Sinkotech started to produce flexible die in Turkey

Sinkotech started to produce flexible die in Turkey
The firm in its second year of operation started to produce flexible die, thereby reducing the need for imports of an important item for use in the label and packaging sectors. Matbaa Haber talked to a partner of the firm, David Saduk about their business.
Could you please give some background about the firm?
Sinkotech was established by some Turkish engineers in 2005 and from the outset, it was our aim to go into the production of flexible die in Turkey. We were importing those as a firm in the sector earlier, as SDK Grafik. We have been in the sector for almost two decades. We import the Japanese firm Toyobo’s water based plates. We still continue with that but now, we also produce flexible die.
What are the advantages of flexible die compared to the wooden ones?
The conventional blades are capable of only straight line and surface cutting; there are only a few corrugated cardboard producers that can use rotating wooden blades. However the new emerging technologies and needs are removing these away from the market. It is very difficult to produce curved shaped and enclosed figures with them; even impossible in certain cases. Flexible die overcome all these problems and they can be used in rotating systems. Rotating systems are much faster and can output more compared to the wooden blades.
Do flexible dies have size limitations?
The only limitation is defined by the size of the machines they will be used on. Until now now we haven’t received an order that we cannot fulfil. We can satisfy the needs of all the sizes in use in Turkey presently. I cannot say what may happen in the future.
What are the volume restrictions of these cutters? Please give some detail on the factors effecting the number of material they may be cut.
It all depends on the use. First, we have to know what will be cut with it. A flexible die is most effective on the material it is designed for. If you mix and/or change the material you use on it, it wears faster. Thermal materials also affect the life. Excessive pressure should be avoided. The greatest problem arises in the magnetic rollers. Due to excessive flexing, old and worn rolls and small-size magnetic rolls disrupts the uniform output. Paper allows longer life compared to synthetics. The printer must describe his needs accurately. We can also produce specially hardened and coated flexible dies.
You are the first in the area; are the users satisfied and can you keep up with the demand?
It is almost definitional; as I explained above, knowing the area of use extends the life of the product. Closer proximity with the customer avails this opportunity. Besides the common language is a further help. Additionally, we are easily available to attend the problems that may arise.
How was the market operating before Sinkotech?
As the SDK Grafik we were importing these products. I’ve explained above, you have to get the order, produce the product and deliver on a timely basis. The payment and customs procedures were causing delays and we were operating at a disadvantage in the presence of firms that were importing through courier services and paying through mechanisms outside the banking system. This mode of operation is the main reason for our decision to go into production. Now, we can respond to the demands faster than any alternative. We are also looking into the export possibilities. In other words, we have not only stopped the flow of foreign exchange outside but we’ll start to have its flow reversed in the near future. We have plans on this and have been working in this direction for some time.
Who are your customers? Where do you serve?
Mainly the label sector. As you know, that business works in a roll-to-roll basis and that means flexible die. Other roll-to-roll working firms such plastics packaging, electronics, etc. Are all our customers and although most of our business is ni Istanbul, by definition, we cover the whole of Turkey.
You waited before offering your products for sale for a long while after you decided to go into this area, even for some time after you actually started production. What was the reason for this?
We undertook a feasibility study and decided to postpone our investment. During this process a business accomplice in Europe told us that Turks are not technology oriented and cannot undertake such ambitious projects. This attitude hastened our works and we decided to disprove this understanding. In other words, we acted in contrast with the results of our feasibility study. As our colleagues in Turkey also knew this incidence, they were very helpful and patient in our trial and testing phases. Even after we started to produce, we waited for their full satisfaction. I will always feel grateful to them.
Please give some detail about the realisation process.
Sinkotech’s plant is the newest investment in the world in its area and therefore, employs the latest technology; it’s even ahead of its European competitors. The product talks for itself. Our personnel are trained by foreign experts for eight months. We still make some visits to abroad. In order to produce with a margin of error that is at most half a micron, you have to be good. Besides, because we talk the same language with our customers, we can appreciate their ways and attend to their problems better and faster. We pay regular visits to their plants; this is a habit we developed during our investment and testing phase and because we’ve got accustomed to it we don’t plan to stop. You couldn’t convince the producer abroad that the printer has to use your product on a lower quality machine. However, we understand and identify with such needs.
What about future plans? Do you think the market can afford additional investment?
Due to technological constraints, the present capacity is many times higher that the need of Turkey; that’s why we are thinking of exports. However, we are technology firm and we are steadily looking for ways of satisfying needs in other areas, both in our and other sectors.