General

CEMRESAN GETS TECHNOLOGY ALSO WITH MALKAN
We had a conversation with Recep Özdemir who is one of the partners of Cemresan that make an important progress and being shining star in 5 year, about their investments and expectations of the future.

1) Mr. Recep, Could you kindly introduce yourself to us briefly?
I was born in 1982 in Bartın, Amasra. But we can say that I am from Istanbul born and bred because of moving to Istanbul. I graduated from primary school. I got open minded character for innovation technology and knowledge which due to my vision. I am married and I have 3 daughters.

2) How did you meet garment and ready wear industry?
Frankly, I can say that textile and garment industry is my father’s profession. I am continuing it. I met with textile in my primary school years. I started as an apprentice near my father and I liked this profession. I decided to continue to this profession. I am in this sector from those days.

I am locked myself into this profession and I am very glad to be in this sector, considerably. I am working eagerly and additionally progressing and developing provide to attach to my job even more.

3) What would you like to say about Cemresan from its establishment to today?
We decided to establish to Cemresan Tekstil in 2010 with Recep Özdemir, Cemal Balçık and Murat Şahin. We started to establish it in second half of 2010 and in 2011 we started to produce suits and jackets with 11 employees in Sultangazi in 700 sqm area. After that we succeed in this production and in the same year we extended our production area from 700 sqm to 1400 sqm. Just after that in 2012 we started to work in 2.100 sqm area. Finally today, we produce our product in 5000 sqm closed area in Arnavutköy with 210 employees. We are trying to develop to Cemresan. We reached this position in a very short time and it is really so nice. I think that we care about quality. We work with outstanding companies and we produce for other brands. Choosing to us this companies are the source of our pride. We start to export. Our new purpose is to expand abroad and to show ours difference.

4) How is the situation of this sector and your company in 2015? Could you kindly tell something about your investments if there are?
2015 is passing very hard compared to 2014. Especially in textile sector, economic slowdown has occurred. But we have ignored it and have thought that how we can turn the economic crisis into the advantage and we made strides for expanding the company. Because every crisis contains opportunities within itself…

We bought this factory which is 5000 sqm in 2015 and established best technologic machine section. And we started to export. We are glad to state of affairs. We think that market Fluctuations are not be able to deflect our target.

5) What do you pay attention when you are investing for your plant? What is the most important factor when you choose new equipments?
We care about to quality of everything from soup to nuts. It is the highest priority. We are trying to abide this principle about buying equipments. Our plant is very important for us. It should make things easier, it should be high technology and it shouldn’t damage our quality, on the contrary it should help us for scaling up our quality. As well as the quality, I think that it is important to use local machineries.

We should take support in every matter. I should find every part of the machines which I demand. In recent years fashion has changed very rapidly especially about the sewing of jacket. At this point, mold of presses and apparatus of equipments which you are using are very important. We should realize how we can find out the most suitable form to the model. Accordingly, cooperation with the manufacturer is very important, also. Unfortunately, we have no possibility to find native alternative for sewing machines but for the ironing equipments it is possible. Malkan Machinery is very ideal alternative for us. Its ironing presses can compete with World brands.

6) What do you think about your preference of Malkan as a local brand? Is this true preference? Are you pleased with Malkan?
We could definitely tell you that is an excellent choice by only one Word. Brand that matches our products and quality and a local brand ….this is so important. We have known Malkan for years and we also hear about it too. We had an idea by visiting the other factories that Malkan supplied for and we received good comments about it. This is how we started to work with Malkan and happy about it. Whenever we need service and provide it the fastest way. They are so close to us when we are demanding something. They do not only sell machine they also advised us how to proceed with on controls of our jacket production line. They are also would like to share their experience and information. They satisfy us with their technology and quality as well as the employees of Malkan. And we are also suggestion Malkan to many companies around us.

7) What are your expectations about your company and sector in 2016?
We are very hopeful for 2016 as Cemresan. We will continue to develop our company. We would like to perform to necessary investments without delay. In these days, our country needs political and economic stability. We are ready for trying to reach this stability. We would like to announce our quality both in up country and abroad. We will continue to work in this direction.

We had been in a nice conversation with Mr. Mikail Benli who is the general manager of RGZ Tekstil ( Ragazzo). RGZ Tekstil is active in Izmir which is known the center of suit production in Turkey.

Could you introduce yourself to us?
I am Mikail Benli. I was born in Kayseri. I graduated from university. We produce suit.

