An interview with Mr. Tuncay Koru / CEO of Robotech and the Vice President of the Turkish Apparel Automation Machinery Manufacturers Association (KOMID)
One of the Main sponsors of the Istanbul Garment Machinery Exhibition 2022 was KOMID Association. Turkish Apparel Automation Machinery Manufacturers Association -KOMID- was founded about two years ago to foster synergy in the selling, marketing, and export of Turkish textile machinery so that with all members’ collaboration, actions could be taken to advance the development of this industry.
We spoke with Mr. Tuncay Koru, the vice chairman of the board of directors of KOMID association, on the fringes of the exhibition and textile machinery sector in Turkey:
Please give us more details about Turkish Apparel Automation Machinery Manufacturers Association’s operations.
This organization aims to assist Turkish apparel and garment machinery Manufacturers in participating in international exhibitions, carrying out promotional campaigns to boost selling and export markets, improve market share, and, of course, communicate colleagues’ opinions, issues, and requirements to government leaders more quickly and effectively. Development is always made when people are together.
Our target is to reach 100 members, and we now have roughly 60 members. The requirements of the Turkish-made machinery and equipment industry, programming, etc., must be produced by our members. We have complete specialization and are expanding quickly.
What do you think of the Istanbul Garment Machinery industries exhibition (IGM) this year?
This expo is an established one that will celebrate its 27th year this year, but it included new organizers, the ITM exhibition Organizer company, which indicates a bright future for it.
We intend to use all our resources to support this exhibition’s expansion and strengthening because it is essential to us. In this area, there are four significant international exhibitions: Texprocess exhibitions In Germany and the United States, CITME exhibition in China; and IGM in Turkey.
The manufacture of apparel and textiles in the USA has nearly reached zero and vanished, giving the American display virtually no legitimacy. After the pandemic, China has also turned into an unsettling location for travel and exhibitions. The German TexProcess exhibition, where we participated as a Robotech business exhibitor, is also having significant issues.
First, there weren’t many exhibitors and attendees. Due to a scarcity of visas, the Chinese did not visit the exhibition, nor did many customers from the Middle East and Africa, as well as Bangladesh, Vietnam, and India, all of which have large clothing industries and are our target markets for selling textile equipment. When main customer cannot attend the show and see the exhibition; hence it is of little value to us.
We have complete confidence in the Istanbul Garment Machinery Exhibition -IGM- and think it will become the world’s biggest and only exhibition for the industry in the following years. In Turkey, obtaining a visa is simple, and there are no visa-related issues. Higher than anticipated and easily accessible, Istanbul has high-quality hotels.
Tourist and customer satisfaction is highly excellent. For such an exhibition, Istanbul has significantly better benefits than Frankfurt. With strategic attacks, targeted advertising, and effective marketing, we hope to make the Istanbul Garment Machinery Show the best and largest expo in the world.
The textile industry’s hub, Turkey, one of the most significant hubs with considerable benefits, should host the exhibition. Today, it costs a lot of money to visit overseas exhibitions. Our members can encounter many visitors from the area and the world at a reduced cost if we host a unique exhibition.
What do you think of the global and Turkish economies as they are right now?
“Don’t complain; Do export” is our motto in the Turkish Apparel Automation Machinery Manufacturers Association (KOMID). Currently, many emerging nations are experiencing severe economic issues. As a person who studied economics, I believe exporting is the best way to address the problems of these countries. In my opinion, we must generate more than we consume to solve the issues; otherwise, we will see inflation, an increase in foreign debt, etc.
The primary issue in the modern world is consumerism’s disarray and a lack of productivity during the Corona Pandemic era. Turkey is fortunate to use tourism to address some of its economic issues. We have a motto in our forum that says, “Produce and export to overcome any issues,” rather than lamenting inflation and the state of the economy.
All nations should export, but developing countries like Turkey, Pakistan, India, Iran, and others place a particular emphasis on it.
How do you evaluate the Middle East and Africa market?
Currently, the exports of our union members reach more than 60 nations. We cooperate effectively with Tunisia and Morocco in North Africa. The market in Algeria is small. Although there is a covert embargo on Turkish products in Egypt for political reasons, which we hope will change as the political scenario improves, Egypt is an excellent market. Iran is a tremendously lucrative market, and Iranians enjoy suits, shirts, and formal clothing. Iran has a healthy garment industry, and we see good sales there.
How do you think the Turkish clothing industry’s machinery balances price and quality compared to its rivals?
You see, aside from the ongoing efforts of machine manufacturers, the export of Turkish machinery and equipment has, for the first time, surpassed the top 10 nations in the world. One of these other factors is strengthening the dollar against the Turkish lira and the potential to raise exports. On the other hand, modern Turkish machine manufacturers have discovered the need to use high-quality components.
Additionally, the issue of foreign languages in Turkish businesses has been largely resolved, and numerous companies and professionals are multilingual. Expenses for marketing and advertising are the same. We should surely anticipate a rise in the share of exports once companies understand these concepts.
The Turkish Apparel Automation Machinery Manufacturers Association (KOMID) wants to reach export $500 million. Only 25% of this objective has been reached thus far. However, we will dominate the market if we can play our cards right and have unified and sensible pricing plans.
As previously said, we use the best components, electronic motors, etc. to improve the quality of our machines to at least 90% of those of good European firms. Our workforce is less expensive than Europe’s, and our software and applications industry is self-sufficient. We will see benefits if we invest more time and money in research and development.
We should maintain our final price higher than China’s and closer to 70% of the European price. The European market is accessible from Turkey. Turkish businesses are incredibly adaptable. For the customer, we can customize our machines. If the order needs to be delivered immediately, we may also operate around the clock. While our truck takes three days to reach heart of Europe, a shipment from China takes a month to get to Europe.
We used to import 60 machines from Italy each year ten years ago, but today we export 60 machines to Italy annually. We reversed the story by understanding and playing to our strengths.
Have you ever performed reverse engineering?
Look! Nobody has ever envisioned a flawless machine that could produce it. Every device in every industry and nation originated with the same idea, and when each company added to it and altered its purpose, it became more efficient and effective. We attempt to build our unique equipment and designs of high global quality by implementing constructive improvements.
The complete list of Turkish Apparel Automation Machinery Manufacturers Association (KOMID)’s members is shown below:

