Expanding Its Export Markets, Tekspa will Open an Office in the USA Next Year
Interview: Dilek Hayırlı
Tekspa, which carries out the sales and marketing activities of technical textile felts with high technological features, was established in 2005 as a family company. The company, which saw the deficit in the felt production sector in 2010 and started to invest in this field; Today, it exports to more than 50 countries, mainly in Europe, America and South Africa.
We interviewed with Emrah Kaya, Founder of Tekspa Inc. for our Technical Textiles and Nonwoven Technologies magazine. Expressing that they aim to increase their export rate from 40% to 50% in 2023, Kaya said; “We are planning to open an office in America for the North American market next year.”
Can you tell us about your product portfolio, usage areas and production capacity?
We have 3 production lines in our structure. Our monthly production capacity is 280 tons. Our main goal is; to be present in all industrial areas where felt is used. We have now achieved 60% of this goal. Automotive sub-industry, medical, carpet and textile etc. We are actively working in sectors such as Our goal in the product range in the future is to produce quality and value-added products.
“We are in the process of purchasing our 4th production line ”
What do you pay attention to in order to maintain your competitive power and quality while investing in machinery and technology in your production facility?
We participate in all exhibition organizations organized for the nonwoven sector around the world. In this exhibition, we meet with machine manufacturers and exchange ideas for new production lines and products. We are in talks with companies for machines that we can produce both more qualified products and high efficiency. In fact, we have reached the final stage of our negotiations with a Far East company to purchase our 4th production line.
How much of your production do you export? What are the countries/regions you export to? In this direction, what can you say about your sales network and structuring in the world?
We can export 40% of our current production. We aim to increase this rate to at least 50% in 2023. We are progressing effectively in the European and North African market. For the Asian market, we currently only work with Pakistan due to cultural proximity, but the Asian market is an extremely competitive environment for us. We are planning to open an office in America for the North American market next year.
“We Are Planning to Use Renewable Energy Products in Our New Factory to Be Established in 2 Years”
We can say that sustainability, digitalization and environmentally friendly production are among the most important agendas of the whole world in recent years. As Tekspa, what kind of steps do you take on these issues? Do you work on sustainable products?
Sustainability and carbon footprint have been our company’s motto for the last 3 years. 60% of the fibers we use are recycle. We are currently working on recycling with the local district administration where our factory is located. Our goal is to produce high quality products using zero waste and fully recycled products. We are planning to use renewable energy products in our new factory, which we plan to build in two years.
How do you evaluate Turkey’s success in the market in terms of technical textiles and nonwovens production? What should be done to get a bigger share of the technical textiles pie?
Turkey is geographically located in the center of the world, as everyone has stated, and this is a great advantage for us. Since we have a hardworking and practical thinking structure, all manufacturers respond to their customers quickly and solution-oriented. This always makes Turkey a choice. However, raw material prices and high labor costs prevent us from competing with the Far East market. Even if we cannot exceed this, we hope that our government will provide long-term low-interest loan supports to the manufacturing companies for the machines that can get high efficiency.
How was the year 2022 for your company? What are your expectations for 2023? Do you have new product and investment plans?
The year 2022 has been quite productive and good for us after the pandemic. In 2023, we aim to grow steadily by increasing our export share. We want to put our 4th production line into operation in the last quarter of the year in order to achieve higher efficiency this year.
