• Vaden in the press
• 15 Dec 2023

Vaden Exports 11,000 Different Automotive Spare Parts to 100 Countries

The management of EKONOMİ Newspaper visited Yıldız Pul-Vaden, which rose 116 places in the ISO Second 500 List to become Turkey's 679th largest company. Yıldız Pul-Vaden Chairman of the Board Seyit Acar, one of Konya's largest automotive spare parts manufacturers, hosted EKONOMİ Newspaper General Coordinator Vahap Munyar, Editorial Board Chairman Şeref Oğuz, News Director Handan Sema Ceylan, Coordinator Didem Eryar Ünlü, and Konya Representative İbrahim Çiçekçi at their production facilities in the Konya Organized Industrial Zone. Seyit Acar, explaining Yıldız Pul-Vaden’s production, facilities, and goals to the EKONOMİ Newspaper delegation, emphasized that Yıldız Pul, founded by the late İsmail Acar, has become an aftermarket giant that exports to over 100 countries today.

Emphasizing that they continue their activities as a brand that generates a current surplus at their current point, Seyit Acar stated that they aim to close 2023 with 70 million dollars of exports and continued his speech as follows: "Our company was founded by my father, the late İsmail Acar, and his master in 1968. We entered the sector by producing washers, gaskets, and brake pads. Manufacturing continued in this way until 2000. In 2000, the first CNC machine was purchased, and mechanization began. In the same year, a sheet metal mold shop was established. The first steps were taken in the production of compressors, which are critical parts in heavy vehicles. At that time, we started with repair kits for compressors. In 2006, we participated in a fair for the first time. While we were expecting demand for our other products, the compressor attracted great interest. Upon returning from the fair, we established the Vaden brand in 2007. In 2008, we started producing other parts of the compressor. By 2012, we were able to produce the entire compressor. The part we produce is an indispensable part used in all heavy vehicles such as trucks, trailers, and buses. When it breaks down, the vehicle does not move. It is that critical. We have produced this with quality."

“WE HAVE 11,000 DIFFERENT PRODUCTS”

Seyit Acar, emphasizing that the Vaden brand, which they export to over 100 countries today, is registered in 4 different classes in 145 countries, stated that they have reached an important level in their 55-year production history. Acar stated that they produce 11,000 different products in 12 groups, and 80% of their production is exported. Acar said, “We have great confidence in our products. Our brand has been recognized all over the world and has proven itself with its quality. Our parts are used in all heavy vehicle brands on world roads, especially Mercedes, Man, Scania, Daf, Volvo, and Renault. We have established a significant aftermarket network."

10 DOLLARS OF IMPORT FOR 100 DOLLARS OF EXPORT

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 of our products ourselves; we do not procure from outside. When our customers see that we produce our factory and all our products under 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 we received from our father, we never bow down to the customer because we produce quality products, and we stand behind our goods. And we produce value-added products. We make 100 dollars of exports 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 aftermarket sector. We have added extra value to the product; we have always created awareness with its processing, casting, packaging, and presentation to the customer. We have not imitated any brand. We also provide OEM parts to a brand in America. We will also increase our OEM rate in Europe. We are strong not only in compressors but also in other components. 4,300 of the 11,000 different products are compressors. The rest are parts in the engine, transmission, and air group,” he said.

“OUR R&D CENTER IS VERY STRONG”

Acar, also talking about the development process of R&D investments, said, “We started R&D with TÜBİTAK projects in 2013. In 2019, we also put our R&D center into operation. We currently have 38 ongoing projects and 51 planned projects. We spent 56 million TL, or 3.77% of our turnover, on R&D in 2022 alone. Our goal for this year is to spend 4% of our turnover. This will continue to increase. Our planned R&D budget for 2025 is 5% of our turnover. We attach great importance to R&D. Currently, 58 engineers work in our R&D center. Our goal for next year is to reach 100 engineers,” he said.

"OUR GOAL IS A TOTAL INVESTMENT OF 125 MILLION EUROS"

Providing information about the facilities, Seyit Acar said, “Currently, we are producing on an area of 83 thousand square meters in the 4th Section Expansion Area of the Konya Organized Industrial Zone. We are building a new area of 82 thousand square meters right next to us. Our factory in the 5th Section Expansion Area is about to be completed. We are also establishing a foundry, press shop, and forging facility there. We have also purchased a new land of 60 thousand square meters from the 6th Section expansion area of the OIZ. We will build an additional building there. We have also purchased land in Bursa Kayapa OIZ. We currently have two factories operating in Bursa Teknosab that produce rubber and have machining operations. In 2027, our total production area will reach 300 thousand square meters. Our goal 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% are women," he said.

"WE ROSE 116 PLACES AT ONCE IN THE ISO SECOND 500"

Stating that they have increased their rankings every year in Turkey's second largest 500 company research, Seyit Acar said, “We rose 116 places at once in the ISO Second 500 and ranked 179th this year. We are also 624th in the TIM's list of the 1000 largest exporters. Our rise continues every year. Our goal is to be in the ISO first 500 in the short term," he said.

“WE CARE ABOUT 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 aimed at energy efficiency. We have preferred devices that leave the least waste to the environment,” he said. Stating that they also have GES investments, Acar stated that they currently have 6.5 MW of rooftop GESs, that they will start a 6.5 MW investment, and that they aim to reach 36 MW of installed power by 2028.