AG TEKNİK OTOMASON MAKİNALARI SAN. ve TİC. LTD. ŞTİ
+90 212 505 46 44
Centre Mah. Iskender Sk. No:23 Gungoren Istanbul / Turkey

AGM SPECİAL MAKİNE SANAYİ ve DIŞ TİCARET A.Ş.
+90 (212) 432 09 40
agmspecial.com
Birlik Mah. Karaoglanoglu Cad. No:7/A Esenler / Istanbul / Turkey

ALİNDAİR COOLING SYSTEMS A.Ş.
0258 268 00 86
alindair.com.tr
Pinarkent Mah.210 Sok. No:3 Pamukkale / Denizli / Turkey

ALPAY MAKİNA OTOMASYON ARGE HİZMETLERİ TEKSTIL SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTI.
0535 503 62 96
Ikitelli OSB Mahallesi Aykasan 4’lü D Blok Sokak Aykasan Sitesi 4’lü D Blok Apartment No:4 Apartment:73 Basaksehir / Istanbul / Turkey

ALSER TECHNOLOGY SAN. and TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 549 64 54
alsermakine.com
Ikitelli O.S.B. Isteks San. Sitesi B5 Blok No:12 Başakşehir / Istanbul / Turkey

ARGEMAK MAKİNA SANAYİ ve YEDEK PARÇA
+90 212 602 24 04
argemakmakmakina.com
Hurriyet Mahallesi 160. Sokak No:30/B Bagcilar / Istanbul / Turkey

