The management of EKONOMI Newspaper visited Yıldız Pul-Vaden, Turkey's 679th largest company by climbing 116 places in the ISO Second 500 List. Seyit Acar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yıldız Pul-Vaden, one of Konya's largest automotive spare parts manufacturers, hosted Vahap Munyar, General Coordinator of EKONOMI Newspaper, Vahap Munyar, Editorial Board Chairman Şeref Oğuz, Managing Editor Handan Sema Ceylan, Coordinator Didem Eryar Ünlü and Konya Representative İbrahim Çiçekçi at their production facilities in Konya Organized Industrial Zone. Seyit Acar, who explained the production, facilities and targets of Yıldız Pul-Vaden to the delegation of the ECONOMI Newspaper, underlined that Yıldız Pul, founded by the late İsmail Acar, has become an after market giant exporting to over 100 countries today.
Emphasizing that they continue their activities as a brand that gives a current account surplus at the point they have reached today, Seyit Acar stated that they aim to close 2023 with exports of 70 million dollars and continued his speech as follows: "Our company was founded in 1968 by my father, the late İsmail Acar, and his master. We entered the sector by producing washers, gaskets and lining. Manufacturing continued in this way until 2000. In 2000, the first CNC machine was purchased and mechanization was started. In the same year, a sheet metal molding shop was established. The first steps were taken in the production of compressors, one of the critical parts of heavy vehicles. In 2006, we participated in the fair for the first time. While we were expecting demand for our other products, the compressor attracted great interest. In 2008, we started to produce other parts of the compressor. In 2012, we started to produce the entire compressor. The part we produce is an indispensable part used in all heavy vehicles such as trucks, trucks and buses. When it fails, the vehicle does not move. It is so critical. We produced it in a quality way."
WE HAVE 11 THOUSAND TYPES OF PRODUCTS
Underlining that the Vaden brand, which they export to more than 100 countries today, is registered in 4 different classes in 145 countries, Seyit Acar stated that they have reached an important level in their 55-year production story. Acar stated that they produce 11 thousand kinds of products in 12 groups and export 80 percent of their production. Acar said, "We trust our products very much. Our brand is recognized all over the world and has proven itself with its quality. Our parts are used in all heavy vehicle brands on the roads of the world, especially Mercedes, Man, Scania, Daf, Volvo and Renault. We have created a serious after market network."
"100 DOLLAR EXPORT WITH 10 DOLLAR IMPORT"
Stating that they produce high value-added products, Seyit Acar continued as follows: "We have not made the slightest deviation from our line for 16 years. We produce all our products ourselves and we do not buy any supply from outside. When our customers see that we produce our factory and all our products with our own brand, they buy with peace of mind. We have technical services in Konya and Istanbul. We stand behind the product we sell. With the teachings from our father, we never bow to the customer because we produce quality products and we stand behind our goods. And we produce value-added products. We export 100 dollars with 10 dollars of raw material imports."
"WE ARE IN THE TOP 3 IN AUTOMOTIVE SPARE PARTS"
Seyit Acar said, "We are currently in the top 3 in the automotive spare parts sector in Turkey. We have brought a different breath to the after market sector. We have added value to the product; we have always created awareness with our presentation to the customer in processing, casting, packaging. We have never imitated any brand. We also provide OEM parts to a brand in America. We will increase our OEM rate in Europe as well. We are strong not only in compressors but also in other components. 4,300 of our 11,000 different products are compressors. The rest are engine, gearbox and parts in the pneumatic group."
"OUR R&D CENTER IS VERY STRONG"
Speaking about the development process of R&D investments, Acar said, "We started R&D with TUBITAK projects in 2013. In 2019, we put our R&D center into operation. We currently have 38 ongoing and 51 planned projects. With 56 million TL, we spent 3.77 percent of our turnover on R&D only in 2022. Our target this year is to spend 4 percent of our turnover. This will continue to increase. Our 2025 planned R&D budget is 5 percent of our turnover. We attach great importance to R&D. Currently, 58 engineers are working in our R&D center. Our goal next year is to reach 100 engineers."
"OUR TARGET İS A TOTAL INVESTMENT OF 125 MILLION EUROS"
Giving information about the facilities, Seyit Acar said, "We are currently producing on an area of 83 thousand square meters in Konya Organized Industrial Zone 4th Section Expansion Area. We are building a new area of 82 thousand square meters next to us. In the 5th Section Expansion Area, our factory is about to be completed. We are also building a foundry, press house and forging facility there. We bought another 60 thousand square meters of land in the 6th Section Expansion Area of the OIZ (OSB). We will build an additional building there. We also bought land in Bursa Kayapa OIZ (OSB). We currently have two factories in Bursa Teknosab actively producing rubber and we have machining production. In 2027, our total production area will reach 300 thousand square meters. Our target is an investment of 125 million Euros. We have completed 75 million of this with our investments in Konya and Bursa. We are growing with automation investments. We have 1250 employees, 200 of whom are engineers. 20 percent of them are women."
"RANKED 116 PLACES HIGHER IN THE ISO SECOND 500"
Stating that they have increased their ranking every year in the survey of Turkey's second largest 500 companies, Seyit Acar said, "This year, we ranked 179th in the ISO Second 500, up 116 places. We are also ranked 624th in TIM's list of the 1000 largest exporters. Our rise continues every year. Our goal is to be in the ISO top 500 in the short term."
"WE ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO GREEN TRANSFORMATION"
Stating that they are a company that respects nature and has green production conditions, Seyit Acar said, "We produce in facilities that respect the future. Everything is geared towards energy efficiency. We preferred devices that leave the least waste to the environment." Stating that they also have SPP investments, Acar said that they currently have 6.5 MW of rooftop SPPs, that they will start investing in another 6.5 MW and that they aim to reach 36 MW of installed capacity by 2028.