When and where did you start your profession?
I started in Istanbul, Beyoglu in 1984. I started this profession in custom made tailor. Enthusiasm of sewing suites has never gone through me. When I studied at the same time I was learning to technical details of this profession. And of course I was getting more enthusiastic as I earn much money and learn.

Do you like your profession?
Yes, sure. Because if this profession is not be like by the person, it is a very difficult to perform it. We work entirely base on manpower. In this work there isn’t any slightest error margin. We are doing milimetric sums over the cloth. Maybe this explanation is cliche but if you don’t like your job, it is impossible to be successful. Also, I want to add one more thing, you should like people as you like your profession. Because your profession is with people.

How many employees are there in your factory? What is your production capacity? Could you tell us something about your company?
Our daily production capacity is 1000 pcs suites. We are doing this production with 250 employees. Our company started production in 1991 in Izmir. Its production bases on men-suit. Our production both in up country and abroad. It moved its new factory in 2015. We are continuing our production in 5000 m2 square area with the last system machine section.

Why did you move new and bigger area?
Our company moved to its new factory for the purpose of meeting demands in time and more quality way which are requested from abroad. Our company has started to product more quality way and according to this, demands are increasing. For meeting these demands we need to move newer and bigger area. Both addition machine section and increasing the production rate depend on it.

You work with well branded companies in Turkey; it must be hard to bear the responsibility of it…
Yes, you are right. Companies which we work with together precisely and sub-production way are well-branded companies in Turkey. It needs to show more attention to their production. Except from this, these companies always check over to us. For this reason, our quality and ability to do work arise perpetually. With moving to new place we produce our production with by own brand. Our main target is to move this brand to the abroad and to be well branded. Maybe the responsibility will be higher.

Could you tell us something about machine section? What did you pay attention when you bought these machines?
Our company has all necessary special equipment’s for producing more quality way. In the machine selection we have created our machinery section by choosing well branded companies. We have very big experience. We chose products and brands which can be effective for us. I think that we gave best decision about buying ironing presses. Jackets which are produced by us look so beautiful after iron. In this regard, I would like to thank MALKAN MACHINERY.

Shall we say that Malkan Makine has gained your trust with the pressing systems?
Surely, according to our research the company has got more experiences, technological advantages and has more market share over the European rivals. They manufactured pressing systems which is suitable for our jaquette. Their after sales services is good and they are always behind the quality of their machines. They brought the machine here, set it up and submitted it to me as such. They also gave me user guidance trainings. I got some friends who are using ironing machines bought from Europe and they complain a lot due to that they have not seen any after sales service from the companies. In this respect we are very satisfied from MALKAN MACHINERY.

What would you say for suit production and the future of your profession?
The suit manufacturing is a job that seeks conscientious. Hence, the equipments that you have in your company should be in a level of providing you these possibilities. In our sector, day in day out, the cost are raising. To be a consistent and outstanding company from now on our company will pay attention to branding. Well-equipped team, technological machine line and with visionary aims would love to be successful in cloth sewing, to a well-known brand and to have a competitive advantage.

Mr. Mikail thank you very much for this interview to you… We wish to you successful professional life. We need new factories and productions in Turkey. I also thank you for contributing to this.

Employee satisfaction is always prioritizing for Malkan Machinery. Malkan Machinery organized a picnic on 16 May in Kemerburgaz in this year, for the purpose of providing funny time, increasing morale and motivation to its employee out of working place.

Malkan Machinery employees, employees’ families and dealers spent their weekend holiday in Kemerburgaz picnic area. In this organization with the participation of 420 people, all employees spent very nice time and let off steam.

The picnic programme started with the breakfast, in the picnic programme with the participation of children and adults various games and races were organized. Malkan employees and their families both competed and had a funny time with various games like gunny suck race, egg-and-spoone race and tug of war.

After quite enjoyable and challenging competitions, picnic continued with treating of barbecue. Employees had a really funny time till the evening.

General Manager Mustafa Alkan said that “I hope to go on this traditional picnic with high level of participation which has continued for 20 years for the purpose of increasing motivation and socializing employees.”

Malkan Machinery employees had a very nice time in this enjoyable picnic. At the end of the day, employees felt sweet tiredness and took leave by taking photo all together and planning to be together in next year.

In the last five years, both in Turkey and in the so many countries, native and foreign brands which are investing money to sector of ready-wear garment are attentive to prefer MALKAN in their project.

