At Yemtar, we know that becoming and remaining a leader in the sector is only possible through R&D and innovation. We provide our R&D Center with the necessary support in order to bring our customers together with our high-quality, low-maintenance cost, energy-efficient products.

Bahadır Çolak
Vice Chairman
Yemtar

The place of Turkish companies in feed milling machinery is indisputable. The country’s deep-rooted history in agriculture and animal husbandry and its open approach to development are also reflected in the machinery industry. Among these, Yemtar, which is well known by the sector, is famous for the many products it produces and has registered thanks to the importance it attaches to R&D. When it comes to Yemtar’s ground-breaking steps with its R&D center; Gear Driven Pellet Press, Smart-Mill Container Plants and Turkey’s first organic fertilizer system are among the firsts that come to the mind.

We had the opportunity to do an interview with Mr. Bahadır Çolak, the Vice Chairman of Yemtar, which was established in 1980 and has been exporting since 1986. We got the opinions of Bahadır Çolak on many issues including the history of the company, the place it has reached today and future goals, R&D, innovation, the effect of the differences between the Dollar and Euro on the machine manufacturers, and what the pandemic process taught us. 

Çolak underlines the importance they attach to innovations as a technology company. “More than 10 million TRY has been spent in total for our Yemtar R&D Center since its establishment in 2017. In addition, we have applied for more than 30 patents and petty patents and officially registered our works,” he says. Stating that they export to 44 countries across 4 continents, the young manager says that they have achieved great success in exports especially in the last 5 years and they have increased their market share in Far East countries. He acknowledges the importance of competition when it comes to their future plans, yet adds: “We compete with ourselves first.”

Mr. Çolak's answers to our questions are as follows:

Can we get to know you briefly?

I was born in 1975 in Bandırma, Balıkesir. I completed my education in Bandırma and Bursa. Afterwards, I took part in almost every level of our company. I have been in the management of the company since 2005. Now, I serve as the Vice Chairman of Yemtar.

Yemtar is known as one of the leading feed technology companies. When and by whom was the company founded? When did it open up to the world? What kind of development did it go through and how did it come to these days?

The feed industry in our country started in 1965. Yemtar was founded in 1980 by our late father İsmail Çolak. Our father İsmail Çolak passed away in 2005 and we, two brothers, Abdullah Çolak and Bahadır Çolak, have been managing the company since 2005 in service of the sector.

We made our first export in 1986. Since 1994, our overseas sales have continued to intensify. In the process behind it, Yemtar became a popular brand in the international market. We have been participated in a great race in the international market. And this required innovation. In order to renew and develop ourselves, we established Yemtar R&D Center, the first R&D center of Turkey in the feed industry. In this way, we have broken new grounds many times. We launched Turkey’s first Gear Driven Pellet Press from our R&D Center. In addition, we brought the Smart-Mill Container Plant, which is a new and very big project, to our sector in 2020. We achieved many firsts such as Turkey’s first Organic Fertilizer System and 1200 mill, and Pelpeak.

We establish turn-key feed factories. Today, we continue to work non-stop with our heavy overseas sales. We are constantly renewing and developing ourselves to lead the sector with our overseas and domestic services.

“WE CONSTANTLY UNDERLINE INNOVATION”

What would you like to say about Yemtar’s current place and future goals? Which regions do you export to?

As Yemtar, we continue to hold the high ground in our country with determination. We are gaining appreciation and satisfaction in this way with our innovative projects and after-sales services we provide with the sector, and we progress rapidly by going from strength to strength. We have adopted the principle of “INNOVATION”, which we always underline as number one among our goals. We have always been a company that aims to bring innovation to the sector and take it seriously. A new project that we are in the final stages of is now on our agenda. We aim to introduce it to the sector very soon. Our innovations will always continue.

We export to 44 countries across 4 continents. Especially in the last 5 years, our export rate has increased significantly. We have been presenting our brand and quality to Far East countries recently. There are different companies in these regions. Competition has always been there. However, we compete with ourselves first. 

Can you give information about your product range?

As Yemtar, our main occupations are to design, produce and install turnkey ruminant and poultry feed factories, cat and dog food factories, fish feed factories, flake plants, rendering facilities and fertilizer processing solutions. In addition to this, our product categories are: Conveyors Types, Mixer Lines, Cleaning and Screening Lines, Pelleting Lines, Mill Lines, and Full Fat Soybean Extruder Lines.

How are you affected by the differences between the dollar and euro exchange rates? What measures should be taken to overcome this problem?

It’s impossible not to be affected. However, we are taking our own measures to mitigate their effects and get through these crises with the least damage. Since we are an exporting company, we have a basket system that we have formulated over the years in line with our corporate dynamics. We try to overcome these difficulties with the least damage with various currencies and financial instruments.

“PANDEMI TESTED OUR TECHNOLOGY AND WE PASSED IT”

One of the basic requirements of surviving in the business world for a long time is widely considered to be able to perceive the course of the economy, and also of politics, correctly. To what extent have you needed this in the world-wide shocks such as the pandemic or in the decisions you make about the future?

The pandemic has been a period that affected the whole world. As Yemtar, I cannot say that we were caught on the wrong foot. We have adapted to this process through remote work. With the pandemic, we tested our technology, which we had developed previously. During this period, we commissioned our two facilities abroad, working from our office for 48 hours without ever going to that country, and delivered them to our customers. We also knew that this was actually a necessity. We were ready and tested it in this way. Our customers need it, too. With this system, you can intervene instantly, which is really valuable. Our customers, too, realized the benefits and started investing in the software.

“OUR AFTER SALES SERVICES GIVE SATISFACTION AND CONFIDENCE”

What differentiates you from other companies in the industry? Why do your customers prefer you?

As I mentioned in other questions, our hallmark is our innovative approach. As a company adopting innovation, it is our R&D Center that differentiates us from other companies. Of course, our R&D Center is a realistic one. It was established to produce in the real sense, to bring value and innovation to the sector. We continue to bring innovation to the sector every year without underestimating petty developments. Our Gear Driven Pellet Press is an example to this. Our technology, of which performance we have monitored and developed by spending substantial effort 24/7 in the field for about 4-5 years. Now, we have gone into mass production. Another example is our Smart-Mill Container Plant. With our automation developed in line with today’s technology, you can manage the factory with your smartphone. In addition, by integrating this technology into our existing machinery and newly produced machines, we not only facilitate the work of our customers, but also collect more accurate data from the field. The satisfaction of the customers regarding the after-sale services we provide with them is already well-known in the industry. Yemtar is among the popular brands in our country and in the world with its quality and trustworthiness.

“WE REGISTERED OUR WORK WITH MORE THAN 30 PATENTS”

When it comes to technology, the role of R&D and innovation for value-added production is indisputable. Could you tell us about Yemtar’s approach to the concept?

At Yemtar, we know that becoming and remaining a leader in the sector is only possible through R&D and innovation. We are aware that reducing the production costs of our customers in the feed sector will benefit people in this inflationary environment. We provide our R&D Center with the necessary support in order to bring our customers together with our high-quality, low-maintenance cost, energy-efficient products. We increase our R&D budget every year. More than 10 million TRY has been spent in total for our Yemtar R&D Center since its establishment in 2017. In addition, we have applied for more than 30 patents and petty patents and officially registered our works.

We maintain the knowledge that will create know-how in the light of technology, science and innovation. We have proven this accumulation and the experience we have gained, both with successful, technology-following industrial projects and with our in-house projects. We will further increase our current budget gradually and constantly improve. As Yemtar, we will continue to produce unlimited solutions in the feed industry for the whole world.