We will Expand Our Sales and Marketing Network to Take More Place in the World Markets
Interview : Dilek Hayırlı
Uğur Makina Regional Sales Manager Yavuz Kurtuluş said that the recent economic contraction has also negatively affected the textile and garment industry and added: “Turkey will continue to be one of the world’s leading textile manufacturers with its strong infrastructure, advanced design and innovation capability and fast supply opportunities.”
For 55 years, Uğur Makina, one of the most important companies in the textile-garment and sewing machinery sector in Turkey and the neighbouring region, was established in Eminönü in 1969. In 1985, the company was renamed as Uğur Tekstil Makinaları Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. and in 1994, the company also started its operations in Izmir.
Uğur Makina, which has been the supplier of Brother sewing machines, one of Japan’s distinguished brands, since the 1970s, has been the representative of Brother in Turkey since 1997. Since 2005, Uğur Makina has been the representative of Japanese Yamato, the world technology leader in chain stitch sewing machines, overlock and interlock stitch machines, which are especially preferred in underwear and combed cotton production, in Turkey and in the nearby geography.

YYAMATO * FD-62SD-LF-07MS-01 / SM / CUTTER: Four needle six thread lock machine.
Uğur Makina is the representative of SipItaly-Italy for denim automation machines, A.S.S.-Germany for outerwear automation machines, Merrow-USA for abutted seam sewing machine and oyster stitch machines, Morgan-Italy for cutting and finishing systems, Macpi-Italy for ironing systems, Gbos-China for laser machines, Eastman-USA for cutting motors, Hirose-Japan for rotating hooks and Schmetz-Germany for sewing needles.
We interviewed with Yavuz Kurtuluş, Regional Sales Manager of Uğur Makina, one of the well-established companies in the textile and garment industry, for our Tekstil Teknoloji magazine. Kurtuluş evaluated the textile and garment industry in parallel with the recent developments in the Turkish and world economy and explained the road map they followed against the economic contraction.
We left 9 months of 2024 behind. How was 2024 for Uğur Makina? What are your expectations and targets for the rest of 2024 and 2025?
The year 2024 marks a period in which economies all over the world slow down and purchasing power decreases in almost all countries. The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey’s monetary policies of high interest rates and low exchange rates caused deviations from the targets in all sectors. Since the increase in the value of the exchange rate lagged far behind the inflation rate and the production costs in Turkey were higher than the increase in the exchange rate in Turkish lira, it became difficult to meet the prices in export orders. Since this chain problem also negatively affects the sales of sewing machines, sales in 2024 will fall behind the targeted numbers and amounts. If this high interest rate low exchange rate practice continues, it is highly likely that similar situations will be experienced in 2025.
Can you give information about the sectoral strength and product range of the companies you represent in the Turkish market?

BROTHER * S-7300A-903P: Direct drive oil-free electronic flat lockstitch machine
All the brands we represent are the companies that produce the highest level of technology in their fields. Brother introduced the world’s first electronic feed control stepping motor system (DigiFlex Feeding) to the sector and created a new world standard for lock stitch sewing machines. Yamato’s overlock and interlock stitch machines combine oil sealing, superior oil insulation, high sewing speed and high sewing quality. The Oil Stain Free Sewing Technology ensures that the oil circulating in the machine is continuously filtered, while point lubrication and a special oil sealing system make it possible to keep oil away from textiles during sewing. ‘Self Cleaner’, a patented system known as the looper zone cleaning system, is specially designed for Yamato overlock machines. This system prolongs machine life by cleaning textile pile. SipItaly is the leading Italian brand in the sector with the widest product range of denim automation machines worldwide. Brands such as A.S.S. Germany, Merrow America and Morgan Italy are preferred especially for exporting textile manufacturers with their high-tech machines and equipment.
How do the companies you represent implement technological innovations? How do they approach current trends in the garment industry such as sustainability, digitalisation, environmentally friendly product policy?

