“2026 Will Be a Year in Which We Will Take Our Vision of Opening Up to New Markets One Step Further”

Interview: Dilek Hayırlı

The Elteksmak journey, which began in the mid-1990s in a very modest workshop, has today evolved into a strong brand reaching global markets in the field of textile finishing machinery. With its focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and user-oriented automation, Elteksmak is preparing for a very special meeting with industry professionals at ITM 2026.

Increasing sustainability pressure in the textile industry, rising energy costs, and the need for digitalization are carrying the role of machine manufacturers to a more strategic point than ever before. Founded in 1994/1995, Elteksmak, with its expertise particularly focused on the drying and fixing stages of the textile finishing process, is today positioned as a reliable solution partner both in Türkiye and in global markets. In this interview conducted with Elteksmak Board Member and Commercial Coordinator Emrah Poslu, a comprehensive evaluation is presented, ranging from the company’s founding story to its R&D and production infrastructure, from its export strategy to its sustainability approach and preparations for ITM 2026.

How would you summarize Elteksmak’s journey from its establishment in 1994/1995 to today? Could you briefly share your starting point, initial goals, and where you stand today?

In those years, we actually made a very modest start. Our biggest goal, just as it is today, was to provide reliable and innovative solutions to the textile industry. We set out with a small team and great enthusiasm. Over the years, this enthusiasm has never diminished; on the contrary, it has grown even stronger with the experience we have gained.

At the point we have reached today, Elteksmak has become a brand known in international markets, extending beyond Türkiye. Thanks to our investments in R&D, the close relationships we have established with our customers, and our continuous improvement approach, we have reached a leading position in the sector.

In short, our journey that began in a small workshop has today turned into a company with a voice on a global scale. For us, the most valuable thing is that we have been able to preserve the passion and sincerity of the first day throughout this journey.

“All the Machines We Produce Help Manufacturers Make Their Production Processes More Efficient”

Could you define the main product groups you specialize in as a company? Which production needs do these machines address?

Our area of expertise is machines for the drying section of the textile finishing process. For example, continuous tumbler machines provide fabrics with softness, volume, cleanliness, and many other features, increasing comfort in all fabric types both in production and for the end user. Stenter machines serve a critical stage that determines many parameters such as fabric dimensions, shrinkage control, and structural quality before final processing. Conveyor dryers ensure homogeneous drying of knitted fabrics after wet processes and minimize dimensional deformation. Fixing machines guarantee the permanence of printed patterns and the vibrancy of colors. In addition to these, we also offer lamination and continuous washing options for the carpet sector, and we are the largest specialized company in this field both in Türkiye and worldwide. All the machines we produce help manufacturers both increase quality and make their production processes more efficient.

Elteksmak places great importance on producing machines with “energy efficiency,” “environmentally friendly design,” and “user-oriented automation & control systems.” What does this approach mean to you, and how does your machine development process based on these principles work?

For us, these concepts are more than ordinary technical criteria; they are part of our company culture. Competition in the textile industry is very intense; manufacturers have to both reduce their costs and move forward with sustainable solutions. Therefore, we place these three principles at the center of our machine development process.

Energy efficiency directly affects our customers’ production costs. Machines that consume less energy both reduce operating expenses and make a difference in terms of environmental responsibility. Environmentally friendly design, on the other hand, is a long-term commitment for us; we observe this sensitivity at every stage, from the materials we use to emission and waste management in processes. User-oriented automation and control systems facilitate the human side of the job. We continuously develop new software and control solutions so that operators can manage machines more easily, monitor processes more transparently, and minimize errors. In short, these three principles complement each other in our machine development process.

“While Designing Our Machines, We Also Take Future Sustainability Standards into Consideration”

In light of increasing sustainability, energy cost, and environmental sensitivity demands in today’s textile industry, how do Elteksmak machines respond to these new expectations? What do you provide in terms of water/energy savings, reduced chemical use, or waste reduction?

Although sustainability has been important in the textile industry from the very beginning, today it is taken into consideration by more people. Energy costs are rising, environmental sensitivity is increasing, and manufacturers expect concrete solutions in these areas. As Elteksmak, we develop our machines in line with these expectations.

Energy-saving solutions and environmental sensitivity can be considered the most important test for a machine manufacturer today. With special padding and dosing systems that can reduce chemical use and increase process speed, as well as state-of-the-art automation and control systems, we minimize errors and reduce material loss and the need for reprocessing for our customers.

While designing our machines, we take into account not only today’s production needs but also future sustainability standards. This approach helps our customers increase their competitiveness while also enabling them to fulfill their responsibilities toward the environment.

“Our Export Strategy Is Built on Making the Concept of Turkish Goods and Turkish Machinery Permanent in Every Geography”

Elteksmak machines are in demand not only in Türkiye but also in international markets. How is your export and overseas sales strategy shaped? Which regions stand out, and how do you evaluate the demand for the Elteksmak brand in global markets?

As we all know, Elteksmak’s story is no longer limited to Türkiye. While forming our export strategy, our priority is to be a reliable partner in regions where the textile industry is strong.

Asia has always been an important market for us; we actively operate in markets such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Iran, Russia, India, and Indonesia. In addition, we have activities in various regions of the African continent such as Egypt, Sudan, and South Africa. We are clearly in a leading position in our machine group, especially in the Russian and Egyptian markets. Our activities continue in the U.S.A. and Mexico. With machines operating in both markets, we are gradually increasing our market share.

