Sarten Ambalaj - Packaging Europe

Turkey’s
growing
packaging
family
Mr Zeki, CEO
Even though much of Europe is experiencing an economic crisis, Turkish-based family-owned
packaging company Sarten Ambalaj is enjoying strong growth and it’s expected to continue.
Emma-Jane Batey spoke to managing director Mustafa Zeki Saribekir to find out more.
IN
the four years since Packaging Europe last interviewed
Sarten Ambalaj, the company has continued to grow at a
considerable pace. The largest family-owned metal packaging
company in Europe, Sarten employs around 500 people and has
an annual turnover of more than €300 million.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in May 2012, Sarten Ambalaj is
understandably proud of its long history, particularly as this is just one
way in which the company stands out from the competition. Managing
director Mustafa Zeki Saribekir told Packaging Europe, “It’s very important
in our region to value tradition and history, so our 40 years in
the metal packaging business is certainly valued both by us and by our
customers. It means that we understand business cycles as well as the
business itself, and we’ve amassed many years of experience of working
with the latest machinery, the latest packaging demands and the
practical logistics that make sure our customers receive their products
quickly and effectively.”
Expanding product range
Sarten Ambalaj manufactures a broad range of metal and plastic
packaging. It is primarily known for its metal cans, which are mainly
produced for customers in the field of food, agricultural chemicals,
paint, motor oil, edible oil and aerosol cans. The company is able to
Packaging Europe | 53 |

integrate special procedures into its main production line in order to
meet customer-specific demands alongside producing a standardised
range of products.
Its plastic packaging is mainly related to bottles, and it can produce
a range of styles from 50ml up to 30,000ml, with thin wall packaging
and plastic caps and closures that are 100 per cent leak-proof. Plastic
twist-off caps and other components are also available, and all Sarten
Ambalaj’s packaging and manufacturing meets the ISO 9001:2008 quality
certification accreditation.
Mr Saribekir added, “Maintaining high quality production is crucial.
Customers expect and deserve the very highest quality metal and plastic
packaging, and in order to keep our reputation for excellence we make
sure we meet and often exceed those expectations. Through regular
investment in our machinery and our staff training, we can guarantee
that each of our plants is operating to the best of its abilities.”
With its headquarters strategically located in Istanbul, Sarten Ambalaj
also has 10 production facilities across Turkey and additional
plants in Russia and Bulgaria. These locations ensure that it can deliver
to customers by a variety of transportation methods, which allows it
to be both cost-effective and follow the just-in-time principle. The company
has a total production area of 120,000m 2 in covered facilities and
a further 270,000m 2 in open area plants.
A dedicated regional player, Sarten’s locations highlight its clear focus
on its neighbouring countries. Its main market remains domestic, but
with exports currently standing at 30 per cent, companies in the region
are increasingly important.
Mr Saribekir continued, “Following a high level of investment, we
are expecting our growth in Russia to come into double digits in 2012,
with exports across Europe also performing well and contributing to
our impressive financial results. We also expect our domestic market to
continue to grow as there are exciting opportunities in Turkey, especially
for long-established family businesses like our as we have already
proved ourselves.”
While Mr Saribekir appreciates that the global crisis is likely to continue
throughout 2012 and the ongoing situation has caused challenges
for many manufacturers, Sarten Ambalaj has actually grown by more
| 54 | Packaging Europe

than 10 per cent during this time. The company has introduced new
products and services to meet the increased demand on its metal and
plastic packaging, including shaped aerosol cans and an increased offer
of plastic packaging solutions.
Strong regional growth
Another reason for the expected growth is that Sarten Ambalaj is
increasingly aware of and able to exploit beneficial market conditions in
North Africa and the Middle East. Mr Saribekir said, “The face of these
regions is changing and more companies, including both massive global
companies and local or regional players, are seeing increased purchasing
power and increased capacity. With this comes a greater need
for packaging solutions, and as we are well positioned to serve these
regions and have excellent understanding of what is required, we are
gaining considerable business.”
Sarten Ambalaj’s ability to gain market share in booming markets is
underpinned by its appreciation of what customers expect. Mr Saribekir
knows that customers could chose to take their packaging requirements
to companies in China instead, but he points out that Turkey offers the
same low-cost incentives but with the added advantages of being in the
same time zone and being able to deliver quickly.
He concluded, “We know that as long as we continue to offer innovative
products that meet the strictest standards, and that they are
delivered flexibly and more quickly than is possible to be delivered from
China, we will beat the competition wherever they are in the world.
With a 40-year history of servicing our customers across the region
and a very solid family-owned business foundation behind us, we are
understandably very positive about the future.”
Visit: www.sarten.com.tr
Packaging Europe | 55 |