One of Türkiye's first spring manufacturing companies, MAKTEL, has been working with major domestic industries, primarily in the white goods and automotive sectors, for over 40 years. Additionally, 10% of its turnover comes from direct exports to more than 30 countries. Selman Dündar, Board Member of Maktel A.Ş., provided the following information about the company’s activities.
SUBCONTURKEY: Could you first introduce yourself?
Selman Dündar: I was born in Istanbul in 1965. I graduated from Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, in 1987. After receiving language training in England between 1987 and 1988, I started my career in August 1988 in the machinery manufacturing department of Maktel A.Ş. I also completed a master’s degree in Business Administration at Istanbul University. I have been serving in the spring manufacturing sector for 24 years.
SUBCONTURKEY: Can you tell us about Maktel’s corporate identity?
Selman Dündar: Founded in 1967 as Dörtel Sanayi ve Ticaret Şirketi in Istanbul’s Aksaray district, the company was renamed Maktel A.Ş. in 1971 and moved to Kocamustafapaşa, where it began spring production with its first compression spring machine. In 1972, due to space constraints, the company expanded its production facilities in Kartal. In 1990, it commissioned its current production facility in Istanbul-Büyükbakkalköy, built on a 20,000 square meter plot with a 4,500 square meter enclosed area, transferring part of its production to this location. With 130 employees, Maktel serves the white goods, automotive, electrical-electronics, and other sectors, with some seasonal fluctuations.
Maktel’s 2011 Turnover Reaches Five Million Euros
SUBCONTURKEY: What is the ratio of your production for export versus the domestic market? Can you tell us about your export activities?
Selman Dündar: Our total turnover in 2011 was approximately 5,000,000 Euros, with about 10% coming from direct exports. The countries we export to include Poland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, France, Russia, Azerbaijan, China, Iran, and others. To increase exports, we regularly participate in international trade fairs, with our most recent participation being at Hannover Messe in Germany in April 2012.
SUBCONTURKEY: Can you talk about your new products, investments, and R&D activities?
Selman Dündar: Over the past four years, Maktel has invested a total of 1,000,000 Euros. Investments continue to keep up with technological advancements and meet customer needs. In line with this, in 2011, we incorporated a salt spray testing device for corrosion testing of mold springs. However, it is not enough to say that spring production (in Türkiye) has a larger share. When viewed globally, our current production is not sufficient. Taking on a greater role in new projects would strengthen our position in the global competition. Türkiye’s skilled workforce, production quality, capacity, and logistical proximity to both Europe and Eastern regions provide a significant advantage, which must be well utilized. It should not be forgotten that one of the key factors behind the robust economic structures of Germany or the USA is the development of their automotive sectors and their presence in global markets.
