Being the leader of the set accelerators used in shotcrete fields, Akkim continues to grow in cement production and ready mixed concrete production sectors. Akkim aims to be the market leader in cement grinding chemicals with the growth momentum it has achieved in the last 1 year. We talked to Akkim Kimya Construction Chemicals Department Manager Korhan Dönmez, focusing on Akkim’s long-term goals.
“I can say that the point where we make the most difference is our approach. First of all, we prefer to be a good listener to our customers. We listen to the agenda, needs and demands of our customers, think by putting ourselves in their place, and try to find out how we can be beneficial to them. In this context, we sometimes host them in our R&D Center and share our laboratory facilities with them. By brainstorming here, we can develop new ideas, new methods and solutions together with them. We are able to offer tailor-made solutions and products for each client.”
Could you tell us more about Akkim Kimya?
Operating under Akkök Holding, one of Turkiye’s well-established industrial enterprises, Akkim started its journey with the production of one thousand tonnes of sulfur dioxide per year, and today it is one of the leading chemical manufacturers in Turkiye. Our annual production capacity in 5 different locations, mainly in Yalova, has reached 800 thousand tonnes. The sectors we serve range from textiles to construction, plastics to food, energy to water treatment and hygiene, petroleum to paper. Akkim products can be used in the water flowing from our taps, in the soap, detergent, softener, toothpaste, cleaning and packaging papers, some foods, pharmaceuticals, textile products, construction, mining and oil drilling sectors and many other consumer products.
We have an important position on both national and international level with the production of specialty chemicals that make life easier. As Akkim Kimya, we finalized 2022 with a turnover of around USD 550 million. We aim to reach a turnover of USD 1 billion in 2027 with our organic investments and company acquisition plans, which have an important place in our strategy. As a concrete step towards this goal, we will become the only producer in our country of this raw material, which has strategic value for many sectors, with our epoxy resin production facility investment in Yalova. We plan to commission our facility in the second half of 2024.
On the other hand, we aim to become the most important global and local special chemicals producer in the near future by carrying out R&D activities to reduce foreign dependency. With its position in the chemical industry, which is among the top three industries in exports, along with automotive and textile, our company exports one third of its production and increases its influence in more than 70 countries in 6 continents every day.
We are talking about chemistry, moreover construction chemicals. What are your sustainability policies and what have you achieved in sustainable production?
We have an understanding that adopts the principle of minimizing the impact on human and environmental health in all production processes. Akkim has made many innovations in terms of resource utilization and waste minimization. The use of environmentally friendly hydrogen peroxide-based products, the use of soy oil and peroxide-based products in the plastics industry, the use of sodium percarbonate, which is more environmentally friendly due to its low water solubility and instead of additives that add pollution to water, are some examples of the environmentally friendly products developed in the sectors it serves. As for construction chemicals, I can say that the existence of our products already serves sustainability and the protection of nature. As you know, the sectors with the highest carbon emissions are iron and steel production and cement production. The construction sector is generally in a position to increase the consumption of these two main products. The importance of construction chemicals under the heading of sustainability emerges at this point. The product that enables the production of concrete with the same compressive strength with less cement is concrete plasticizing chemicals. Again, the product that enables the production of cement with the same compressive strength with less clinker (semi-finished product) is cement grinding chemicals. We provide added value to many sectors with our construction chemicals products. While saving energy consumption with our Low Emission Special Additive Series products in cement production, we enable the production of environmentally friendly buildings with low carbon dioxide emissions.
What should we think of when we think of construction chemicals, being very important and basic substance for the cement industry? What is the importance of these products for the cement industry?
The title of construction chemicals covers a very wide area. Starting from the production stage of cement, in the production of concrete, then in the insulation, decoration, reinforcement and repair of that building; in other words, there are different construction chemicals used at every stage of the life of that building. Dozens of construction chemicals have been used on the walls, ceiling and floor of the room we are in. When we specialize the topic for the cement industry, we always talk about cement grinding additives in particular. Cement grinding additives are a great help in reducing the energy and maintenance costs of cement production, improving the quality and performance of the product; thus producing more environmentally friendly cement.
What is your current position in the domestic market? What is your target for the future?
Akkim Kimya started to produce construction chemicals about 10 years ago. While starting on this path, we entered the market by first producing shotcrete admixtures and then asphalt chemicals. In those years, as Turkiye was undertaking major motorway, railway and metro projects, Akkim’s shotcrete admixtures were used in major projects such as the Northern Marmara Motorway, Istanbul-Izmir Motorway, Ankara- Nigde Motorway, Denizli-Aydın Motorway, high-speed train and metro constructions. We maintain our market leader position in these product groups. In addition, we have achieved a serious momentum in the cement grinding chemicals and concrete plasticisers markets in the last one year. We have reached a good position in the cement production and ready- mixed concrete production sectors in a short time, and we continue to grow. In the coming years, we aim to be the market leader in these two markets as well as in the related product groups in mining sites.
