Those Who Do Not Invest Will Be Left Out Of The Game

R&D and Automation

Tezmaksan A.Ş. Group CEO Hakan Aydoğdu emphasized that crises bring new opportunities and that the way forward is through investment in R&D and automation.

He stated that companies embracing automation, focusing on human-centric work, and achieving digital transformation have a better chance of surviving:
“40% of the world’s robots are in China. Once known for cheap labor, China is now recognized for automation. As a result, they have reduced labor costs to nearly below 10%.”

Noting that many companies have postponed investments due to crises, he said:
“We saw the same thing during the 2008 and pandemic crises. So, it's essential to endure crises and turn them into opportunities. That means investing in R&D and automation even in uncertainty. 2025 might be tough, but if Turkey enters 2026 having resolved its problems, postponed investments will be quickly realized.”

NEW EMPLOYMENT MODELS MUST BE DEVELOPED TO MANAGE ROBOTS

Aydoğdu referred to a survey in Europe titled “Why are machine operators hard to find?”:
“The answer is quite interesting: the new generation doesn’t want to use both hands at once. One hand is always on their phone. They also want to be their own boss and work when they want.”

He explained how Tezmaksan's software appeals to this mindset:
“We developed a software similar to an iPad game. You upload the technical drawing and CAD data of the part to our CAM program. You then load the gripper image the robot will use. The system generates its own notebook program. After that, all you need are minor adjustments. In half a day of training, young people can adapt.”

TURKISH COMPANIES CANNOT COMPETE WITHOUT SCALE

Aydoğdu emphasized that the biggest concern for exporters is maintaining current markets:
“In China, 72% of employment, 50% of production, and 32% of exports come from SMEs. Because they are institutionalized, they adapted quickly to automation. In Turkey, 90% of the workforce is in SMEs. Without scaling, it’s impossible for these firms to compete with China.”

20-PERSON TEAM MANAGES ROBOTS

Regarding their new facility in Sivas, Aydoğdu said:
“We built it as a dark factory. Normally requiring 70 employees, we now manage it with 20 thanks to our software. The whole factory is filled with robots. Transport and logistics are handled by HGP AGVs. All processes are automated and can be monitored via smartphone. Labor productivity has increased fourfold.”