Simer Sheet metal grew 200 percent in the pandemic

Simer Sheet Metal, which supplies semi-finished and ready-to-assemble parts as contract manufacturing to the construction machinery, medical, industrial white goods, and defense industries, continues its investments in the pandemic. Adding 15 more machines to its 10 machines, the company increases its sheet metal processing capacity day by day.

Yusuf TemurtaÅŸ, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Simer Sheet Metal, said that they processed 30 thousand tons of sheet metal last year and that they will close this year with approximately 90 thousand tons. Stating that they will focus on welded manufacturing and finished products in 2021, TemurtaÅŸ said, "When we started operating in 2017, we were only trading. We were buying domestic and imported sheet metal products in various quality ranges, in various thicknesses, and selling them to machine manufacturers. While this business was going on, we started to process the sheets at the end of 2018. First, we installed the plasma machine, then came the press brake and guillotine. In the middle of the year, we bought a laser cutting machine. We started the manufacturing business with 5-6 people and now we continue with 200 people."

Emphasizing that they work 24/7, Temurtaş said: "Last year, we processed 30 thousand tons of sheet metal from 2 thousand 500 tons per month, and we will close this year with 75-90 thousand tons. Our references include leading brands in their sectors such as Hidromek, Ege Industry, Ege Brake, Tümosan, and Bisan."

Stating that they are currently cutting and processing metal plates from 0.6-millimeter thickness to 250-millimeter thickness, Temurtaş said, "We made punch, plasma, press brake investments in 2019. While people were afraid of investment during the pandemic, we made our biggest investments at that time. We were 4 people while trading raw materials, we exceeded 100 people in the middle of 2020. At that time, welded manufacturing was also commissioned. Then we opened a branch in Kemalpaşa, and when it was insufficient within 3 months, we moved this facility to two factories in Torbalı and Bağyurdu. In other words, our business, which we started with 4 people and trade, reached the capacity to take raw material from A to Z and turn it into a finished product in 3 different branches after 3 years, and our staff reached 200 people. In our facilities, we carry out all processes such as CNC vertical machining, lathe machining, machining, bohrwerk, robot welding, robotic system paint shop, and laser cutting. Among our goals is to establish a cataphoresis line."

Emphasizing that the main factor in the rapid growth they achieved was references, TemurtaÅŸ said, "Thanks to our other group companies with a long history in the metal sector, we had the opportunity to reach all our potential customers. We also realized that the quality of service in the sector was low and we attached great importance to this issue. When you listen to the customer one-on-one, when you take note of their problems and get back to them, and when you provide the right material in full and on time, it pushes the money bargain to the second plan. We were surprised when we first heard this. We felt that this would pay off and we paid attention to this from the beginning. When the management stood behind us, success came. During the pandemic, we invested when everyone was afraid and turned the crisis into an opportunity. While our competitors have not been able to grow for 3 years, we have achieved great momentum."

Stating that they have seen the very positive effect of the investment decision they took during the pandemic, Temurtaş said, "While we had 10 machines, we added 15 more machines to them during the pandemic process. While companies were trying to lay off staff, we searched for staff, and we are still looking for them. On the one hand, we are making automation investments to minimize dependence on personnel. Our paint shop will work with a robotic system. We had one robot in our welding shop, we are buying 2 more. We have realized most of the nearly 100 million TL investment we have made in the last 2 years during the pandemic period. We increased our number of personnel by 2.5 times during the pandemic period. We have hired 200 people in the last 2 years, we still need them. Our investments will also continue. In 2021, we will focus on welded manufacturing and finished products. We will produce and supply materials to OEM companies in the automotive and defense industry. Our negotiations about these are ongoing. While our contract manufacturing continues in Bağyurdu for the automotive industry and the manufacturing industry in the region, we will focus on the defense industry in our Torbalı facility."