2024 Has Been a Year of Growth and Transformation for ELiAR
Interview: Dilek Hayırlı
ELiAR Export Sales and Marketing Leader Ata Turgutalp said; “The year 2024 has been a year of growth and transformation for ELiAR. As the benefits of automation in the textile sector became more widely recognized, the demand for our solutions increased significantly.”
We interviewed with ELiAR Export Sales & Marketing Leader Ata Turgutalp for our Tekstil Teknoloji magazine. Evaluating the year 2024, Turgutalp talked about the company’s R&D vision, digital transformation processes, export markets and 2025 goals. Stating that 2025 will be a year in which the Turkish textile sector will take major steps, especially in the areas of sustainability and digitalization, Turgutalp said, ” With our R&D-focused approach, we will maintain our goal of technological leadership not only in Turkey but also in global markets.”
With 40 years of engineering expertise and R&D strength, what leadership vision do you foresee for the future of the industry? What are your goals in the areas of digitalization and sustainability? How do you see ELiAR’s position in the textile industry 10 years from now?
At ELiAR, we have been a leader in textile automation with 40-year engineering experience and a strong R&D vision. We believe that three key factors will shape the future of the industry: digitalization, quality, and sustainability. In this direction, our “Lights-Out” vision aims to create fully automated production systems with minimal human intervention.
Our primary objective in digitalization and sustainability is to help our customers improve production efficiency while minimizing their environmental impact. Innovative solutions focused on energy efficiency, resource optimization, and reducing waste and production defects form the cornerstone of this vision. We foresee the textile industry reaching a technological level comparable to today’s automotive sector within the next 10 years. As pioneers of this transformation, we will continue to maintain our technological leadership in the global market and invest in R&D to shape the future of the textile industry.
“Digital Transformation is a Revolutionary Process for the Textile Industry”
The process of digital transformation is becoming increasingly important in the textile sector. How do you foresee the use of artificial intelligence and digital twins shaping the future of the industry? How is ELiAR contributing to this transformation?
Digital transformation is a revolutionary process for the textile industry, especially in terms of production efficiency, quality control, and cost management. Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twins make it possible to achieve flawless results in production processes and optimize resource usage. With rising energy and labor costs, the need for these technologies is becoming increasingly evident. At ELiAR, we play a significant role in this transformation with our Digital Factory solutions and Smart Sensors. These technologies enable factories to monitor production processes in real-time, achieve instant optimization, and control costs effectively. By providing benefits such as process optimization and chemical savings, we help our customers become more sustainable and competitive.
How do ELiAR’s automation solutions create a competitive advantage in the textile industry? Can you provide specific examples?
ELiAR’s automation solutions offer tangible advantages to our customers in the highly competitive global market. With our “Right First Time” principle, we reduce production defects, optimize resource usage, and minimize operational costs. For example, our integrated solutions enable the management of all processes—from production planning to dosing and process control—through a single ecosystem. This leads to significant gains in efficiency and cost reduction. Additionally, the user-friendly nature of these systems helps our customers manage their processes faster and more effectively.
How do you evaluate the use of artificial intelligence and predictive maintenance technologies in your customer satisfaction processes?
Artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive maintenance technologies are redefining not only production processes but also customer satisfaction. Our predictive maintenance systems identify potential failures in advance, minimizing production disruptions and ensuring seamless operations for our customers. At ELiAR, we leverage machine learning and AI in international projects. For example, the AI solution we introduced at ITM 2024 analyzes historical production data to determine optimal production parameters and ensures automated control of processes. This not only reduces operator errors but also standardizes production quality. Furthermore, our remote monitoring and fault diagnosis systems offer proactive support to our customers, helping them reduce maintenance costs and ensure production continuity.
What are your new goals and strategies in the global market? How are you differentiating yourselves in regions like North Africa and South America?
Each region in the global market presents unique challenges and opportunities. For instance, while energy costs are a critical issue in some regions, labor costs or water consumption may take precedence in others. With 40 years of experience, ELiAR develops tailored strategies to meet the specific needs of each market. In the growing textile markets of North Africa and South America, our strategic partnerships with local distributors enable us to provide on-site and prompt support to our customers. Our solutions, designed to meet the modernization needs of these regions, highlight our distinctiveness in the market. By offering energy-efficient automation systems tailored to the needs of emerging markets, we are sustaining our growth in these regions. Following our success in markets like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Egypt, we see new opportunities for growth in modernizing the textile industry in other emerging markets.
“We Turned These Challenges Into Opportunities by Providing Solutions”
How would you evaluate the year 2024 for your company? What strategies did you use to address challenges?
The year 2024 has been a year of growth and transformation for ELiAR. As the benefits of automation in the textile sector became more widely recognized, the demand for our solutions increased significantly. Despite economic crises and currency fluctuations, we turned these challenges into opportunities by providing solutions that meet our customers’ needs for cost reduction and efficiency improvement. Competition in the market continues to shape industry needs and dynamics. At this point, our efficiency-enhancing solutions and consumption tracking systems have enabled us to stand out during this period. Thanks to our sustainable growth strategy, we successfully closed the year 2024.
“The Year 2025 is Expected to be a Milestone in the Areas of Sustainability and Digitalization”
What are your expectations and goals for the Turkish textile and machinery industry in 2025?
The year 2025 is expected to be a milestone for the Turkish textile industry, particularly in the areas of sustainability and digitalization. To support this transformation, we will continue investing in the technological infrastructure that the industry requires. At ELiAR, we aim to lead the sector with AI-powered process optimization systems, full automatic automation technologies, and advanced factory management solutions. Collaborations with institutions like TÜBİTAK and Horizon Europe, particularly in robotics and AI projects, will be our driving force in this process. With our R&D-focused approach, we will maintain our goal of technological leadership not only in Turkey but also in global markets. By offering innovative products and services tailored to industry needs, we aim to shape the future of the Turkish textile sector.
