ILX Engineering's Life Philosophy Has Been Total Quality and R&D

"The main features of the automation systems offered by İLX MÜHENDİSLİK are; to optimize the resources used in accordance with the changing market conditions, to increase economic and technical efficiency, to standardize quality, to improve working conditions and thus to increase efficiency and profitability." We talked with Cafer Bulut about the present and future goals of his company.

-First of all, can we get to know you better?

– I was born in Sivas in 1979. I started my business life in Istanbul (wrapping coils in Karaköy) in 1986 and continued my career in different positions in different companies until 1997. I have been working in my company since 1997.

–What are the products you produce as ILX and which sectors do you address?

– As ILX Engineering, it has been serving in the automation sector since 1997 and has taken part in the industrial machine parts product sales market.

Apart from our own production and export of ILX Voice and Video Signal Products (Warning Lamps, Illuminated Columns, Tube Horns, Multi-storey Warning Lamps, buzzer and modular) and Fenac Encoders, we are the only distributor in Turkey of world-renowned European and Far Eastern important brands (Kinco, Siko, di-soric).

Kinco product group includes PLC & Expansion Modules, Touch Panels (HMI), AC Inverters, Stepper Motors & Drives, Servo Motors, Communication Servo Motors & Drives, while Siko product group includes Rope Encoders, Absolute & Incremental Encoders, Magnetic Sensors & Tapes, Digital & Analog Position Indicators, Actuators & Compact Servo Motors, Analog Potentiometers.

As İLX, we produce video and signal technologies. Especially in the last two years, we have exceeded this a little bit and started to produce other new products. We also produce signaling products for switches, sensors, air vehicles. We attach importance to R&D and improve ourselves day by day.

 – As İLX, what are the issues to be considered in the production phase of signaling products according to you?

– We do not only produce signaling products, we have a wide range of products in this field.

We can group our product groups under three main headings:

First stage; indoor products (factory, etc. Indoor environments)

Second stage; outdoor products (construction, building, door entrances, petrochemical plants, etc.) We aimed to achieve world-class compliance in this field and produced products suitable for this.

In the third stage, we turned to products suitable for industry 4.0.

This year, we had the opportunity to exhibit our products in this field to our foreign customers by taking part in the fair held in Dubai for the first time. If we talk about signaling, the customer comes to us by being aware of what he wants and we produce products suitable for him. Instead of talking about the generalization of our products within a standard norm, we can also talk about the existence of project-oriented products that are open to development. Because the standards of indoor and outdoor products vary and it would not be right for us to give a holistic answer to all of them.

– Can you tell us about your products related to outdoor environments, especially for air vehicles?

– Today, security has become much more important. Large buildings, petrochemical plants, telecom poles, offshore platforms, etc. should have warning devices at certain distances in all tall structures that are susceptible to being hit by aircraft when it is dark at night.

What is important here is that these devices are acceptable at world standards. From electronic circuits to leds, led slots, etc., everything has certain standards. These standards bring quality as well as cost loading. At this point, we are also going to ways to benefit from solar energy in order to achieve the sustainable and longest efficiency. We are doing R&D of products that can produce their own energy independent of the network.

– Is Industry 4.0 sufficiently understood in our country?

– I don't think that industry 4.0 is sufficiently understood in our country. We cannot say that it is understood in terms of production, quality and added value. In this regard, I think that universities, enterprises and vocational high schools should make the necessary preparations.

We have not reached the desired level in this regard. Smart products are becoming widespread in the world and we need to hurry up.

–How do you evaluate our machinery sector in terms of Industry 4.0? Besides, how do you ensure the certification of your products?

– I find the machinery sector in Turkey very effective and successful. We are happy about that. There are classic and specific certifications in certification. It's easy to get classic ones, but hard to get other detailed specific certifications. However, specific certifications with a high degree of difficulty; It provides the quality of the products, the perspective on product quality, the seriousness of the work and the ownership of the work done. In short, these certifications instill a quality culture in you.

–You are the distributor of important companies abroad. Can you tell us about them?

–Since 2002, we have been representing many important brands. We also manufacture our own products since 2005. The companies we work with are also companies that have a say in the world. The fact that we are the representative of these large companies provides added value to our country. We mainly address the machinery and industrial sector and we export indirectly with these representations.

– Which countries do you mainly work with abroad?

– Middle East, Latin America, North Africa, Iran, etc. Our products are sent to many countries up to Maldives.

– Do you face difficulties in the domestic market?

– I cannot say that we have a very difficult time in terms of production and market. Because there is a general competitive environment and we prepare accordingly and offer our products to the market. There is no need for pessimism about this, and our products are getting enough attention in the market. This makes us happy. We are most competitive with global companies in the market. Our production allows products that will be much more expensive to enter our country at a cheaper price. We can say that the fact that we are producing provides our country with an annual gain of close to 20 million € indirectly, if not directly.

– Studies on R&D make a great contribution to our country. What are your work on R&D as a company?

– We carry out our R & D activities with our eight engineer friends (six of which are electronic, one is mechanical, one is design).

We carry out our R&D activities in both standard products and specific project-based products.

The main features of the automation systems offered by İLX MÜHENDİSLİK are; to optimize the resources used in accordance with the changing market conditions, to increase economic and technical efficiency, to standardize quality, to improve working conditions and thus to increase efficiency and profitability.

In this sense, Total Quality and R&D activities are our basic business principle and life philosophy. In doing so, we attach great importance to occupational health, occupational safety and environmental protection. Our goal is to provide a safe, healthy work and living environment for our employees and our society.

–As ILX, what are your goals for the future, are you planning to expand your production facility?

– As a company, we initially carry out our activities in a closed area of 1200 m 2, but with the addition of an area of 2500 m 2 with the investments made after 2010, we work with a team of 55 – 60 people in an area of 3700m 2 in total. We are seriously focused on exports. We also need to follow innovations in order to hold on to world markets.

For product diversity, we need to prioritize industry 4.0 first, and security as the second element.

For product diversity, these two elements are very important for competition in world markets. As a company, we are growing day by day and trying to increase our market share in international markets by developing our products at world standards.   

– As ILX, can you compare our country with the world markets in terms of sector?

– I don't think our country is in the place it deserves in the world market. We have to be in a much better position. Especially when we consider factors such as our geographical location, trained manpower and young population, we can easily say this. I think that companies in the sector should also focus on exports. Especially after 2021, I think that positive developments will take place even faster for our country. No need to be pessimistic. When we evaluate our own company at world standards, I can say that we have a young, dynamic, successful structure in every sense, which is highly compatible with technological developments and open to development.

– Do you really think that the incentives given in our country have paid off?

– I think that the incentives are 40% reciprocated. More serious measures need to be taken, especially in terms of supervision. When this lack of supervision is eliminated, I think that incentives will provide more added value to our country. The state has done its part in terms of incentives, but the lack of supervision has not fully achieved its purpose.

As a company, we will continue to have a say with high quality products that have caught up with technology with more production and more product types. By taking part in fairs held in global markets, we will continue to keep this perception alive through you, the valuable press.