We had a pleasant interview with Mr. Levent Atmaca, Polyurethane Systems Commercial Leader of Dow Turkey. We talked about workings of Dow Turkey in Turkey market. Atmaca told us Dow Polyurethane House’s acitivities.
Could you please briefly tell us about your education and professional background in the sector?
Currently I serve as Commercial Leader, Polyurethane Systems for Dow Chemical in Turkey. I started my professional career in 2000 as a Technical Sales Representative at Dow Turkey’s Polyurethane Systems House. Since then I have held several technical, commercial and marketing roles in and outside Turkey within a range of industries served by polyurethane systems mainly Footwear and Rigid Foams Insulation materials. In 2007, also completed Executive MBA program at Koc University. From 2010 onwards, I took on several Account Manager roles across various business groups such as Polyurethane Components, Polyglycols, Surfactants, Performance Fluids, Glycol Ethers and Solvents, Amines, Propylene Glycols.
Born in 1975 in Istanbul, I graduated from Istanbul Technical University Faculty of Sciences & Letters, Chemistry Department in 1997. In 1999, I completed a Master of Science degree – Polymer Science and Technologies from the same university.
Could you please give a brief information about establishment period of your plant?
Dow is a materials science leader with a streamlined portfolio comprised of six global business units aligning the strongest and most integrated materials portfolio to three attractive market verticals where we have unique competitive advantages: packaging, infrastructure and consumer care. These verticals include Packaging, Infrastructure and Consumer Care. Dow’s scale of $50 billion in annual sales and global reach enables solutions for critical world needs stemming from global demand drivers including urbanization, globalization, digitalization and sustainability. Our goal and ambition is to deliver value growth and best-in-class performance by becoming the most innovative, customercentric, inclusive and sustainable Materials Science Company in the world. Dow operates 109 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 36,500 people.
Dow has had a longstanding presence in Turkey dating back to 1971, with the establishment representative office. Since then Dow has been contributing to environmental and economic standards in Turkey for more than 45 years as an important player in the Turkish chemical sector, adopting a strategy in correlation with Turkey’s strategies with its unique, profitable, competitive and technological products. Dow experts turn transformative ideas into game-changing solutions in energy efficiency, construction, strengthening against earthquake damages, alternative energy resources and clean water.
“Dow has been contributing to environmental
and economic standards in Turkey for more
than 45 years as an important player in the
Turkish chemical sector, adopting a strategy
in correlation with Turkey’s strategies
with its unique, profitable, competitive and
technological products.”
We meet the needs of our customers in a wide range of industries, including packaging, construction, white goods, furniture and automotive. Our success in Turkey, the loyalty of our customers and our stakeholders, and our commitment to the market is based on strong partnerships we have established over the past five decades.
Within the long term objectives of Dow in Turkey, Vorakim Polyurethane Systems House was founded in 1986 with a shareholder structure. Later on, with its 100% Dow ownership, it was moved to its current location in Dilovası in 1999 and continues its activities as the leading company in the market.
Could you please tell us about your production groups that appeal to the sector? Which markets have you been serving?
Post our merger with DuPont and spin-off into three unique companies, the new Dow aligns a streamlined portfolio comprised of six global business units to three attractive, consumer-driven market verticals where we have unique competitive advantages: Packaging – we are, and will continue to be, the world leader in Food and Specialty Packaging, Industrial and Consumer Packaging and Hygiene and Medical application caps, closures and pipes.
Infrastructure – durable and white goods targeting middle class and emerging market growth; adhesives and sealants in building materials fueled by sustainable urbanization; and industrial intermediates and additives that enable global industrial and manufacturing operations. Consumer Care – a unique set of chemistry solutions in skin, hair, personal and home care applications tailored to consumer needs by region.
Dow Polyurethanes develops and delivers a broad portfolio of technologies and customized solutions to customers in a variety of industries under its StructuralScience, ComfortScience, InsulationScience and Automotive category brands.
Applications range from industrial and infrastructure solutions, to consumer comfort solutions in flooring, furniture, bedding and footwear, to automotive solutions for interior, and energy- efficient insulation materials. The business manufactures and sells key chemical components as well as fully-formulated polyurethane systems for rigid, semirigid and flexible foams, and coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers and composites.