MALKAN Machinery which was established in 1971 is continuing its effectiveness both in domestic market and in outside market when it leaves behind 43 years.

MALKAN especially in the last ten years, thanks to innovations which are regarding to PLC full automatic special iron presses saves his specialties of the first preference.

By this means while it is continuing its market leadership since the day of the establishing, It has been in competition in the entire world especially with German and Italian competitors.

In this matter against cheap and poor quality Chinese goods, high quality and technology, against expensive European hand iron the advantage of the very low price and quality Malkan is so successful.

Malkan machine today, is doing the production in 8.600 m2 close factory area and have got the 7000 variety of product range and has the capacity of 15000 unit of annual production. The company now became an exporter of % 40 of its ironing equipments to 87 countries worldwide.

Malkan who has impeccable and high quality process of the material, thanks to well-educated engineer and technical staff with high technologic CNC and laser cut machines .In this production line, Malkan has deserved the most high quality brand in the national and international area.

And also in the its sector firstly it took ISO-9001:2008 certification in May 2000.

Up until now, Malkan Machinery has performed its permanent recruitment and improving uninterruptedly.

For these advantages, Malkan who has ever-growing market share graphic is contributing with its products to the big projects in 2014 both in up country and in abroad. About this issue there are so many examples which are given below:

1. 1. DAMAT–TWEEN/GİRESUN: When it is called men wear in Turkey, Damat-Tween recurs in mind as a first brand. In the new factory which is going to start in producing in the first quarter of 2015. Damat-Tween is establishing its ironing systems with Malkan Machinery completely for its new investment in 2015. 3000 quantities of production addition is being added to the daily 4000 quantities of production capacity in the available manufacturing plant and in this new plant in the all intermediary irons and final finishing presses all machinary equipmets are being specially produced by Malkan for Damat-Tween’s typical figure of smartness. In this way, Malkan has added a very important and big ring to chain which is in the forefront of the ready garment producer in Turkey.

1. 1. AVANTGARDE (AGİLOĞLU)/İZMİR: A new star is arising in Izmir in which there are prominent producers in the men ready wear sector in our country. It is turn-ready project which is actualized by Malkan Machinery from A to Z for both producing its own brand and fason production. All equipments which are used in intermediary irons and final finishing presses are Malkan brand. It started production on 1 January 2015 and they completed their setup in 2014.

1. 1. MARENGO (AYPATEKS) TEKSTİL/KIRKLARELİ: Marengo is the youngest and fastest growing brand in the Turkey, which is composed by Aypateks. It exports to Middle East, North Countries and North Africa and also so many countries in Europe. At the same time there are 600 selling points in Turkey. It’s past and and experience of production go back to 1960s and it started to product in 1999. The first reason of rapid rising is combining the most modern stylish fabrics and materials with modern and comfortable formwork. With the possessed modern and easy mold structure, the compatible ironing forms of Malkan that it has met last year, discovered high tech level ironing press and in 2014, all the ironing equipments needs or supply was obtained from Malkan.

1. 1. SİR (KOSTÜM) GİYİM/İZMİR: It was established in İzmir in 1967. It has targeted to be one of the members in weave ready wear sector with innovative consideration. SİR / Kostüm Giyim Tic. Aş. which focuses on the customer satisfaction with the modern technology, that it supplies garments to the world well-known brands and as well as premier companies in home. Besides the fason production, it also prepares, suits, coat and etc. for Sir Brand and fason customers which are reflecting the seasonal trends. It has worked with Malkan in the purchasing and selling project in new production plant to where ıt moved to 9000 sq.m feet factory during 2014. There are 550 employees and 390000 items of production capacity.

1. 1. KLASMEN/İSTANBUL: Klasmen has established its new own manufacturing plant by 2014 after ten years of very successful expansion process ,By doing contract manufacturing in 2004, it entered to ready wear and men-ready wear sector. As well as its own brands like ANTONİ ZEEMAN and TORRES, ıt is producing to some of prominent brands of market. After its establishment in a very short time, it is producing daily 450-500 pieces. In its own manufacturing plant Klasmen has preferred to Malkan in the so many intermediary irons and final finishing presses. In as much as harmony between mold and shape which are used in Malkan’s presses, It has become first preference for the firms like Klasmen which attached importance to high quality and standard production besides from the pieces.