Where are you in the field of exports and what are your targets?
Considering all product groups, Akkim Kimya is already exporting to more than 70 countries in 6 continents. This recognition and communication network strengthens our hand in the construction chemicals market. Last year, we made our biggest turnover in exports in Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh region and the city of Shusha are being restructured. Our products have been and continue to be used in the road and infrastructure constructions of this city. Cement grinding admixtures, concrete plasticisers, setting accelerators, asphalt additives and paint dispersing agents are among the product groups we export to the Turkic Republics, Eastern European countries and African countries. We had serious exports to Russia and Ukraine before the war, and we are waiting for the war to stop. We are working hard to expand our export market.
What can we say about Akkim’s international competitiveness in construction chemicals?
First of all, I can say that Akkim is not just a construction chemicals company; it is a big chemistry company. This enables us to produce some of our own raw materials. Since we have the opportunity to use some of the raw materials we purchase not only in the production of construction chemicals, but also in other productions, our purchasing power increases. All these enable us to offer favorable prices to our customers both in Turkiye and abroad. In addition, Akkim’s company in Germany strengthens our hand in the European market.
“In the last year, we have achieved a serious momentum in the cement grinding chemicals and concrete plasticisers markets. We have reached a good position in the cement production and ready-mixed concrete production sectors in a short time, and we continue to grow. In the coming years, we aim to be the market leader in these two markets as well as in the related product groups in mining sites.”
Which countries are your target markets? Which markets are your strongest and which of your products are most preferred in these markets? Currently, our shotcrete admixtures (alkaline and alkali-free setting accelerators) constitute the largest part of our turnover. While alkali- free products are preferred in Europe due to regulations, alkaline products are preferred in other countries. In addition to these, our asphalt admixtures, cement grinding admixtures and concrete plasticiser products are preferred in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine markets. Countries such as Romania, Slovenia, Hungary and Greece, where construction is accelerating, are among our new targets.
Which of your products is most preferred in the cement sector?
The cement sector has become dynamic in recent years, and we follow this dynamism and even try to lead it at times. In the past, cement producers used to prefer only products that increased the capacity of the mill and, if needed, products that increased the strength of the cement. In recent years, as the strength and other quality features at the concrete stage have come to the fore, they have started to use cement chemicals for ready-mixed concrete performance. After Turkey signed the Green Deal, our new generation Low-Carbon series additives started to be preferred in order to reduce carbon emissions and minimize the carbon footprint.
In line with the changing needs of the market, we initiated a project at the Akkim R&D Center about a year and a half ago. In this project, we aimed to develop a new cement grinding chemical that could reduce the carbon emissions of cement factories. Our newly developed product group AKGRIN LC Series products completely serve this purpose. It is a high-performance product group that reduces the clinker ratio in cement production while increasing the ratio of mineral additives, while maintaining the strength of concrete at the same level. We first started this work on a laboratory scale, then got results with industrial trials and started sales with the preference of our customer. We also published this long-term success story as an academic article in many sector magazines.
Another hot topic in the cement industry is chromium reducers. The regulation, which makes it compulsory for the Cr+6 content of bagged cements to be below 2 ppm, entered into force in our country in 2022. However, we calculate that the total amount of chromium reductor produced in our country is not enough to meet the needs of the entire cement industry. We have initiated a new project to respond to this need. At the end of the project, we aim to offer a new chromium reducing chemical that will appeal to the entire industry.
“Pazarın değişen ihtiyaçları doğrultusunda, Akkim Ar-Ge Merkezi’nde yaklaşık 1,5 yıl önce bir proje başlattık. Bu projede, çimento fabrikalarının karbon salımını azaltabilecek yeni bir çimento öğütme kimyasalı geliştirmeyi hedefledik.”
What are the different features of your products compared to their equivalents?
I can say that the point where we make the most difference is our approach. First of all, we prefer to be a good listener to our customers. We listen to the agenda, needs and demands of our customers, think by being in their shoes, and try to find out how we can be useful to them. In this context, we sometimes welcome them at our R&D Center and share our laboratory facilities with them. By brainstorming here, we can develop new ideas, new methods and solutions together with them. We are able to offer tailor-made solutions and products for each customer.
What are the new technologies in the production of chemicals in the cement industry? Do you have investments for R&D and P&D?
R&D and P&D is the kitchen, the heart of this business. Offering a product to a customer today floats the ship for a while. However, your ability to develop up-to-date products and solutions according to changing demands and needs takes you from port to port. With this awareness, we are constantly expanding and improving both the equipment and expert staff of our R&D laboratory. In 2013, our R&D Center, which was accredited by the Ministry of Industry, is at a level that you will not see similar in companies in the sector and even in many universities. We offer these facilities to the entire cement industry, regardless of whether we have trade or not. We carry out the tests they request and share the results with them. We are not a supplier but a solution partner in the sector.
