Grup Impeks – Providing Innovative Products and a Competitive Edge in the Energy Market and Defense Industry Market
Defence Turkey: First of all, we would like to thank you for your time. As Grup Impeks, you are conducting business in a wide spectrum of areas, Energy, Ballistics, Equipment’s with Textile and Food being in the first place. Could you please briefly inform us on your capabilities, investments and structuring?
Grup Impeks is a full-fledged foreign trade company, rendering services with its expert and experienced staff to all markets in terms of procurement and logistics. Regarding procurement aspect, initially the domestic and foreign procurements –domestic ones are prioritized- are conducted in a way that best fulfill our customer’s demands and thereafter the service is completed with customs & monitoring.
Defence Turkey: In addition to the activities you conduct in the commercial arena, you are developing many products and solutions for the utilization of various armies of the world in the military realm. What would you like to say on your areas of activity, capabilities and products?
Regarding the military arena, our main expertise is in textiles, and in addition to the uniforms and sports equipment of the armies and troops, their outdoor accessories, vehicles and equipment to be used in the field, mobile installations and solutions, technical sophisticated products with advanced technology and various dry food demands we are exerting efforts to provide all logistic requirements that an army possibly requires in the shortest term possible with all the installation and services.
Defence Turkey: It is obvious that you are active in the regions of international markets where the demand is more intensive rather than the domestic market in respect to the military arena. What are your assessments on the markets you are active in and on the programs you have been conducting?
The markets that we are active in are mostly the ones of African and Middle Eastern countries, and while we fulfill the demands of the countries and military troops of these regions, we also seize the opportunity to generate and implement innovative projects and different utilization alternatives that may cover the demands specific to the region. These activities and the experience that we acquire specific to these regions increases the service quality we are able to offer to our customers in the long run and also it gives us the opportunity to continuously renew and improve our product groups and execute innovative activities for our products.
Defence Turkey: Military Textiles is one of your competencies and within this scope, you are offering various solutions that you develop and produce particularly in many regions with urgent requirements for utilization by world armies. Could you briefly inform us on your structuring regarding the design and production processes and on the investments you made as part of the R&D stage?
We are closely following the developments in the defense sector at home and abroad. In this sense; we endeavor to offer services to military and police forces by rapidly analyzing their demands. When we receive an order, in line with the conditions of the country, at times we need to guide our customers regarding the fabric options, the models to be used or the new activities acquired through R&D. Thanks to our knowledge and expertise, we strive to provide the most favorable product with the best balance of benefit/price or benefit/technology.
Defence Turkey: In respect to the ballistic solutions you offer which complement the Military Textile area, you also cover the requirements of the Military and Security forces. With which of your qualities do you think you stand out, considering all of your rivals? What are your comments on the innovative approaches and technologies that you put forth in this area?
In the current status of the world, various security problems are occurring in many regions and therefore there is a huge demand for ballistic products. So, as Grup Impeks, we have been working on ballistic products for the last four years and focusing more on our investments. Regarding the procurement of ballistic material, we are collaborating with partner companies which are most recognized in these areas, with great references, using the state – of – the – art – technology. We deliver the most suitable solutions to our end customer by combining one – to – one studies of our R&D department and the demands of our customers, then conducting the technical improvements and usage improvements which we deem appropriate. Currently we have a production facility project, the establishment of which is still underway. We will use this facility merely for the manufacturing of ballistic products. Within the scope of the facility’s projection, we aim to transform our R&D department with our own test laboratory into a reference center in which international studies can be conducted. When the facility launches its services, the execution of R&D studies in parallel with production will be more indicative for us in respect to the type and size of the investment. The ballistic sector is our most prestigious product group which requires the latest innovation and continuous and reliable services in technology and R&D aspects.
Defence Turkey: You offer various solutions in the area of convenient food and dry food for use by the military. What are the differences between the military convenient and dry food and regular ones? Which type of products do you develop in this area and moreover could you please inform us on your projections on the rate of increase of usage in this area in the world, as well as the requirements that may emerge in the upcoming period?
Regarding convenient and dry food, although it seems completely different, considering that our main sector is military textile, actually our customer group is totally the same. Our activities on the uniform side, our services and our dreams are fully similar for our customers, but it is harder to change the habits in the food group. Although, the developments achieved in this area and the studies and activities conducted are directly focused on service quality, as the technological developments adopted are not visual or tactual, habits can be limited merely with the traditional product group. Then again, with cost/benefit balance in mind, the dry legumes, powder food products and canned goods which are the classic product group always hold their place. Our actual aim is to bring our customers together with products containing more nutrition, with extended use; food product groups which are effective, easy to carry and store, available for recycling and innovative. These types of innovative product groups are currently being used in numerous developed markets and for various sectors. They will be compulsory for our market region and customer profile, more than a habit in the very near future. We are conducting the necessary preparations and trying to update the services that we can offer to meet these demands.
Defence Turkey: In the past, Grup Imeks didn’t participate very often in national and international defense and security events. Yet, we observe that with the IDEF event that took place last year in Turkey, your company promotions are gradually increasing. In this context, are we able to see that you are gaining more exposure in the national and international activities with your innovative products and your wide market network?
We haven’t conducted any marketing or promotion activities as a principle since our establishment. And today, we attend the events where our customers wish to see and meet us. Demands and requirements of our customers have always been our priority, and they will also be indicative for us in the future.
Defence Turkey: You are going to attend one of Europe’s greatest events –the Eurosatory exhibition which will take place in Paris this year. Which of your capabilities and solutions will you display at this event? What are your expectations from this event?
As Eurosatory 2016 is our very first European event experience, we believe that it will always remain an experience with which we will remember with excitement. We hope this excitement will have positive reflections on our sector, in which we strive to develop and improve by creating new solutions, and also for our company and customers as well as the potential groups for receiving our services. Our priority and excitement is mainly focused on our products in ballistic groups, yet our textile group which carried our company to its current stance will remain as the apple of our eye.
Defence Turkey: Lastly, is there any message that you would like to convey to the readers of Defence Turkey Magazine?
Our company will be happy to offer its high quality services to our existing and potential customers in the military and defense industry sector, textile and uniforms group, from technical textiles to mobile field solutions, from traditional and innovative food supplies to turnkey mobile and fixed construction and energy projects, vehicle, equipment and spare parts to be used in the field and internationally to infrastructure solutions and finally in installation, operation, logistics and transportation. The development and growth of our sector and each investment made to this end will be a source of pride for us on behalf of our customers.