1. 1. ALJEKA/POLONYA: The firm wants to progress in both high quality and standard production, by tapping into from AB founds, ıt has preferred to MALKAN from our country in the field of investment of complete ironing sets. Although the domination of German brands of irons in Poland market and strong references, It has preferred Turkish brand by thinking of both Malkan’s high quality and low cost of irons. By doubling up the production capacity in the 6 months, Aljeka starts to product more quality suits. And recognizes to preference to Malkan is the right choice in such a short time.

1. 1. ŞÖHRET TEKSTİL/ÖZBEKİSTAN: Şöhret Tekstil is the last member which is attributing to Malkan family in 2014. In the line with the demands from its customers for the purpose of reaching target both in the quality and quantity of rising, ıt has supplied its complete equipment of ironing from Malkan. According to the demands which are wanted by customers of the firm for reaching the its target both to quality and to piece, it has preferred to Malkan in its new investments.

Besides from these projects which are actualized with the contribution of Malkan, in the last five years so many ready wear garment factories has actualized new investments via Malkan’s distributor network. Mainly; In Egypt worldwide known shirt producer ISMACO (Ermenegildo Zegna), famous brands of Turkey MAVİ JEANS, COLİN’S and TAHA GİYİM (LCW), the biggest suit producer of Egypt AVISHAN and SALAR, TEKSTİLE LİBOS, MONİNUR LİBOSLARİ, BAGİRA TEKS, OFS, FAHİR TEKS, SPRİD PLYUS has a fame manufacturing men suits in Uzbekistan. SOLEY TEKS, JV INWESTTEX, KALORAMA, UZTEX which are knit fabric in Uzbekistan, BOYBO GROUP, ALKIM TEKSTİL, BAYTEKS, ARGE FASHION, BURSEL, FLEMİNGO and KONTEX are well-known in Turkey, in Lithuania Danish pants producer F.ENGEL, the most famous pant producer in Kyrgyzstan BOOSER LUKS, the most well-known suit brand in Poland ELLES, BLACKBERRY which exports from India to Europe, BITOPI GROUP which has the capacity of 6000 items daily production in Bangladesh and in Azerbaijan MIRZAYEF and AKKORD TEKSTİL and the producer of combed cotton ALYANS TEKSTİL.

Customers who have great name brand have chosen with great pleasure and satisfaction the MALKAN products in their capacity increasing or opening new plant in producing generally men suit, trouser and jacket works in the last years.

Malkan has targeted providing the the best service and quality to its customers with its latest technology in developing new ongoing factory which has 20.000 sq.m closed area in Hadımkoy, ISTANBUL that MALKAN is the opening window to World in Textile and Confectionary sector of Turkey.

When it is called men-wear ın Turkey, Damat-Tween recurs in mind as a first brand. Damat-Tween is establishing its ironing systems with MALKAN MACHINERY completely for ıts new investment in 2015.

During the years, in this territory, ready garment products under the name of the Damat-Tween which are being produced by people of this country with big patience have been a well-known brand the entire world. Orka Holding, which is pioneer in the sector of retailing and branding to abroad, is continuing its investment without slowing down in view of increasing demand day by day for producing more.

In the new factory which is going to start producing in the first quarter of 2015, being established in Giresun and offering an employment opportunity, is being continued to work non-stop. In this new investment, Orka Group has chosen the world famous-native brand MALKAN which is being cheery of our country’s cheek in the field of producing ready garment in the recent years as a key-ready supplier for complete ironing systems.

3000 quantity of production addition is being added to the daily 4000 quantity of production capacity in the available manufacturing plant and in this new plant in the all intermediary irons and final finishing presses, all machinery equipment’s are being specially produced by Malkan for Damat-Tween’s typical figure of smartness. In this way, MALKAN has added a very important and big ring to chain which is in the forefront of the ready garment producer in Turkey.

Government encouragement started off their solutions. Through to Anatolian investments, especially the number of garment factories increases and they started manufacturing qualified jobs.

Last 10 years MALKAN machinery had really good investments with this investments jacket and trousers manufacturer factories had good profit and they started making qualified jobs. Also MALKAN machinery stops the exchange to go out from our country.

Before this time form ıron presses was coming from foreign countries but through MALKAN machinery investments the form ıron presses are not coming from outside. MALKAN machinery is manufacturing these presses in their own facilities and presenting to market.

