“Our Hanging Ironing Robots Attracted Great Attention”
Interview: Dilek HAYIRLI
Süleyman Şahin, Marketing Manager at Silter said; “We strive to develop user-friendly solutions by integrating technology into our products. The latest models of hanging ironing robots attracted great attention at the Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition.”
Founded in 1983 as a machine manufacturer, Silter shifted its main field of activity to the textile and garment industry in 1986. It started to produce the ST / B 200 model iron, which is the most popular industrial type steam hand iron in the world, under the Silter brand. Silter, which has 25 different model / patented products, 76 design registered products, 55 trademark registrations and over 200 product varieties, continues to contribute to its customers by exporting 50% of its production to 82 countries. Silter Ütüleme Sistemleri, which has proven itself not only in our country but also in the global market with its world-class production approach and innovative, high-quality and advanced technologies, introduced its wide range of products at the Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition. Silter Marketing Manager Süleyman Şahin made evaluations for our Tekstil Teknoloji magazine on many topics, from the innovative products they exhibited at the exhibition to sectoral challenges.
Şahin, noting that they introduced their irons equipped with electronic systems at the exhibition, said, “We strive to develop user-friendly solutions by integrating technology into our products. The latest models of hanging ironing robots have attracted considerable interest. Artificial intelligence is an area our R&D department has been working on for a long time. We are developing systems that can adjust the ironing temperature according to the type of fabric. We still have a long way to go in this area, but we’ve taken the first steps.”
“Economic and Geopolitical Tensions Deeply Affect the Industry”
Emphasizing that Turkiye is going through a difficult economic period, Şahin stated that this situation has a serious impact on its production and export capacity. Şahin stated, “The crisis is not like past periods; we can’t see the end of the tunnel. Turkiye is experiencing a significant contraction in manufacturing due to manufacturers turning to other countries. This contraction is negatively impacting companies’ turnover by 50-60%. This situation will also negatively impact employment and could lead to social problems. At this point, the government needs to take some steps to bring back manufacturers who have gone abroad. They should be provided with certain conveniences.”
Şahin stated that regional issues and the economic downturn affected the Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition, adding that as a company exporting to 85 countries, they were expecting to make new initiatives at the exhibition, but the visitor profile was not at the level they had anticipated.
“If the Current Crisis Persists, Turkiye will Turn to Boutique Production”
Commenting on how companies should prepare for the future in a shrinking market, Şahin said, “If the current crisis persists, production in Turkiye will shift to a boutique style. Systems that enable greater production with less energy and less manpower will come to the fore. If this contraction is temporary, the sector may revive. However, companies that moved production to other countries, such as Egypt in the past, may return due to quality issues.”
“We are Passing Through a Stormy Sea”
Şahin, stating that his expectations for 2025 are extremely limited, concluded: “As an industry, we are in a stormy sea. We are going through a period where no one can see the future. Everyone is waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel, but that light hasn’t yet appeared. Every crisis creates an opportunity, and of course, we must continue to seek these opportunities.”
