Hello Mr. Mesut. How was your 2023 export performance, did you reach your export targets? Can you share your 2024 expectations or targets?

Hello Mr. Mesut. If we start with the 2023 year evaluation, first of all, I should mention that our country has gone through a very big test. On the occasion of this interview, I would like to wish everyone a speedy recovery, and I hope better days await us. As of the date of this interview, exactly one year has passed and our recovery process continues. Despite this, with a good step, our export figures increased by 6 percent this year compared to 2022, and 92.9 percent of this is the share of the manufacturing industry. It is a great pleasure for us to be part of this success and to have the opportunity to exhibit our products in more than 60 countries.

In addition to our domestic sales, our efforts to increase our exports are bearing fruit every day and we continue to increase our capacity at this rate. Especially in this period when we are working towards our goal of creating a worldwide brand, our awareness continues to increase and we gain more motivation with the good feedback we receive for our products.

On a company basis, our exports increased by 25 percent compared to 2022. We are of course pleased with this result. The 4 fairs we attended in 2023 have a big share in this rate. The Interlift Fair in Germany, the Istanbul Elevator Fair, the Lift Expo Fair in Morocco and the 28th International Construction Technologies, Equipment and Materials Fair in Romania made a great contribution to our export share.

Our expectation for 2024 is to double our export rate in 2023. In addition, we continue our efforts to increase our brand value without slowing down. This year, we are continuing our negotiations to add new ones to our existing overseas dealers. We will participate in 2 international fairs together with our dealers.

In your export activities in 2023, did you need to make special adaptations in the technical specifications or designs of your products for the needs of the target markets? If yes, what were these adaptations and for which markets?

R&D is always a part of our business. Of course, we know that we are preferred for the quality of our products because of the good feedback we receive. Nevertheless, we continue to take steps to further develop existing products.

Especially our Open Type Disabled Platform is the most preferred product of 2023. For this product, we have made improvements both in terms of visuality and technical sense. We worked to make the design a little more elegant. We also made improvements in the drive system in terms of comfort. We especially focused on obtaining a quieter product and we are satisfied with the results. We will continue to make these improvements in 2024.

How much do you invest in your company's R&D and innovation activities to ensure differentiation and competitive advantage in global markets? What are the tangible effects of these investments on the product development process and your export performance?

Especially in 2023, we started the sales of our Minilift model, which we had previously worked on. The model was very well received and preferred by many companies. We exhibited it for the first time at the Istanbul Elevator Fair and with the comments of our visitors, we improved it by doing many more studies. I can say that it has been finalized as of 2024. It is especially preferred indoors and has become a suitable solution for our buyers with small spaces. We have another product that we are conducting this kind of R&D work. Our target for this product is to put it on sale in 2024. It will already be included in our new catalog.

What are the effects of the European Green Deal and related regulations on your company's production and export activities, and how do they affect your market choices and targets?

Our work for the green agreement continues. First of all, we started by installing a GES facility on the roof of our factory. This way, we produce our own energy. We started using electric forklifts instead of diesel forklifts. We calculate lower energy costs by converting to servo machines. The amount of plastic is almost negligible. We use recyclable, environmentally harmless packaging.

In recent years, while many steps have been taken for the green industry in the world, many policies on this issue in Turkey have been implemented in 2023. As a company, how do you plan to integrate sustainability and environmentally friendly practices into the elevator production process in 2024 within the framework of Turkey's green industrial policies?

In line with Turkey's green industrial policies, our environmentally friendly practices continue in 2024. We are working on new applications from LEDs to motors used in our elevators to increase energy efficiency. We aim to save energy with these systems. In addition, we send the leftover materials that cannot be used in production in this process to the relevant facilities to be recycled. Finally, 95 percent of the materials we use in product packaging are recyclable. We are already talking about the rate of plastic used in packaging in the products we send to Europe. The fact that this rate is at the lowest levels makes us a preferred choice.

How do investments in green technologies affect the competitiveness of your products in the European market?

Investments in green technologies affect us positively, especially in the European market. The increasing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable products in Europe makes us a preferred choice. As it is known, standards are high and even various certificates are needed in this direction. Of course, we are also working in this direction.

How did the fluctuations in global supply chain management and difficulties in supply processes affect your company's production and export operations? What are the strategies you have implemented against these challenges?

This situation significantly affects the company's production and export operations. The strategies implemented against these unexpected problems are focused on reducing risks and managing operational processes more effectively.

For example, it is necessary not to depend on a single supplier. Cooperation with various suppliers is possible. Such a practice reduces the impact of problems in one supplier on production.

In addition, keeping more stock is a precaution against unexpected supply problems for us.

Finally, what is your company's vision for the next 10 years in the elevator industry? What are the key strategies you have identified to achieve this vision?

We aim to become a globally recognized leading brand with sustainable, innovative and customer-oriented solutions in the elevator industry, especially in our own field of homelift and disabled elevators.

The strategies required to achieve this vision are technological innovations and their sustainability. In this way, we can both take part in the global market more effectively, expand and meet the needs of our customers with more innovative solutions.