Dow is the world’s largest producer of propylene oxide (PO), propylene glycol (PG), and polyether polyols, and is a leading producer of quality aromatic isocyanates, such as MDI. Striving to meet the specific needs of its customers in their local geographic regions, Dow Polyurethanes operates a global network of production sites and systems houses, as well as innovation and service centers.
In which countries are your production centers located?
Dow’s innovation and growth strategy is driven by a strong focus on delivering competitive advantage for our customers and preparing them for tomorrow’s challenges.
We have invested in expanding our network of Systems Houses, R&D and innovation centers in the Europe Middle East Africa & India region to strengthen our regional presence and reinforce our collaborative value chain approach. This we believe will accelerate both existing and new opportunities through customized and more sustainable solutions that are geared to local market needs.
Currently, our EMEAI network of Systems Houses, Innovation centers and Service are spread across various geographies including Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, India, Germany, Romania and Switzerland among others.
Could you please talk about activities of Dow Polyurethane System House which established in 1986?
For over 30 years we have been operating in Turkey in the market areas mentioned above. We supported the development of major industries of Turkey by creating tailor-made solutions at every opportunity with our global experience. We have always been close to our customers and stakeholders and have created solutions with our expert team who have technical and commercial identity.
Within growth in the supply chain as well as our local production we have encouraged the growth of the Turkish polyurethane industry. We have a sustainable growth with the growth of industry. And above all, we have a renewed focus on delivering best in class customer experience in order that we continue to maintain our strong and leading position in Turkey..
Have you recently worked on an innovative polyurethane product that will make a difference in the industry?
In this part, I would like to hand over to our Technical Sales Representative, Chemical Engineer Mrs. Gizem Çakır Aslan. She will elaborate on our innovative solutions in ComfortScienceTM that we offer the Turkish market.
What does comfort mean to you? Is it Essential, Supportive or Wellbeing?
Comfort means different things at different times to different people. One thing is certain about comfort; everyone needs it. Whether working, playing or resting, consumers are always looking for a more comfortable experience. Comfort is fundamental to achieving a good quality of life and a sense of wellbeing. At Dow, we work to understand how people experience comfort, and we respond to this through applied science and technology.
By drawing on our scientific expertise and technical knowhow, we produce a range of high-quality materials that meet different needs. At Dow, we’ve identified three dimensions of comfort to help us do this: Ergonomics, Microclimate and Sensation. Our work in the ‘Ergonomics’ dimension will be to optimize the relationship between the weight, shape and size of the body and the material to create a supportive, highperforming system.
With regards to the Microclimate dimension, it is about maintaining comfortable levels of temperature and humidity in the microclimate that exists between materials and the human body. And lastly, we will seek to better understand a material’s texturalqualities and its response to light touch, in order to deliver a tangible sensation of wellbeing. By configuring these qualities differently, we can respond to different needs and tailor solutions to deliver the most comfortable experience possible.
Our custom built, state-of-the-art ComfortScience Studios in Switzerland and USA are collaborative meeting and education spaces designed to experience how cooperation, customer insight and the scientific method can engineer absolute comfort. At ComfortScience Studio, scientists, manufacturers and brand owners collaborate to create innovative new products that offer customizable comfort. Here, Dow specialists combine chemistry expertise with advanced data analysis, tests and technology to help improve comfort and facilitate deeper, more refreshing sleep.
In order to address the unique needs of our customers we have introduced a new range of materials designed to enhance specific aspects of comfort.
“Our EMEAI network of Systems Houses,
Innovation centers and Service are spread
across various geographies including Turkey,
Egypt, South Africa, India, Germany,
Romania and Switzerland among others.”
True Comfort: This high resilience foam offers support, durability and ‘bouncebackability’. Working under the comfort layers of a mattress, it helps maintain spinal alignment and avoid pressure buildup. In addition, the foam molds to the body to provide relief from pressure and create the sensation of being cradled. Working at the top layer of a mattress, it provides the highest level of customized comfort.
Cool Comfort: This durable coating delivers instant coolness, helping you to find comfort quickly in those important moments before falling asleep. The foam also gives you a refreshing coolness that lets your skin breathe. It increases air circulation to let heat escape and help you stay comfortable over time keeping you asleep.
Clean Comfort: Whether you’re an allergy sufferer or a busy parent, this washable, quick-drying foam offers peace of mind and meets the needs of modern life. This new comfort material also offers mattress ‘clean and use’ convenience for busy parents and carers.