ATAK MAKİNA Ve KALIP SAN. DIŞ TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 655 56 33
atakmakina.com.tr
İkitelli O.S.B Dersankoop Sanayi Sitesi S7 Blok No: 251 Başakşehir / Istanbul / Turkey

HEAD MACHINERY SPARE PARTS INDUSTRY
+90 212 558 63 96
basmakina.com.tr
Cirpici Mah. 75/10 Sokak No:20 Zeytinburnu / Istanbul / Turkey

BEDİR MAKINA YED. PAR. CONSTRUCTION and TAŞ. SAN. TIC. LTD.
+90 212 511 11 50
bedirmakina.com
Barbaros Mah. Millet Cad. Tabya Sok. No:10/A Atasehir / Istanbul / Turkey

BEST BİLGİSAYAR ELEKTRONİK SANAYİ ve TİCARET LTD. ŞTİ.
+90(212) 494 45 45
best.com.tr
Atatürk Bulvarı Deposite Business Centre A1 Blok No:320 Kat:3 İkitelli OSB 34306 Başakşehir / Istanbul / Turkey

BIÇAKSAN MAKİNA TAKIM SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ
+90 212 855 88 88
bicaksan.com.tr
Kavaklı Mah. 23 Nisan Cad. Sevimli Sk. No:9 Beylikduzu / Istanbul / Turkey

CAN MAKİNA SAN. and DIŞ TİC.LTD. ŞTİ
+90 212 549 60 90
canmakina.com.tr
İkitelli O.S.B. Metal İş Sanayi Sitesi 3. Blok No:5-7 Başakşehir / Istanbul / Turkey

ÇELİKHAN WASHING MACHINES SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ
+90 444 10 28
celikhan.com
Firüzköy Mahallesi Aziz Caddesi No:24 Avcılar / Istanbul / Turkey

DELTA KONFEKSİYON STITCHING MACHINERY SAN. and DIŞ TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 430 21 22
deltadikismakina.com
Birlik Mah. Karaoglanoglu Cad. NO:30/A Esenler / Istanbul / Turkey

DEMİRBİLEK MAKİNA SAN. and TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 511 23 81
demirbilekltd.com.tr
Katip Çelebi Caddesi No:20 Unkapanı / Istanbul / Turkey

DEMTUS MACHINE and PARTS
+90 212 481 41 43
demtusmakina.com
Maltepe Mah. Gümüşsuyu Cad. Şükrü Altuncu Business Centre No:23/11 Zeytinburnu / Istanbul / Turkey

DINÇEL MACHINE
+90 536 553 98 36
Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha Mah. 1061/1 Sokak No:2 Gazi Osman Pasha / Istanbul / Turkey

DMS TEKNOLOJİ MAKİNA SAN. and TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 606 00 83
dmsteknoloji.com
50. Yıl Mah. 2084 Sk. No:4/A Sultangazi / Istanbul / Turkey

EKSTREM YAZILIM SAN. and TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 850 441 94 19
extremebusinesssolutions.com
Cumhuriyet Cad. Kahan Apt. No: 40/5 Harbiye / Istanbul / Turkey

EPA TECHNOLOGY and AUTOM. MAK. SAN. TIC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 486 38 48
epaakin.com.tr
Tevfik Bey Mah. Şehit Erol Olçok Cad. No:16 Sefaköy – Küçükçekmece / Istanbul / Turkey

FAYMAK MAKİNA SAN. and TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 505 71 82
faymak.com
Centre Mah. Ataturk Cad. No:36 Gungoren / Istanbul / Turkey

FİLİZ MAKİNA SAN. and TİC. A.Ş.
+90 258 269 10 35
filiz.com.tr
Organised Industrial Zone Hüsnü Örnek Cd. No:10 / Denizli / Turkey

GUNDOGAN MACHINE SYSTEMS
+90 212 477 99 12
gmsspecial.com
Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha Mah. 1061/1 Sokak No:2 Gazi Osman Pasha / Istanbul / Turkey