With the Ar-ge Works MALKAN machinery makes costumer job easier with the last version technology product manufacture and helps with best qualified product manufacture. Especially southeastern Anatolia area through to government encouragement with new factories and best jobs they do.

For example; Companies located in Kahramanmaras- Terkansan Textile, Ak confection, Yenipınar confection. Companies located in Adana- Taskınırmak (İmza clothing), Aytek trousers and lastly in Malatya LC Waikiki clothing.

Conversations that we have,

Terkonsan Textile Business Corporation Owner – MR. İhsan KURTAR Say’s;
I choose MALKAN because in our job ironing systems are taking really important place. We can say that our sewing suit systems make up. According to this we are working with MALKAN 20 years. İn our investigations we decided to buy MALKAN products. We are really happy to use MALKAN machinery ıron presses and counters. Jacket work means mold work and MALKAN machinery made us a special molds, with full automatic PLC presses we get more than what we want. After this solutions our new trousers manufacture system is coming from MALKAN again. For ME MALKAN brand encouraged us because of their low prices and qualified products. I choose MALKAN and I am really happy.

Ak Confection Business Corporation Owner – MR. Ali Rıza KALAY Say’s,
I choose MALKAN because we are working in this industry 18 years. Before this day we always work with our capital after this day we are thinking to continue working same. We are earning the Money hard and we need to spend like we earn. When we first thinking to renew our ıroning plant our specialty looking was the best quality and low price according to the quality and also helping us with our requests and making machines as our request. We were looking a company like this and we found MALKAN. Before this year’s we saw that in Maras our industry members was using MALKAN and this shows that we choose true and best company. Also one thing is makes me really proud which is a native company and making best qualified technology products.

Taskınırmak (İMZA) Dressing Business Corporation Owner – MR. İsmail TAŞKINIRMAK Say’s,
I choose MALKAN because the company is native and making qualified technological products. Solution partner is really important because if that partner gives you unproblematic and qualified products this will reflect to your job. We are really happy to work with MALKAN machinery because MALKAN finds best solutions for the ıroning plants. Our first reason to choose MALKAN was, we saw a lot of machines from MALKAN in Europe and when we search it we saw that MALKAN has more specialties. Also their 43 years’ experience and esteem makes me believe and trust to MALKAN brand and after the sale their service system solutions makes me more proud.

Readymade garment industry, investor, supplier is getting bigger with government encouragement. Anatolian investment shows this clearly.

CLOTHING MACHINERY 2014 Fair was held in the exhibition area approximately 100,000 m² and with company representatives from 26 countries, with the participation of 467 companies between April 24 to 27, a total of 9 TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center in the hall. Sector in 2014, which is the largest gathering in the world, and this year with the success of the twenty-fourth of Garment Machinery Exhibition, held MALKAN MACHINE took place between the participants.

Sixty countries, more than 40,000 visitors welcome in the fair, to be held since the first day in a row that participated MALKAN MACHINE is a pioneer firm still exhibited many signs. 43 years in Turkey, in the production of industrial ironing equipment MALKAN offer visitors innovation in the industry standard bearer from the hands of domestic brands continue to put forward the claim.

Malkan Machinery Manager made a general assessment of this year’s fair Metin Kılıç; observing a serious increase in the quality of the visitor profile said. Thank Tüyap team and employees in the organization Kılıç “We exchanged of views on almost all of our colleagues from the profile of the visitors said they were very satisfied. In our assessment before the exhibition ‘at this year’s fair MALKAN’s wind will blow again’ we said. We proud of being the only company With advanced technology and high quality standards of our products, to exhibit in working in a factory environment and our colleagues in this respect domestic and European participants. We saw quite impressed both domestic and abroad all the visitors coming to our booth. Even during the exhibition many meetings have spots with order intake. This gives us a great pleasure and peace of mind,” he said.

12 countries from Abroad, domestically from 16 purchasing committees from different regions and a total of 69 provinces, thanks to the exhibition professional visitors participating companies Kılıç; “Malkan Machine’s jackets and pants, especially PLC equipped with full automatic ironing presses of the world’s centenarians can say that solidified its place among the leading brands“ said. In Turkey Izmir, Adana, Bursa and Istanbul concentrated on readymade garments manufacturers serve as well as abroad in recent years, especially Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Poland markets seriously sized projects to implement started. In the recent past, especially German companies that dominate the market superiority of our quality, our prices and our reliable after sales service began to break. Customer interviews showed that we have done in this situation and will continue to increase in the coming period in our favor, we are experiencing the joy of seeing,” he said.

