Organized through the collaboration of the Federation of Building Products Manufacturers (YÜF) and the Mimar Sinan Sectoral Excellence Center, the seminar titled “Concrete, Mortars, and Their Components Used in Structures” was hosted by Ankara Mimar Sinan Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School. The event, held with the support of TÜRKÇİMENTO, brought together approximately 80 participants.
During the opening session, Ayşe Şahiner, General Coordinator of the Mimar Sinan Sectoral Excellence Center, delivered a presentation highlighting the center’s activities. School Principal Levent Kırcı and Provincial Directorate of National Education Vocational and Technical Education Branch Manager Ercan Kocakaya also emphasized the critical role of vocational education in advancing the sector.
Moderated by TÜRKÇİMENTO R&D Manager Serkan Türk, the seminar provided a valuable platform for teachers to engage directly with industry professionals and exchange knowledge. On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, YÜF reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with vocational high schools through this socially responsible initiative.
Barış Akbelen, Technical Assistant at TÜRKÇİMENTO, delivered a presentation titled “Developments in Cement and Concrete Technology”, emphasizing the continued role of cement and concrete as the cornerstones of the construction industry. He noted that, in response to rising expectations and evolving needs, the sector is intensifying its R&D efforts to develop innovative solutions. Akbelen also underlined the importance of the Regulation on the Promotion of Green Cements, which came into effect on January 1, 2025. He stated that the Turkish cement sector aims to reduce CO₂ emissions by 11 million tons over the next decade—an environmental benefit equivalent to planting 500 million trees.
Bilgihan Avşar, a member of the Technical Committee of the Aggregate Producers Association, delivered a presentation titled “Aggregates: The Main Raw Material of Livable Cities”. He described aggregates as the collective term for materials such as sand, gravel, and crushed stone, and noted that aggregate production accounts for the largest share of mining activities worldwide. Highlighting that aggregates are among the most essential raw materials in the construction industry—including in concrete and asphalt production—Avşar emphasized the critical importance of technically appropriate and high-quality aggregate production, especially considering Türkiye’s location in a seismically active zone and its history of devastating earthquakes.
Alper Uçar, Civil Engineer and Technical Office Supervisor from the Turkish Precast Concrete Association, presented on “Concrete Prefabrication”, detailing the construction processes of prefabricated components and showcasing their applications through both domestic and international case studies. After sharing sector-specific statistical data, he elaborated on the advantages of the system. He then touched upon the conditions of use for prefabricated concrete systems in Türkiye, as well as provided technical insights into prefabricated jointing methods, prestressing, and post-tensioning technologies.
