Dilmenler Closed 2022 with Record Turnover
İsmail Şengüler, General Manager of DMS Dilmenler
With more than 30 years of experience, DMS Dilmenler Makine ve Tekstil San. ve Tic. A.Ş. closed the year 2022 with record sales and export figures. Dilmenler, which increased its sales by almost 100% between 2021-2022, is preparing for 2023 with its new projects and ongoing investments. In 2021, Dilmenler ranked 848th in the top 1000 exporters list in Turkey, 22nd in the ‘machinery and components’ sector and 1st in textile machinery.
DMS exports more than 75% of its production to the world market. DMS, which plays an important role for the Turkish market, serves many countries such as Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Iran, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, China, Russia, England, India, Portugal, Israel, Egypt, Syria, United States, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, Pakistan, Greece, Colombia, Poland, Brazil, Guatemala through its local representatives.
We conducted an interview with İsmail Şengüler, General Manager of DMS Dilmenler for ‘Turkey Textile Machinery Sector Special Issue’.
Explaining that they have experienced order intensity as a result of the positive differentiation of the sector despite the unfavorable conditions experienced during the pandemic process, Şengüler said that they have received intense orders especially since the second half of 2020. Şengüler describes the process in the following words: ‘‘After the pandemic process started, we were very worried about the sector. We thought it would have negative effects because we entered an uncertain period. At the end of this uncertain period, which lasted for a few months, we entered an intense order process, especially from the second half of 2020. After the third quarter of 2020, we entered a brisk manufacturing phase. In fact, we reached a customer density that will close the production capacity of 2021-2022 with a record. When we look at the world in general, China’s restriction of production activities with its zero Covid policy positively affected business volumes in most countries. Taking advantage of this opportunity, many countries experienced positive developments in the textile sector. Turkey was also positively affected by this situation. I think this process has been positive for the domestic manufacturing industry.’’
‘‘We know that the most important investment is in people’’
Evaluating the year 2022, Şengüler explained that as Dilmenler, they decided to invest independently of the situation before the pandemic period and emphasized that investment in people is the most important investment for the sector. Şengüler said the following on the subject; ‘‘Before all these processes, we had decided to make major investments in 2018 and 2019. We were designing projects to increase our capacity and get high efficiency from our factories. We decided that we needed to invest in buildings and equipment. At the same time, we know that the most important investment should be made in people, so we focused on this issue. The need for qualified personnel and employment is very important for the textile industry. In this direction, at the end of 2019, when we started our investments, we faced the pandemic process. Our concerns increased and we had many discussions on our investment decisions. Nevertheless, when we came to 2020, we managed to complete our investments. In this way, we have reached sufficient infrastructure and organization to respond to orders coming in 2020 and beyond. If we had not made this investment, we could still receive orders, but our infrastructure would not be at a level to meet this. By not leaving production and investment, we increased our turnover by 90% in 2021.’’
‘‘With the Megam project, we increased our production area and employment rates considerably’’
Stating that the machine installations have been completed, Şengüler announced that they have expanded the Megam Dyehouse, which they actively use. The dyehouse is planned to consist of two separate sections, the printing section and the dyeing technologies section. İsmail Şengüler expressed the following about the Megam Project; ‘‘The installation of our machines, the preparation of which is ongoing, has been completed. The last software processes of our laser engraving machine produced in our printing department remain. We are expanding our Megam Dyehouse. We are dividing our Megam Dyehouse, which has been active for years, into two parts, one for the printing department and the other for the dyeing technologies department. For example, the printing technologies department will complete all printing processes such as printing machine production, steaming, open width washing and stenter at a single point. With the Megam project, we also increased our production area and employment rates. We aim to increase productivity by enabling people who are experts in their fields to concentrate on their work and focus on a single job. Megam significantly supports our R&D efforts and helps us see our mistakes. It provides an important R&D opportunity for us.’’
‘‘We are prepared for 2023’’
As of 2023, Dilmenler is preparing to produce MBK PHOINIX 4.0 Rotary Printing Machine, the first rotary printing machine developed in-house and produced in Turkey, in its new factory in Selimpaşa. In the new facility built on 9800 m2 closed area with three floors, printing machines will be produced. Şengüler; “In our existing factory, we continue the production of our dye-finishing machines. We respond to our recently increasing orders in a short time with our expanded capacity. Our existing factory, which has increased capacity, currently meets the production of our dye-finishing machines. For this reason, we have invested in a new factory for the production of printing machines. We plan that our new factory will be fully active and operating at full capacity in June.
İsmail Şengüler said that after the second quarter of 2022, there was a slowdown in the textile customer’s purchasing desire and orders in foreign markets, and concluded his remarks as follows, “Our predictions for 2023 are uncertain, but we are prepared. We believe that there will be an improvement in the pace of the sector. Some companies operate at 50% capacity. Nevertheless, they do not stop their production completely. Even businesses damaged by these processes are working intensively to provide quality service to their customers.”
Interview: Özge Çağıl Sütcü