Kılıç also stressed that as exhibitors we joined this exhibition with very large expenses and repatriation costs in the short term this is not possible, “We believe that this size is actually an international fair held every 3 years instead of 2 years.” We observed that many of our colleagues at the fair started to put a request in this direction. We also expect incentives and support programs from domestic and international trade fairs in the relevant ministries and agencies. We will continue to express this situation at every platform,” he said.

Turkey’s leading and world-renowned brand manufacturers serving the APS pants CLOTHING its investments in the year 2013, in a local brand itself choosed MALKAN as a solution partner. APS CLOTHING’s production facilities in Amasya Merzifon, Mechanical Engineer Maintenance and Technical Officer of the company Sener Sen gentleman made an assessment of recent studies.

Mr. Sener Sen, please introduce you to us briefly?
I was born in 1979 in Amasya. I am Mechanical Engineer and have 2 children. APS has been going for 42 years; I’m 10 years in this field. I opened my eyes in the garment industry in the profession and I’m still going. As an industry that requires constant research exciting and I break off from the industry.

How did you meet with Clothing and apparel industry?
My occupation is Mechanical Engineer, I started in the construction of firm and I’m still continuing. After graduating from school, I had other plans, I worked in different sectors about 2 years, but once you start working in the sector, as I mentioned previously constant excitement and innovation in the sector more tied me and still keep the first day’s excitement and eagerness.

What can you say about development about APS Clothing Since its establishment?
APS, 30 m², starting from a small shop these days, 10.000m² in Istanbul, 22.000m² closed, 41.000m² including 19.000m² open ‘in Merzifon continues to be one of the biggest factory production in the sector. Followed closely by technological advances, innovation, and open to experienced personnel, a company that has become a model organization in the sector. Today, APS has become a key supplier of products in the U.S. and Europe’s most important brands.

What was the situation of your company and the sector in 2013? Could you please tell us about your investment if you have?
2013 was a busy year for our company. I think it is the best in the industry. Our business investment continues for high quality and fast. In 2013, we have made investment in the production and productivity-enhancing tracking system, vending group, ironing set and interlining the press group

What do you pay attention to while investing in the machinery? What are the most important factors that influence the choice of new equipment?
We are sewing pants. Current capacity of our facilities in Merzifon is 6,000 pants day. We aim to increase our capacity. We have to select machines that appropriate to our business, will not trouble us in the purchase of machinery, service and spare parts shortages. Except for the points I mentioned earlier in the selection of new machines by looking at energy consumption and by getting information from people who use the market will decide.

What do you think about your choice in purchases of domestic brands for Iron? Was it right choice? Are you pleased with MALKAN?
There are no firms manufacturing sewing machine in Turkey. Naturally, these machines have received from abroad. But we have purchased from Malkan all of our board and our press afterwards that. Malkan has invested a lot to this sector. 5-10 years ago while we purchased abroad, now getting from Malkan. It is very pleased for us as a domestic firm. So that we provide the resources to remain at home. We are pleased with Malkan and their presses. Malkan not only product quality and after-sales support services but also complete turn-key project works in partnership with the correct address. That’s why we are seeing extremely prudent decision.

What are your predictions and your expectations about the sector and firm in 2014?
The goal of our company is to grow in 2014. As we and our firms, such as Malkan shoulder to shoulder with local machinery suppliers to increase the quality and performance studies will contribute positively to the country’s industry.

World-renowned German menswear brand ROY ROBSON, carrying production of suit in the Aegean Free Zone in Izmir, established their 3rd band with MALKAN again.
Roy Robson, which is established Berlin, Germany in 1922 as a small store in the city, especially a well-known brand in men’s clothing in Europe, began in 2008 to expand its production investments in Turkey. Approximately at the end of 5 years that doubled their production capacity, Roy Robson is planning to commission a new additional building in 2014 to main factory building which is located in Aegean Free Zone.

We have received opinions of Timur Sengezer, company’s CEO in Turkey, related to the topics.

Can you introduce yourself Mr. Timur?
I was born in Germany and grew up there. I completed my studies in Germany. My main occupation is electronic mechanical engineering PLC programming. However, I improved myself on garment industry thanks to my passion for fashion. I worked at many clothing companies as an executive. I started my career with, still a famous German clothing brand, Hugo Boss in Turkey in 1999.I worked as an executive at the company until the end of 2003.And I founded my own consulting firm in 2004.I brought Roy Robson to Turkey in 2008 and made convince to do the production here. Still, I am working as Roy Robson’s CEO in Turkey.