SOUTH BIOMEDICAL HEALTH PRODUCTS INC.
+90 212 671 68 28
konfeksiyonteknoloji.com.tr
Yakuplu Centre Mah. Kavaklı Cad. Corner Office Business Centre Kat:4 No:67-68-69 Beylikduzu / Istanbul / Turkey

HASEL IRONING MACHINE SAN. LTD. CO.
+90 212 671 3243
haselutu.com.tr
Akşemsettin Mah. Okurlar Cad. 290.Sok No:3-5 Esenyurt / Istanbul / Turkey

ILGAR MAKİNA and TEXTILE SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 530 154 97 69
ilgarmakina.com.tr
İkitelli O.S.B. Demirciler Sanayi Sitesi B3 Blok No:86 B Başakşehir / Istanbul / Turkey

IQ TEXTILE LIMITED COMPANY
+90 212 482 10 24
iqteks.com
Yeni Mahalle Mah. Galeri Cad. No:6 Küçükköy / ISTANBUL

LGM GROUP UTRON MACHINERY and ENERGY SAN. TİC. LTD.
+90 212 528 01 10
lgmgroup.com.tr
Akçaburgaz Mah. 3108 Sok. No: 6/ 1B1 Esenyurt / Istanbul / Turkey

MALKAN MAKİNA SANAYİ VE TİCARET ANONİM ŞİRKETİ
0 212 477 97 97
malkan.com.tr
Küçükköy Karayolları Mah. 559 Sok. No:16 Gaziosmanpasa / Istanbul / Turkey

MCN MAKİNA SAN. ve TİC. PAZ. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 551 37 07-08
mcnmakina.com.tr
Yenibosna Merkez Mah. Doğu Sanayi Sitesi 13.Blok Kosova Cad. No:5 Bahçelievler / Istanbul / Turkey

MESEL MAKİNA İTH. and IHR. SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 699 00 00
wermac.com.tr
İkitelli O.S.B. Metal-iş Sanayi Sitesi 8th Blok No: 27-29 Başakşehir / Istanbul / Turkey

MEYDAN MAKI SAN. TİC. AŞ.
+90 212 644 11 20
meydanmakina.com
Sanayi Mahallesi Çeşme Sk. No:13D No:116, Gungoren / Istanbul / Turkey

MRT MACHINERY SAN. TİC.
+90 224 362 10 05
mrtmakina.com
Yunusemre Mh. Yalova Sk. No:7 16270 Yildirim / Bursa / Turkey

NÜMAKSAN MAK. SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 (0216) 499 53 40
numaksan.com.tr
Majlis Mah. Teraziler Cad. Perpim B Blok No: 31-B 95 Sancaktepe / Istanbul / Turkey

ORO CMS INDUSTRIAL IRONING MACHINES
+90 212 526 31 82
cmsutu.com
Hacı Kadın Mah. Katip Çelebi Cad. Unkapanı / Istanbul / Turkey

OZONE DENIM TEX. YIK. PAZ. SAN. İHR. İTH. LTD. CO.
+90 532 446 23 82
ozonedenim.com
Florya Cad. Billur Sok. Nedim Villa No:8/2 Florya / Istanbul / Turkey

ÖZBİLİM TEXTILE MACHINERY SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 855 42 43
ozbilim.com
Adnan Kahveci Mah. Harbiye Cd. (A-5-2 Block) No: 19G Beylikduzu / Istanbul / Turkey

ÖZER MAKİNA TEKSTIL SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 653 13 35
ozermakina.com.tr
Centre Mah. Köyaltı Mevkii Poplar Sk. No: 30/B Yenibosna / Istanbul / Turkey

REALİST MAKİNA İMALATI SAN. and TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 689 00 45
realistmakina.com
Osmangazi Mh. Gazi Cd. No:11/7 Esenyurt / Istanbul / Turkey