YAMATO * VG3511 / LUCK * ST 250: Skirt interlock machine
We offer technological solutions to the sector with the world brands we represent and our own registered brand ‘Luck’ series machines and equipment. DigiFlex Feeding, the world’s first electronic stepping motor controlled gear system in Brother products and automation systems we developed with Brother, oil sealing and looper area cleaning systems developed by Yamato against the chronic oil problem in the sector, fabric and energy saving provided by Morgan Tecnica by cutting with zero waste can be given as examples of these solutions. In addition, our new generation sewing machines and equipment are developing in parallel with today’s technology in terms of hardware and software in line with Industry 4.0.
How will the garment factories of the future change in the next 5-10 years? How is Uğur Makina preparing for this change?
Textile and sewing machine technologies, which are expected to become increasingly digitalised in the process, will develop with artificial intelligence-based solutions and will affect the competition in the sector. It is inevitable that textile and garment sewing machines will shift from a labour-intensive axis to an automation-intensive axis with developing automation systems. In parallel with these developments, Green Production approaches will gain weight with the integration of digital transformation and social responsibility projects. Uğur Makina will prioritise artificial intelligence-supported automation within the framework of the green concept in its own brand ‘Luck’ products as well as the brands it distributes.
“Turkey will Continue to be One of the World’s Leading Textile Producers”
What kind of changes and demands do you observe in local and international customer demands? How do these changes affect the strategies of Uğur Makina?
The worldwide troubles and decline in demand are leading to a contraction in sales in domestic and foreign markets. With the deepening deterioration in the manufacturing sector due to demand, the contraction in economies continues. In addition to the decline in the purchasing power of the wage earners at home, the economic contraction felt in Germany and France, the two largest economies of the Eurozone, to which we export the most, is expected to continue. Many textile garment producing countries including China are experiencing the effects of this economic contraction. The exchange rate that remains low compared to inflation, increasing energy and labour costs, decreasing consumer demand as a result of the worldwide economic stagnation lead to a decrease in domestic sales. In exports, orders are shifting to competitors with cheap labour such as Egypt, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Vietnam.
What can you say about the advantages and disadvantages of the Turkish textile and garment industry in international competition?
Turkey has a strategic importance between Europe and Asia due to its geographical location. This facilitates access to both raw materials and export markets. Thanks to qualified small, medium and large-scale manufacturers, we are a key country for the production of a wide variety and small quantity orders.
Compared to countries such as Egypt, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, etc., labour costs are increasing, which affects competitiveness. High interest rates, low exchange rates and fluctuations in the Turkish lira create uncertainty by affecting import and export costs. In the face of rising costs in parallel with high inflation, the low increase in the exchange rate leads to the problem of not being able to match the price of export orders. Despite all these, Turkey will continue to be one of the world’s leading textile manufacturers with its strong infrastructure, advanced design and innovation capability and fast supply opportunities.
“We Expect Positive Contributions of Garment Tech to Garment Sector and Exports”
How do global economic fluctuations and geopolitical risks affect the sector? What kind of strategies do you develop to cope with such risks?
The global economic outlook, which has a negative impact on the world as a whole, is causing fluctuations everywhere, including in developed countries. Tensions and conflicts in the Middle East region are expanding and increasing serious geopolitical risks. Considering that the tension and economic problems in this region cannot be solved in the short term, we will expand our sales and marketing network to take part in world markets with automation, technological machinery and equipment.
Can you give information about the products and technologies you will exhibit at Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition? What can you say about what the fair brings to the garment machinery sector?
For 55 years, we have been producing technological solutions for the sector with sewing machines, vending machines and systems that create added value on machinery and equipment with the most recognised brands of the textile-garment sewing machines and equipment sector and our own registered brand ‘Luck’.
We contribute to increase the quality in textile garment production in domestic and foreign markets with the world’s most prestigious machines and productivity enhancing systems. In this context, we will be the supplier of potential projects for new investments in many domestic and international projects at Garment Tech Istanbul Fair. We expect Garment Tech Istanbul Fair to contribute positively to the textile and garment industry and our exports.