Özen İplik offers innovative solutions in the production of solvent-based adhesives and
hot melt adhesives under Vera brand. In our interview, Mr. Engin Kalkan, CEO of Özen İplik,
shared information about the company’s fields of activity and the products they offer.
Could you briefly tell us about yourself, your educational and professional background?
My name is Engin Kalkan. I was born in Istanbul in 1977. After completing my undergraduate degree in Business Administration in English, I earned a master’s degree in financial investment. During my university years, I worked as a long-term intern in the foreign trade department of a bank. After completing my education, I started to work in various departments in our family company as of 2001 and I am currently the CEO.
Could you please outline the process that has developed since the establishment of your company?
Özen İplik started its activities in 1972 with the purchase and sale of yarns in a 12 square meter store in Mercan. The founders, chemical engineer Hasan Hüseyin Kalkan and chemical engineer Mehmet Ali Kalkan, started production in 1975 in a modest 100 square meter workshop in Kumkapı, Istanbul.
Özen Dyehouse was established in Esenyurt, Istanbul over an area of 1000 m². During this period, our company produced mercerized thread and moved to the workshop in Bayrampaşa, Istanbul in 1980 with an area of 3000 square meters to introduce the production of nylon sewing thread for the leather industry.
In 1990, high-strength polyester sewing thread was added to the product line. In 1997, with the participation of the second generation of family members, the main target became world markets. In line with these goals, we participate in international fairs and invest in R&D activities. In 2003, our factory was established in Kıraç, Istanbul, covering an area of 16,500 square meters.
In 2003, the company received OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 and SATRA quality assurance certificates and attained a position where it produces environmentally friendly products. In 2007, new investments were made to increase production capacity. In 2015, ISO 9001, ISO 14401 and ISO 45001 quality assurance certificates were added to the company.
Özen İplik exports to more than 60 countries with its domestic and international representatives and continues to grow with new investments. In 2019, in order to provide better service to our customers, we started to produce solvent-based adhesives and hotmelt adhesives under the Vera brand under VVera Kimyasal ve Dış Ticaret A.Ş. As with sewing thread, our sales target has been the foreign market. We are happy to serve our existing customers by expanding our product range every year.
Could you inform us about Özen İplik’s adhesive and sealing products?
Pressure sensitive adhesives are physically cured systems with a permanent adhesive property. Adhesion is achieved by applying pressure to the adhesive film; the greater the pressure, the better the adhesion. Pressure sensitive adhesives are frequently used in pre-coating processes due to their permanent adhesion, which allows materials to be bonded before and after the adhesive has dried. Therefore, bonding can be achieved regardless of the time and place where the adhesive is applied. Pressure sensitive adhesives of Vera are characterized by optimum adhesion to different materials, high flexibility and high strength.
Veramelt PSA adhesives are a series of pressure sensitive hotmelt adhesives developed for use in spongesponge/ sponge-felt bonding applications for the mattress industry. It has a long open time and provides aggressive adhesion performance for bonding polyethylene and various sponge substrates. Veramelt can be applied at low temperature, allowing for less energy consumption in production lines and the use of low weight materials. It is also transparent and odorless.
Pressure sensitive hot melt (PSA) adhesives have 100% solid content and are solvent-free. They also offer high production speeds due to short drying times, elastic bonding line and a wide range of adhesion to different materials. Pressure sensitive hot melt (PSA) adhesives
can smooth out surface irregularities. They can reactivate with heat and can therefore be used for pre-coating. Such adhesives can also be re-opened with combined heat, thus contributing to recycling.
Solvent-based adhesives based on thermoplastic elastomers (SBS or SIS adhesives) are usually applied with spray guns and have good spray performance and relatively high solid content. This group of adhesives can be applied to one or both materials. Most of the solvents evaporate during spraying, resulting in a high increase in adhesive viscosity. Vera adhesives have a very high contact adhesion during their open time. Joining materials with very small amounts of solvent present in the adhesive ensures proper wetting of the material to be joined and rapid establishment of initial strength, even with very little pressure or high pressure joining. After all solvents have evaporated, there should be no
adhesive residue. The bonded materials can be covered with fabric or other materials.
Some of the areas where Vera solvent based adhesives are used include mattress (sponge-sponge, felt-sponge, felt-felt), sofa (sponge-sponge, sponge-fabric, spongeboard or wood), furniture (sponge-wood, sponge-fabric, sponge-fabric, sponge-sponge) and automotive(car
seats sponge-sponge, sponge-fabric).
Vera adhesives offer many advantages such as high initial strength, excellent adhesion, good adhesion to a wide range of materials, long open time depending on the formula and high solid content. Other advantages include a high content of renewable raw materials, often being in the economical adhesive group and easy application by spraying.
Could you please inform us on Özen İplik’s domestic and international activities?
Özen İplik exports to 62 countries abroad. Our company, which has distributors in many parts of the world, is experiencing an upward trend in sales within the existing regions with OZEN İPLİK RUSSIA LTD. warehouse and office opened in 2014 and OZEN USA LLC company established in 2017.
Could you please explain the vision, mission and quality policy of Özen İplik?
Özen İplik reinforces its 50 years of know-how in sewing thread with the production of adhesives and continues to work towards becoming the solution partner of our customers.