ROBOTECH AG ROBOT MACHINE SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SAN. TİC. LTD. CO.
0212 472 01 01
robotech.com.tr
Mehmet Akif Press Eksrepess Yolu &, Bahariye Cd. No:107, 34307 Küçükçekmece / Istanbul / Turkey

DAWN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN TRADE LTD.
+90 212 771 59 20
safakltd.com
Hadımköy Mah. Topuz Sok. No:1-3 Arnavutkoy / ISTANBUL

SERKON TEXTILE MACHINERY and EQUIPMENT SAN. and TIC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 486 09 86
serkonmakina.com
Deliklikaya Mah. Diriliş Cad. No:5/1 Arnavutkoy / Istanbul / Turkey

SILTER ADVANCED IRONING SYSTEMS SAN. and TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
0212 861 45 15
silter.com.tr
Murat Cesme Mah., Eski Silivri Cad., No:42-44, Mimarsinan-B.Cekmece, 34535 Istanbul / Turkey

SÜRÜCÜ TEXTILE MAKİNA SAN. and TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 527 80 06
surucuapere.com
Atatürk Bulvarı İ.M.Ç. 4.Blok 4105 Unkapanı – Fatih / Istanbul / Turkey

TAM MAKI SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 216 307 40 14
tammakina.com.tr
Ihlamurkuyu Mah. Vaiz Sk. No:2 Tepeüstü / Ümraniye / Istanbul / Turkey

TECHNOMAK TEXTILE MACHINERY
+90 212 637 62 51
teknomakltd.com
Yavuz Selim Mah. Birlik Cad. No: 29/A Bağcılar / Istanbul / Turkey

TEMS MACHINERY
+90 322 352 64 72
temsmakina.com.tr
Beş Ocak Mah. 3rd Sok. No:4/A Seyhan / Adana / Turkey

TİMTAŞ KONFEKSİYON MALZ. and RAF SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 670 46 64
timtas.com
Beylikduzu O.S.B Mermerciler San. Sit. 8th Street. No 11/2 Beylikduzu / Istanbul / Turkey

TRI ELECTRONICS SAN. and TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
0 212 485 87 77
tri.com.tr
İkiteli Organised Industrial Zone, Atatürk Bulvarı 14. Cadde MUTSAN Sanayi Sitesi, 10th Blok No:26-28 İkitelli, 34490 Başakşehir / İstanbul / Turkey

UZAY KONFEKSYON MAKİNALARI LTD. ŞTI.
+90 212 693 55 55
spacemakine.com
Basın Ekspres Yolu Uzay Plaza Atatürk Mah. İkitelli Cad. Gülistan Sok. No:2 Ikitelli / Istanbul / Turkey

ÜNTAŞ KONFEKSİYON MAKİNALARI INDUSTRY AND TRADE LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 505 98 91
untasmakina.com
Orta Mah. Maltepe Cad. Emintas Akel Business Mer. No:10/224 Bayrampasa / Istanbul / Turkey

UNIVERSAL BOILER MARKETING and CONTRACTING LTD.
+90 (212) 549 70 70
universalkazan.com.tr
Ikitelli Org. San. Region. Metal-İş San. Sit. 8 Ada 36-38 Başakşehir / Istanbul / Turkey

YAZICI DIKİŞ MAKİNE SAN. and TİC. LTD. ŞTİ.
+90 212 776 46 41
new-tech.com.tr
Çakıl Mahallesi Gülşen Sok. No: 47 Catalca / Istanbul / Turkey

YENİCİ MAKİNA COMPRESSOR SAN. TİC. LTD. ŞTI. / FİLO COMPRESSOR
+90 212 671 27 27
filokompresor.com.tr
Ziya Gökalp Mahallesi Hürriyet Caddesi No:63 İkitelli / Başakşehir / Istanbul / Turkey

METHOD MACHINE
+90 212 433 77 43
yontemmakine.com
Yenigün Mah. Bağcılar Cad. 7th Street. No:14A Bağcılar / Istanbul / Turkey