“We Hope the Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition Support the Recovery of the Industry”
Interview: Dilek HAYIRLI
Caner Vural, Chairman of the Board at Malkan Makina: “We are hopeful for the second half of 2025. With the improving economy and the contribution of the exhibition, we expect the sector to recover somewhat. Hopefully, Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition will continue to be a milestone for the industry in the future, just as it is today.”
“We Joined Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition to Meet Three Years of Expectations”
Stating that Malkan Makina participated in the Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition with a strong presence, Caner Vural said: “There hasn’t been such a comprehensive exhibition in the sector for the past three years. That’s why we came with serious products. We showcased our industrial ironing solutions, our new steam boiler, and steam generators. We also updated our programs related to tracking previously produced items and generating new recipes for them, and participated in Garment Tech Istanbul accordingly.”
Energy Efficiency and Performance: Maximum Impact with Thermo Steam
Speaking about one of the company’s most prominent products, the Thermo Steam boiler, Vural explained: “It’s a product that, although slightly late for us, we finally decided must be in our portfolio. With this product, we developed various steam generators to maximize energy efficiency. Our goal is to provide dry steam with maximum efficiency to garment manufacturers.”
He emphasized that Thermo Steam can be used not only in textiles but also in sectors like food processing, and noted that such versatile products can offer added value to businesses.
A New Era in Automation with Artificial Intelligence Integration
Highlighting their assertive stance on artificial intelligence and automation, Caner Vural shared that they have short-, medium-, and long-term plans for incorporating AI into their automation systems. He continued: “Today, fabrics like wool or polyester are selected by personnel operating the machines. But our goal is for the machine to identify the fabric on its own, generate its own unique recipe, and automatically adjust parameters such as pressure and temperature. Currently, this system works with semi-artificial intelligence. In the medium term, we aim to transition to full AI.”
Vural also emphasized the advantage of accessing past production data, and noted that thanks to barcode systems, personnel and production tracking can now be done via mobile devices.
“A business owner, even if they are in China, can instantly access all data from their machine in Turkiye—steam consumption, vacuum use, energy consumption, malfunctions, which employee is working, and daily production quantities,” he added.
“We Expect the Exhibition to Spark Global Momentum in the Sector”
On the second day of the exhibition, Caner Vural shared his thoughts: “Typically, the third day is our peak, but the first day went very well. We expect the exhibition to bring not just regional, but global momentum to our sector.” He noted that while Turkish manufacturers can’t always offer a price advantage in some markets, production costs are lower in countries like Egypt and Morocco. However, when it comes to quality, Turkiye still stands out, and investors prioritizing quality continue to choose Turkiye.
Touching on Malkan’s presence in these markets, Vural said: “For us, the global market is one single space—Egypt, Morocco, or Vietnam, it doesn’t matter. With our technical capabilities, we’re able to sell in those markets too.”
“We Aim to Gain Four New Distributors During the Exhibition”
Vural emphasized that the exhibition is not just a sales platform for them, but also a key opportunity to expand their distributor network. “Our goal at each exhibition is to gain at least two new distributors. But since Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibitions such a major exhibition, we’ve set a higher target—gaining four distributors.” he explained.
“Although 2025 is Challenging, We’re Optimistic About 2026”
Reflecting on the first half of 2025, Vural said: “The first half of the year has been tough for the sector. Previously, one sale might come from 10 customer visits; now it takes 40 visits to secure a single sale. This clearly reflects the current economic challenges. But we are hopeful for the second half of 2025. With the improving economy and the contribution of Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition, we expect a partial recovery in the industry.” He also noted that rising exchange rates could make Turkiye’s quality advantage more competitive globally. “Hopefully, Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition will continue to be a turning point for the sector, just as it is today.” Vural concluded.
