Sales Executive of FTR Makina A.Ş. Harun Koçak :“The greatest added value provided to the national industry by FTR Makina is the design, manufacture and export of gas cooling system under Cooling Control® brand. Number of companies throughout the world, which produce this product range can be counted on the fingers of one hand. It may be an assertive expression but our competitors are far behind us and we are the best in this field.”
Can you provide us information about the establishment process of FTR Makina and the phases it has gone through until today? What is the current structure of your company considering the data such as its capacity and number of employees and production volume?
FTR Makina was established 2003 and commenced its commercial life as sales office. In the following years it has operated as distributor of certain industrial products and continued to supply products to the end users from its warehouses located in İstanbul. It has included mechanical and technological steel fabrications in its aforementioned operational structure in the last 4 years. It has also drawn up know-how agreement with a foreign company and manufactures two different types of machinery in Turkey and exports them abroad.
To which sectors and what kind of products does FTR Makina supply? Can you provide information about the products, brand and services of your company?
FTR Makina works actively in cement industry, mines, lignite fired power plants and port facilities due to the components business that is distributed all over Turkey, it is active in all industrial fields. Our company has a product scope manufactured under Cooling Control® brand and sold in to Turkey and to the World and it also manufactures ball sorting and ball loading machines under license and with the brand of ‘’Magotteaux by FTR’’.
Can we get some information on your special production products?
The first one of our special productions is the gas cooling and water injection systems which are 100% engineered, designed and manufactured by us marketed under Cooling Control® brand. These systems are generally installed in gas cooling towers, down comer ducts, top cyclones and clinker coolers in cement plants. Their heat balance calculations require high engineering knowledge. In addition to those, we manufacture systems for water injection to cement ball mills from the first or second chambers and water injection systems inside vertical roller mills. We also offer gas cooling applications particularly for steel and chemical industries where 100% evaporation of the sprayed cooling water or fluid is required.
The second one of our special productions is the ball sorting and ball loading machines whose the know-how has been transferred by Magotteaux S.A. after the license agreement. These machines are sold in Turkey and exported abroad under the brand of Magotteaux by FTR.
As it is known, according to the size of the mill, there are 3.6 – 4.2 million balls are present inside ball mills in average depending on whether they contain intermediate diaphragm or not. Sorting of the balls annually or biannually and properly charging them to the mill is one of the very important criteria which influence mill efficiency directly. Sorting is not realized properly and consumes too much time when it is performed manually as a general practice. This process can be realized within few hours by separating tons of balls with the use of our Ball sorting machines.
Can you inform us about your after sales services?
We can group our after sales services under 2 main titles. After sales services for machinery and systems manufactured by FTR are provided by FTR team. After sales services of products delivered to Turkey on sales office basis are generally performed by the specialist engineers of the respective companies with the support of FTR.
How was 2018 for your company in terms of finance and investments?
2nd half of 2018 ended up with contraction in the domestic market for us just like for all other sectors. However, we can say that we overcame this contraction easily with the exports we have been making.
What are your goals of growth for 2019? Do you have investment plans for the future periods, what are they, if any?
We started to accelerate our current export activities following the 2nd half of 2018 due to the impacts of 2018. It is anticipated that same momentum will continue in 2019. We also plan to increase our present high chromium grinding ball stocks by 3-4 times in 2019. Thus, we are aiming to increase our grinding ball sales compared to past years with the slogan of Delivery in 24 hours directly from stock.
Are you in pursuit of new partners for FTR Makina?
We have no plans to have partners for FTR Makina, however, we are planning to be investor or partner to other companies and fields. We want to see the 2nd half of 2019 for such decision.
Can you tell us about the efforts assumed by FTR Makina in the international industry and Turkish industry?
As we have mentioned above, the greatest added value provided to the national industry by FTR Makina is the design, manufacture and export of gas cooling system under Cooling Control® brand. Number of companies throughout the world, which produce this product range can be counted on the fingers of one hand. It may be an assertive expression but our competitors are far behind us and we are the best in this field.
What are the points that you create difference in the sector as FTR Makina?
Our most basic difference is all team members at FTR being very knowledgeable in their positions, honest and their solution and cooperation orientedness. This is a result of the significant positive synergy in the company. The outcome is true and quick service and happy customers.
Can you provide information about environmental policy and sustainability approach? As FTR, our product range is limited, however, they are environmentally friendly products. Other than that, FTR has adopted tree planting campaign as a social responsibility practice for long years.
Can you assess Turkish cement sector in the light of the recent developments?
Second half of 2018 was difficult for the cement sector. The same can be said for 2019. Accordingly, cost minimizing investments in the sector have been accelerated further. We believe that the sector will realize further acceleration if a stabile condition can be realized with nearby countries.
What would you recommend to SMEs which are willing to open to the world markets?
Getting into world markets is not as hard as it is assumed. However, it shall be assured that a good level has been achieved in terms of both quality and pricing for the services or products to be provided, before opening to such markets. Turkey is in a better position compared to many other countries with regard to production quality and cost. One shall set off by considering the rules of the work not according to the national aspects but to the international norms.
