Automotive August 2021

all the original automotive equipment
manufacturers (OEMs), both internationally
and locally.
Are you planning on new investments?
We have a factory construction that is
solar-powered. We believe the factory will
be a role model, because we want it to fully
operate on solar energy, which will serve
our aim to go fully green.
What does it take for a factory to be
categorized as ‘green’?
First off, we plan to use solar energy. I’m
talking about a factory that is solar-walled,
with the roof covered with solar panels to
generate the energy needed. We already
use some technical features such as heat
pump on the ground. We are determined
to build a green factory by increasing
the capacity of those technologies and
integrating potential others that we do not
have in the factory. The goal is to recycle as
much energy and heat you have emitted as
possible. To be able to do that, you need a
design that is precisely made. If one designs
products using excessive and unnecessary
raw material, it not only harms the nature
but also leads to the depletion of world
resources. Whatever we need in nature is
in abundance. We just need to do our full
share of work and ask of nature for only
what we need for production.
There is a fast-paced change in the sector,
in favor of electric vehicles. How do you
think you will be keeping up?
To be honest, the automotive industry
undergoes a major transition in terms of
production. Of course, change is inevitable,
but no matter what, cars must have a
body, a skeleton, and that’s what we do…
We manufacture what is needed. In the
meantime, different products are on our
agenda, like aluminum high-strength steels,
battery carriers for new-generation cars.
As the use of electric vehicles is increasing,
we are considering AL Battery Carrier,
which will surely make a difference in our
product portfolio in line with our strategies
and developmental goals. We will deal
more with value-added products such as
chassis parts that require more assembly
and labor. In that regard, we carry out our
R&D studies with a team of 80 people, with
a budget of approximately 4 million Euros
per year.
Where do you think Turkey is in terms of
this very industry?
Our sub-industry is really strong. We
also have no issues in terms of about
our all personnel. As a country, we have
everything to prepare the meal, so to
speak. I think we should focus more
on software, because in the future, the
software, which is 40% on vehicles now,
seems to increase and vehicles will turn
into robots. We should not miss the train.
To conclude, there is a great need to our
country for this sector in terms of suppliers,
infrastructure, quality and workforce.
Europe needs our resources. We should
take advantage of the situation.
You have been honored with several
awards from MESS (Turkish Metal
Industrialists’ Union). Can you tell us
about what they were for and their R&D
processes?
We have been granted with 3 awards
in return for our 3 R&D projects, which
are ‘Human Detection Using Artificial
Intelligence in Press Lines’, ‘Ceiling Crane
Centering Laser Sensor’ and ‘Automatic
Labelling’. Thanks to our R&D studies,
we have developed a system to identify
human and human limbs by using cameras
supported by artificial intelligence. That’s
how we ensured that the press would stop
automatically for all the potential risky
combinations. The other one is that we
developed an automatic device, suggested
by our operators, to reduce the physical load
the operators had to undergo. That’s how
we have managed to minimize the load for
the staff doing sheet marking process. We
prioritize the goal of zero error by constantly
handling all the production processes in
terms of occupational health and safety.
33 August 2021