Interviewer: İbrahim Kapusuz – Turk Alliance
Guest: Türker Aslan, Management Representative of Santeks Textile Machinery
İbrahim Kapusuz: Santeks Textile Machinery was founded in 2003 as a modest company with just three people. How has the company evolved since then?
Türker Aslan: Yes, we started in 2003 with a team of only three people, focusing on the import and sale of spare parts for textile machinery. Over time, we grew step by step. In 2006, we began exporting, and in 2008, we opened our first overseas office. Today, we are a company with 35 domestic and 6 international employees, exporting to more than 10 countries. We are no longer just a sales company; we have evolved into a multifaceted organization that manufactures, invests in R&D, and provides technical support.
İbrahim Kapusuz: The year 2017 marked a turning point for you. How did you decide to start producing your own textile machines?
Türker Aslan: Correct—this decision was the result of years of accumulated experience. For 17 years, we didn’t just engage in buying and selling; we also thoroughly analyzed the technical infrastructure of machines, their malfunctions, and customer needs. The convergence of production costs in China with those in Turkey, our desire to manufacture under a Turkish brand, and the know-how we possessed all motivated us to begin production in 2017. Today, we manufacture locally under our brands “Santeks” and “Boosan” and supply them to the global market.
İbrahim Kapusuz: Your product range is quite extensive. How has it evolved from your initial product line to today?
Türker Aslan: We initially started only with collar machines—flat knitting machines. Over time, we continuously expanded our product diversity to meet both customer demands and market needs. Today, we sell textile machinery across 18 main product categories. Our portfolio is quite broad, ranging from flat knitting machines to quilting machines, sock machines, and narrow fabric looms.
İbrahim Kapusuz: Beyond sales, your strong technical service infrastructure stands out. How have you structured this system?
Türker Aslan: We established dedicated technical service teams for each product group. This allows our customers to receive prompt technical support, even for immediate malfunctions. Our service team doesn’t just fix breakdowns—they also guide manufacturers on machine operation and potential issues in different processes. This expertise has made us not only a reliable after-sales service provider but also a consultant contributing to the industry.
İbrahim Kapusuz: Could you elaborate on the value Santeks adds to the industry?
Türker Aslan: We don’t just solve technical problems related to the machines we import. We also provide technical feedback to the international machine manufacturers we represent, helping them improve efficiency. In this way, we contribute not only to end-users but also to manufacturers, fostering progress. In other words, we don’t just sell machines—we transform the industry.
İbrahim Kapusuz: What do you attribute your success to so far?
Türker Aslan: First and foremost, staying true to our vision and ethical values. We operate under the philosophy that “quality is produced, not inspected.” We prioritize customer satisfaction above all else, delivering the same level of quality and reliability to every country. We move forward with high discipline, technical expertise, an experienced team, and a culture of continuous self-improvement.
İbrahim Kapusuz: Finally, what are Santeks Textile Machinery’s future goals?
Türker Aslan: Our goal is to further strengthen domestic production, increase R&D investments, and enhance the visibility of the Turkish brand in the global market. Currently, we export to more than 10 countries, but we aim to expand this number and offer country-specific solutions. Additionally, we plan to digitize our technical service network to provide faster and smarter solutions. We are building the future today.
Interview conducted by: İbrahim Kapusuz
Published by: Turk Alliance