Our export strategy is not only about making sales; it is built on establishing long-term business partnerships with the right strategies in every geography we operate in, and on making both the concept of Turkish Goods and Turkish Machinery permanent in these markets.

“Producing in Our Own Facility Gives Us Both Flexibility and Confidence”

Could you talk about your R&D and production infrastructure? How does producing everything “in-house,” from mechanical equipment to software/automation control systems, provide you with advantages? What does this structure add in terms of quality and service?

Our R&D and production infrastructure is our greatest strength. We produce everything in our own facility, from all mechanical components to software and automation control systems, and this provides us with very important advantages. First of all, we can fully control the design and production process. In this way, while designing or developing our machines, we can respond quickly to customer needs and implement necessary changes immediately. Our R&D team can transfer feedback from the field directly to the production line, which keeps the culture of continuous improvement alive. On the other hand, we guarantee quality. Since we produce in our own facility, we can inspect every stage, from the materials used to the assembly process. This structure ensures that our machines are long-lasting and reliable. At the same time, we can work much more systematically in terms of service and support. Because we develop all parts and software of our machines in-house, we can offer our customers much faster and more effective service. We can act independently in spare parts supply, software updates, or special solutions. In short, producing in our own facility gives us both flexibility and confidence.

How have technological changes in the sector—especially automation, digital control systems, and Industry 4.0–compatible lines—affected Elteksmak’s product and strategy approach? What innovations are you working on for this transformation?

All of these developments, as with many other companies, have been determining factors for us. We closely follow this transformation and develop our products accordingly. We use smart control systems in our machines; operators can manage the production process more easily and view data in real time. In addition, with remote access and data analysis features, our customers can use their machines more efficiently. Our work on Industry 4.0–compatible lines is also ongoing. We focus on enabling our machines to communicate with each other and on the digitalization of the production process. With its continuously developing infrastructure, Elteksmak machines are becoming a reliable partner in manufacturers’ digitalization journey.

Customer demands vary; some manufacturers produce home textiles, some towels, some printed fabrics, and some different types of fabrics. How does Elteksmak respond to this diversity? How “flexible / modular / customizable” are your machines?

Customer demands in the textile industry truly vary greatly, and in order to have a place in the market, you need to respond correctly to all demands. We combine our experience with the analyses of the technologists working within our company and clearly define the customer’s process and expectations from that process. Accordingly, our technical team discusses what changes should be made to our machines, what kind of equipment should be used, or what demands the customer may have from our machine.

From the very beginning, we design our machines to be flexible and adaptable to many processes, and we actually turn this diversity into an advantage. As we mentioned before, the main source of our global leadership in carpet lines is actually this flexibility. Thanks to this approach, our machines serve not just a single product group but different production areas. In other words, a home textile producer, a towel producer, a printed fabric producer, or a carpet or denim producer can all obtain performance suitable for their own needs from the same machine.

“For Us, the Concepts of Turkish Engineering and Turkish Machinery Are a Source of Pride”

In an environment where competition has globalized, how do you position yourselves as “Turkish engineering and machinery production”? How do you carry the Elteksmak brand and the “Made in Turkey” label in domestic and international markets?

For us, the concepts of Turkish Engineering and Turkish Machinery are a source of pride. While positioning the Elteksmak brand, we consider it our duty to highlight this identity both domestically and internationally. Because we do not only produce machines; we also represent Türkiye’s engineering strength and production capability.

Domestically, we benefit from the advantage of being one of the local manufacturers that best understands the needs of the sector. Our customers can easily reach us in terms of both technology and service, which reinforces trust. Internationally, we work to associate the “Made in Turkey” label with quality. Our machines are preferred across four continents and in different markets. The most important point here is that we can offer Turkish engineering not only with competitive costs but also with energy efficiency, environmentally friendly design, and user-oriented solutions.

What are Elteksmak’s expectations and targets for 2026? What are your plans regarding product development, new market expansions, sustainable production, quality standards, or technological investments?

I can actually state our targets for 2026 very clearly: to produce more efficient, more environmentally friendly, and more user-friendly machines. On the R&D side, we focus on developing systems that provide energy efficiency, environmental sensitivity, and minimum maintenance and repair costs. New markets are also on our agenda. While maintaining our strong presence in Asia and Africa, we want to be more present in America and Europe. Interest in sustainable production is increasing in these regions, and we want to respond to this need.

On the quality and service side, we aim to raise the bar even higher. We are strengthening certification processes in line with global standards. In terms of technology investments, we are carrying out studies on many topics such as Industry 4.0–compatible lines, machine learning, and enabling machines to remain connected to each other in a network.

2026 will be a year in which we will take one step further both our vision of opening up to new markets and our strategy of accelerating sustainability and digitalization investments.

“At ITM 2026, We Want to Showcase Both Our New Technologies and Our Vision for the Future”

How are you preparing for ITM 2026? What new machines, modernization solutions, or technological innovations do you plan to exhibit at the exhibition? What message do you aim to convey to global visitors with the Elteksmak brand in 2026?

ITM 2026 will be a very special meeting for us. While preparing for the exhibition, we plan to highlight both our new machines and the modernization solutions we have developed for our existing products. The message we want to give at the exhibition is very clear: Elteksmak is not just a machine manufacturer; it is a long-term business partner that is an expert in technology, quality, and efficiency. In short, at ITM 2026, we want to sincerely present both our new technologies and our future-oriented vision and to show global visitors the strength of Elteksmak.