Automotive Exports August 2022

DORA offers
competitive
products for
the automotive
aftermarket
industry
Targeting to have a good place in the
Russian market, Dora serves in a variety
of industries. As a reliable supplier and a
professional business partner, Dora has an
interesting story behind their success. We
asked the details of their success story to
Mehmet Fatih Sakallı, the official of Dora.
Could you mention about the history
of DORA?
Before 2007, my partners and I were
working in different companies. With
the encouragement of our friends, we
bought a secondhand CNC lathe and
started to produce some small parts.
At the beginning, it was very difficult
for us to manage it. Accounting, taxes,
social insurance, purchasing etc. were all
unfamiliar for us. We only knew how to
produce it because of that we had to cope
with many problems. But at the same time
the demand was unexpectedly increasing.
In a couple of years, we bought second
and third machines. We moved to a bigger
place. To be honest, we did not expect that
much to the favor of us but we were always
honored by positive developments. After
that we decided to be selective on both
products and customers. Because it was
very uncontrolled growing and everything
could be upside down suddenly. Then
we specialized on some product groups.
Sustainability of both the products and
the customers became our priority as a
management principle. Afterwards our
field of activities still diversified but in
independent and more professional ways.
At present, as DORA CNC, DORA Industry,
DORA SP Automotive, DORA Construction
and TURKON we have been serving in
different fields.
What are the policies you have
determined to increase customer
satisfaction?
At the beginning we were not producing
only automotive parts. We produced
various mechanical parts or semi-products
to the companies serving in renewable
energy, agriculture and machinery sectors
as well. Most of our customers were local
companies that we know each other
before. Since they are also experienced
on production, their recommendations
were very helpful for us to improve the
product quality. That time, we realized
that the experiences of other producers
and the end users are very valuable for us
to improve ourselves. Because of that we
evaluate all the recommendations from our
customers, end users and our colleagues.
What products do you have in your
brand’s product range?
As DORA SP, we produce water pumps,
water pump housings, release levers, oil
hand pumps and some more mechanical
parts for commercial vehicles.
DORA Industry produces hose crimping
machines with its own brand.
TURKON produces various parts in
renewable energy and automotive sector
for other manufacturers.
Can you tell us about your supply network
and distribution channels?
For last 2 years we have been exporting
our products with our own brand. Now
we are directly exporting to Arabian
countries, European countries and African
countries. But our products are being
exported to nearly all over the world by
other distributers with various brands. We
do not have any local dealers yet but in a
couple of years we will have to make some
dealership agreements.
Do you consider investing in different
areas of the automotive industry?
We planned to gather a team to study
on the electronical parts of the vehicles
including the software and afterwards to
invest on it. But the pandemic and the
following economic crisis all over the world
delayed our program. But it still in our
program. We are just waiting for the right
time.
What would you like to add and highlight
in the interview?
Russian market is very important for us
because the quality of the products like
water pump or housing is much more
important due to the weather conditions.
As soon as the Russian suppliers and end
users use our products and satisfied about
quality, we hope that we will establish long
term relations with Russian companies.
AUGUST 2022 14