How did you convince to Roy Robson come to Turkey?
Roy Robson is a conservative company established for 90 years. Roy Robson gives importance both material and high quality standards in workmanship. These standards have to be met. Their production sites spreads over countries in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. In Turkey, there was no problem as the quality of workmanship. Turkey had a serious present garments which is long-standing infrastructure. Moreover, Turkey, compared to European countries, has cheaper labor. Particularly in the production of tailor-made suit, Izmir is cut out for this. Roy Robson prefers to use the German brand in production of machinery and equipment. However, especially the German brand machines and ironing equipment are getting very expensive investment in Turkey. At this point MALKAN MACHINE appeared to help us. Producing high technological level of the ironing equipment and perfect mold compatibility, it wasn’t very difficult for me to make convince Germans. It was enough asking a simple question to you; “Why buy a more expensive one while I could buy the same quality with the cheaper one?”

All around the world, especially big European firms insist using their country equipment’s brands on the firms that produce their goods. I suppose it was not easy for you to convince a German brand to include in cooperation with a Turkish brand. Could you please mention a little bit about this situation?
Yes, there was a feasibility study that spread over 2-3 years before we started our production in 2008.During this period, Roy Robson was very insistent in choosing especially German brands ironing equipment that has been using in other factories for years. However, I was counting on Malkan since used to know and witnessed their successful work. I was sure that they would also have confidence when they saw with their own eyes. For this reason, we had made a series of visits to Malkan for 6 months with Roy Robson’s quality manager, models and a team composed of technical responsible. We examined many critical press machines’ technical competence, such as forms and programming. Roy Robson was eventually convinced that Malkan’s machines could be used technically. There was no problem from a financial perspective. The only one left was relying on that tests and work samples had to show the same success in the ordered product. Malkan didn’t disappoint us.

Could you tell us a little bit of Roy Robson?
Roy Robson collections offer you a life style that developed in center of Luneburg for your business life and your daily activities. Preparation of products, workmanship and the quality of the mold are really paid attention at our product management and design department. In our product high-quality fabrics that prepared by well-known fabric company are used. Roy Robson all employees in the company’s production centers guarantee standards of quality in suits and jackets. Roy Robson’s total worldwide production network is 7,300 employees and 1,153 sales points. Products, produced in Turkey, begin with Poland, Germany, Bulgaria are exported to 42 countries including the Far East. There are currently 650 employees in our factory here. With additional factory investment the number of employees will up to 850-900 in 2014.

The new factory will produce again suit?
Yes. In fact, the project was supposed to manufacture shirt, but as the production quality in Turkey has been very high, compare to our factory that located in other countries, caused to increase, with a strategic decision, production capacity of suit in Turkey. We started with a capacity of 650 units’ suit at the first production in 2008.Currently we have reached 1300 suit per a day. Our goal is to remove that number to 2,000.Of course, during this period, we shouldn’t compromise the level of quality that we have. Malkan encouraged us to target those important considerations. Malkan, with qualified engineers and technicians, enable us to reach our goals. Malkan uses high quality products and world-renowned electro-pneumatic components. Programming capability of the machines allows us to capture quality in production easily and to minimize processing time. Above all, Malkan is very successful that required mold revisions and updates to adapt our models to changing fashion trends. You don’t need to seek another alternative with mentioned services; Understanding of turnkey service concept, limitless educational support and after-sales support services. For this reason we will prefer again Malkan products for the third band

Why did you choose Izmir for production?
As I’ve said before, Izmir has got a serious potential human resources and very important in the production of suit. We don’t have problem of finding qualified staff. We have many companies in Izmir that contract manufacturing to world famous clothing brands. As we prefer a local brand, Malkan, for our ironing machines, it causes that these firms also get in business with Malkan on new investments. We give reference to them. So the money is staying in our country. Therefore, in this respect it is a service to our country. Meanwhile, I’m originally from Izmir.

What would you say about the situation and market expectations for the year 2014?
Since we worked 100% as export, periodic troubles of domestic market do not affect us so much. However, Turkey did not live a very serious crisis thanks to economic stability in recent years. I hope; we will continue our investments as we planned without too influence from the warm atmosphere of politics.