Silkar focused oın USA market with high stone production
Silkar Mining that started the production in 2016 after completing the light stone panel project, focused on the USA market with the Akdolam product developed as a result of the Project. Stating that they increased the marketing activities in USA with especially innovative and design based products in the last one year, Erdoğan Akbulak, the President of Executive Board of Silkar Mining, informed that the inner decoration of Ritz Carlton hotel in Chicago bear the signature of Silkar. Akbulak underlined that Akdolam would be used for all the interior works of a high residential building in USA.
Stating that they added 3 thousand square meters to their Bilecik facilities and invested in an innovative product group, Erdoğan also said that they had been granted with G document from TSI for the light laminated stone panel they had developed. Stating that the Akdolam products could be used in the façades as construction material with the mentioned document, Akbulak said the weight of the product, which was 60 times more impact resistant than two-centimeter normal marble, was 15 kilograms per square meter.
Erdoğan Akbulak, explaining that the investments on IT are continuing, stated that they had started the operation of CRM package and also updated their current ERP system by transferring to Axapta in 2016. Pointing out they had taken steps to become a mobile company in this manner, Akbulak said that the studies for renewal of technology and RD were going on. Informing that they had opened the Akdo shop of a thousand square meters in Manhattan USA in March 2016, Akbulak said: “This shop is of uttermost importance for our organization. We increase the brand awareness meeting with the architects, interior architects, real estate investors and constructors every month. Furthermore, we take place in Turquality with our Akdo brand. we constantly invest to design, brand and innovation”.
Stating that they provide services with one mosaic manufacturing facility in China and two production facilities in Bilecik, Erdoğan Akbulak informed that they also run six marble quarries in Bursa and Sivas. Expressing that they employ around 500 people in Turkey, China and USA, Akbulak emphasized that they could deliver in 48 hours to their customers from their storages in Connecticut and San Francisco. Stating that they export around 85 percent of their production to 30 countries, Akbulak said: “In 2017, we increased the sales by 9 percent in comparison with the previous year. We foresee that this year will be difficult due to both petroleum prices and geopolitical dynamics. Therefore, we will focus on different markets, primarily USA, with our innovative and design-based products”.