In the interview we held, BASF Chemetall Turkey General Manager Ms. Ebru Pilavcı Erişi answered our questions. Erişi gave information about BASF Chemetall’s products and technologies.
Could you please briefly tell us about yourself, your educational and professional background?
I have B.S. degree in Chemistry from METU followed by MBA from Bilgi University. I have started working in Betek Boya in R&D in 1997. Then I moved to Ankara and started working in Likrom Analytical Solutions as sales specialist till 2007. Afterwards I came back to İstanbul and started working in Evonik for 13.5 years at different positions in sales. I was responsible of paint additives and specialty resins in Turkey and MEA region. And since September, 2020 I am the managing director in BASF Chemetall Turkey.
Could you please give information about Chemetall’s history and milestones? What’s the current structure of Chemetall today?
Chemetall is a company founded on tradition, value and experience dating back to the 19th century when it was part of Metallgesellschaft (mg) a German-based organization.
Headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, Chemetall is nowadays a leading global surface treatment company with more than 20 production sites, 40 subsidiaries and 2500
employees worldwide.
December 2016 is an important milestone for Chemetall. BASF has completed its acquisition of Albemarle’s global surface treatment business, Chemetall. Through this acquisition, BASF’s Coatings division expands its portfolio to become a more complete solution provider.
BASF combines its know-how in chemistry and coatings applications with Chemetall’s market-leading expertise in surface treatment. The combined businesses will benefit from each other’s global infrastructure, scale and market access, driving new growth opportunities by offering an unmatched solutions competence to customers. Chemetall’s
Turkey activities has started at 1988 when Chemetall acquired Side Kimya A.Ş. and changed name to Bonder Kimya A.Ş. and same year production of Surface Treatment chemicals has started at Gebze Plant. Company changed its name to Chemetall to use international brand at 1997. At 2008, Chemetall moved to the new plant, which is located at TOSB (Taysad Organize Sanayi Bölgesi)-Çayırova.
To which industries and with what kind of products does Chemetall mainly serve? Could you please give information about Chemetall’s products, brands and services?
Chemetall develops and manufactures tailor-made technology and system solutions for applied surface technology. The products protect metals from corrosion, facilitate
forming and treatment, prepare parts optimally for the painting process and ensure excellent coating adhesion. The products are used in a variety of industries and end markets such as automotive, aerospace, aluminium finish ing and metal forming. The chemical treatment of metal surfaces is Chemetall’s core competence. The focus of the worldwide activities is on the development and implemen tation of customized technology and system solutions for surface treatment.
Globally established product ranges, for example Oxsilan®, Gardobond®, Ardrox® and Naftoseal®, have played a leading role in shaping metal treatment. Our surface treatment products and processes include: Cleaners and etchants, Corrosion protection, Conversion coat ings including chrome-free pretreatments, Thin organic coatings and primers, Lubricants for cold forming, Chemicals for waste water treatment, Paint strippers and paint detackification, Non-destructive testing materials and equipment, aircraft sealants.
Besides such products, one of our core strengths is our complete on-site technical service offerings such as line service and chemical management, laboratory trials to optimize pre-treatment processes, laboratory application of various types of coatings, advanced chemical and surface analyses, testing of components and panels according to international standards and finally customer trainings.
Could you please tell about your domestic and international sales activities? To which regions and what kind of products does Chemetall mainly sell?
Chemetall’s Surface Technology activities can be found all over the world. More than 2,500 employees work at the company’s headquarters in Frankfurt am Main (Germany) or in one of the many branch offices and production facilities around the world. A close and partnership-based exchange at the local level enables us to develop optimal customer solutions for a sustainable business success. In Turkey we supply to domestic market as well as some export to UAE, Azerbaican and Egypt. We have our own sales
team and 3 distributors who can cover whole Turkey.
Could you please give information about Chemetall’s innovation and R&D studies? Do you have any projects that were developed in the context of university - industry cooperation?
Chemical processes for surface treatment are constantly changing. This is down to perpetual global economic changes and the resulting customer demands, the legal framework, and the industrial production processes, on the one hand, while scientific and technical innovations open up new possibilities for surface treatment, on the other.
A growing number of different and new metallic and nonmetallic surfaces, shorter treatment times as well as reduced energy, water and chemicals consumptions are examples of the demands which we must address when adapting our existing products in the same way as when developing ground-breaking new technologies. The success of our R&D strategies is demonstrated by the more than 1,200 patents and patent applications which we currently hold in the field of surface treatment and also by the numerous innovations that we have already successfully established in the market.
Chemetall‘s integrated system solutions enable our customers to increase their productivity. In recent years, the company has developed and launched breakthrough innovations. In view of our commitment to new technologies, the company has built up a strong network of R&D links with all major industries, steel and aluminium producers, many research institutes, trade associations and universities.
We can name some of our innovations such as OXSILAN®: Silane-based pretreatment alternatives to zinc phosphate processes, Permatreat® 1903: Chrome-free pretreatment for can-end stock and food container applications, Gardobond® X 4661 (SAM): Chrome-free pretreatment for aluminum wheels, Gardomer®: Lubricants for metal forming and NAFTOSEAL®: Low-density sealants for the aircraft industry. We have opted for a global set up of our R&D organization to utilize our know-how worldwide, keep it up to date and be able to meet regional particularities. Most of our R&D experts work in one of our excellently equipped centres of competence in Frankfurt am Main (Germany), New Providence (USA) or Shanghai (China). In addition, smaller projects are handled
in numerous local laboratories operated by Chemetall.
Could you please give information about Chemetall’s environmental policy and sustainability approach? What kind of works and studies are performed in the area of worker health and safety?
Our principles concerning health and environmental protection as well as occupational and safety are stipulated in our Quality -respectively SHE- Management Guide. Health
and environmental protection as well as occupational and laboratory safety are values to which we are committed, and which are equivalent to the economic goals of our company.
To us, health and environmental protection as well as occupational and safety mean acting in full agreement with the applicable laws and regulations. The prevention and
reduction of environmental effects during the production, storage, transport and use of our products and their subsequent disposal are the goal and permanent challenge of
research, development and production. Raw materials and recyclable waste are used to the extent possible, and energy sources are consumed economically to protect the environment and the resources.
Waste that can be neither recycled nor reused is safely disposed of in accordance with existing regulations. We regularly control and review the environmental effects of our operations, and we use any information gained through such reviews to operate and optimize our facilities and their workplaces in such a way as to minimize the effects of our activities on the environment and our employees’ health.
Our Management Board and Site Managements review these policy guidelines on a regular basis to evaluate if they apply to the internal and external demands. If necessary, these guidelines will be adjusted.
What are the priority criteria of Chemetall when creating investment plans? Does Chemetall have any investment plans for near and far future?
Our growth and investment plans go hand in hand with our customers because as whole company we are dedicated to them. And as a global market leader, we are well aware
that our success depends on our close cooperation with customers. We aspire to provide value and solutions for them through premium quality processes, on-time deliveries, and outstanding technical services.
We have a wide experience in operating in diversified markets and understand our customers’ needs and processes – Chemetall can offer tailormade solutions. Our goal is always to seek new and better ways to create added value for our customers. The new facility in China which is the largest investment in Chemetall’s history will be expected start operation at 2021, which is expected to strengthen our position in Asian market.
