durable products. We also have an ongoing KOSGEB project related to the use of fire-resistant phenolic resin in pultrusion and grating production. In 2013, we reached the finals at the 3rd SME and Entrepreneurship Awards and represented Eskişehir. Through these R&D efforts, we aim to bring high value-added products to the market. Can you tell us about your products and product groups? Which sectors do you serve? Using pultrusion profile drawing, grating production and hand-lamination manufacturing technologies, we produce special composite solutions for the needs of construction, chemical, defense, food, agriculture, maritime, aerospace and automotive industries.

Can you provide detailed information about your products serving the composite sector?

With our Ctp profile, grating and hand-lamination products manufactured in our factory, we serve many areas in our country. Due to Ctp material's resistance to corrosion, being four times lighter than metal, maintaining its color for many years without requiring paint, and its durability, water cooling towers, treatment facilities, power plants and industrial facilities prefer it. Additionally, our Ctp profile products are the only ones in Turkey to hold the 13706-2 certificate. In addition to manufacturing according to project specifications, we also carry out turnkey projects through our professional teams. We also produce special profiles according to customer requests. We operate treatment facilities in the Thrace Region where we carry out all Ctp manufacturing, and we play an important role both in promoting composite products and in the Ergene River rescue project. Beyond these, we act as a solution partner to companies operating in areas such as automotive and defense industry by creating special designs and producing products according to needs. Can you provide information about your employee profile? We have a total of 60 employees: 15 successful and reliable administrative staff and 45 hardworking and dynamic blue-collar workers, each of whom is very valuable and work dedicatedly for our factory and customers. What activities are you undertaking for environmental protection and occupational safety? Protecting our environment and taking necessary measures is a priority for all of us. Tezkom, which has an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, ensures the effective implementation of this standard. Our solid and liquid chemical waste is handed over to contracted companies and disposed of by these companies without harming the environment. Waste packaging used for recycling is sent to recycling companies for recycling. Tezkom has an OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System and continues its efforts with expert personnel to ensure effective implementation of this standard and to develop individual responsibility awareness regarding employee health and occupational safety.

Do you provide after-sales support to your customers?

In the event of customer complaints after sales, we observe the problem on site, gather information, and after resolving the issue through studies conducted in our R&D laboratory, we compensate the customer's losses. How was 2015 for your company? Can you tell our readers about your projects and objectives for 2016? Are there any new products you are considering bringing to the market? We achieved and exceeded our production and sales targets for all our products in 2015. Our objectives for 2016 are to increase our production capacity by 50% and to become a pioneer in the composite sector by undertaking European Union projects.

What do you think about the composite sector in Turkey? What should be done for the sector's development?

There is a developing composite sector in Turkey. I believe that as companies make more investments in R&D over time, the sector will develop further. Do you have a message you would like to convey to the industry? I would like to see more investments made that will contribute to the country's economy.