Hürriyet Daily News

20 Ekim 2011-Hürriyet Daily News

Fatih Altun, chairman of Rasyonel Kimya, has produced chemicals used in stain removal, electronic card cleansing sprays, and rinsing material used in industrial-grade dishwashers. The company has developed 200 products and is one of the four main chemicals producers in Turkey. Altun’s company recently produced a chemical which erases graffiti without tarnishing the painted surfaces underneath An entrepreneur from the Aegean province of İzmir has produced a special chemical for Turkish railroads to erase graffiti from trains. Fatih Altun, Chairman of Rasyonel Kimya, located in the İzmir industrial zone, is a producer of “technical chemicals” such as those used in removing stains from fabrics, electronic card cleansing sprays and rinsing materials used in industrial grade dish-washers. The company has developed 200 types of products and is one of four chemicals producers in Turkey. “We are serving 2,000 firms, including the industrial giants of İzmir,” Altun said.

[HH] New cleanser: ‘Graffiti’
Altun said that their latest product, “Graffiti,” was a special aerosol chemical that erased graffiti without tarnishing the painted metal underneath, designed particularly for use by Turkish trains. “Young people see these kinds of activities as a form of self-expression and it is true that a great many people consider graffiti a form of art,” he said. “However, sometimes these seemingly innocent writings may actually cause serious damage to public property.” Altun added that railroad officials were very impressed with the product and had decided to fill purchase orders whenever the need arises.

[HH] Costs reduced to 70 percent

Altun said different machinery used in different industries could not be protected by a standard product, adding that each needed chemicals unique to their requirements. “Industrialists should make use of chemicals to protect the machinery they pay enormous amounts for,” he said. “If they can protect against damage by using these chemicals, they will reduce the necessity of having to import components from abroad.” This, Altun said, was solidly cost-effective on many levels, since it considerably reduced import volume. “The equivalents of the chemicals we produce are four or five times more expensive when imported from abroad. But we, being a local firm, are able to go to the factories and see the problem. Consequently we are able to custom-make a product for them which will by no means fall short of the quality of its foreign equivalent, but will, however, be considerably cheaper.” Altun said the companies could save a massive 70 percent of costs by hiring local firms to repair and maintain their machinery. An expert in the business, Altun said he started in the sector in 1983 at an American firm, then decided to start his own business using the experience and knowledge he acquired while working there. He also said he his marketing strategy was based on presenting new materials and chemicals during visits to industrialists he conducted along with the scientists that created the products. This, he said, was more effective than waiting for clients to come to him. “Thanks to this method it is much easier to determine the problems and needs of a factory right on the spot, and to see which of the 500 raw chemical materials would provide the best solution,” he said, adding that he believed it was a much better idea to hire chemists under better employment conditions rather than working with a regular marketing representative.