Although he started production in a small workshop many years ago, Mennan Aksoy, who is followed the European machinery manufacturers closely, has become one of the most important names of the region thanks to the knowledge and experience he gained within the sector. Mennan Usta, who managed to be the first in various fields in Gaziantep manufacturing industry, has become the nightmare of many European brands with the spinning machines, which are equivalent to theirs. When a local manufacturer started to produce these machinery parks, the prices of the machines, which had been sold at very high prices in the past, fell almost by 50 percent. Mennan Aksoy continues his operations in the region as an evidence that the Turks can manufacture machinery and sell it for the most appropriate price
In 1996, Aksoy, manufactured its first spinning machine BCF4, within the scope of the project of Technology Development foundation of Turkey (TTGV). Later, he accelerated the production of new machines and became a first in Turkey with BCF4, BCF6, BCF8, CF8, CF16, CF32, FDY, Tricot, Staple Fiber, Polyester dryer and winding machines.
In 2008, with regard to the process of branding, Mennan Aksoy changed the name of his company Özçelik as Polyspin. Özçelik, which began the textile machinery production with the R&D project conducted in 1996, under the responsibility of Assoc. Prof. Dr.Yusuf Uskaner and with the support of TTGV and The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), became the first and the only company in this field in Turkey. The polypropylene yarn machine POLYSPIN BCF4, the first product of the project, has been given the Technology Achievement Award by TÜBİTAK, TİDEB and TÜSİAD. The success achieved by the machine, which was manufactured with great difficulty, created reactions within a very short time.
With the sales it performes both to the Turkish and export markets, Polyspin, which plays an important role in the sector with its R&D activities and new model machines, is in a tough competition with the European and Far Eastern rivals.
Grown within the Sector, Now Standing up to the Giants of the Sector
The story of Mennan Aksoy, known as ‘Mennan Usta’ in Gaziantep, one of the rising cities of the Turkish textile sector, and in the surrounding area, starts at the age of 13. Aksoy, who had served to the industry for many years, continues his industrial life as a company owner. Aksoy, who established Özçelik together with his partner at the beginning of 70s and started production under very limited circumstances in a small workshop, has become a technology master, who is well known and trusted in the sector. Aksoy displays his knowledge and experience in the spinning machine BCF4, which he manufactured by using completely indigenous knowledge and elements.
In the period between 1973 and 1996, the company manufactured 2,000 spare parts for hinge and automotive supply industry. The turning point of Mennan Usta’s life, which could have been considered to be routine, was the time Mennan Usta decided to manufacture a spinning machine. Aksoy, who decided to manufacture a complete domestic machine, applied for support from the government for the production of the machine, which cost EUR 8 million. He received support from the Small Enterprises Development Organization (KÜSGET), TÜBİTAK and the Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV). After being granted a consultant from the university and a reviewer, Mennan Usta intensified his studies by combining the technical and practical knowledge.
The development in the yarn technologies across the world was closely followed and the process was observed by him in the visitations he paid to İstanbul and to the foreign countries. The process beginning with determining the size of the machine continued with the spare parts purchased and the materials manufactured by them. Some problems were overcome with some help and practical applications and finally the prototype of the machine was created. The machine gained approval of the delegation from the university. Before manufacturing the second machine, the experiments began in order to determine the yarn quality and the production capacity. After 6 months of an experiment period, Mennan Usta and his team aimed to surpass the European machines that are able to manufacture 2200 meters of yarn per minute. In their first tiral they managed to manufacture only 1600 meters of yarn per minute. After further studies and with their strong engines, they managed to manufacture 2000 meters of yarns.
After 1 and a half year, the machine was manufactured and the delegate gave full Marks to it. Consequently, the production for the second machine was started. The team, manufactured nearly 600 tons of carpet yarn samples with the first machine and sold them to the market, focused on speed and design in the second machine. The manufacturing period of the machine which took 1,5 years, fell to 20 days thanks to knowledge and practice. Despite all the problems occurred, Mennan Usta and his team managed to manufacture more efficient machines with lower cost. Later, Mennan Usta started to sale his spinning machines to various regions of the world, mainly to the Middle East.
Production Continues at Full Speed
Although the textile manufacturers are not given credits for purchasing domestic machines, Mennan usta manages to sell the machine to the domestic manufacturers. He sold his first machine to Flament Tekstil. After Metin Özkeçeci, the owner of Flament Tekstil, who aimed to support the domestic manufacturers by his purchase, the machine was sold to Iran, Syria, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia and Casablanca.
Mennan Usta, who continues to manufacture machines, has expanded his product portfolio. Mennan Aksoy, who managed to manufacture 15 different types of spinning machines until now, is an industrialist followed by the large European machinery manufacturers. With the production it performed, the company grew by 3 times until 1996 and up to this point, it managed to grew by 150 times thanks to its successful studies and the support it has received in the recent years. In addition to the Bcf, Cf, Fdy spinning machines, the product portfolio of the company includes staple fiber, glass fibre machines, fibre dyring ovens, dryers, winders, Split Jet, sludge drying, extruder, Godets, Spinnerette and laboratory automation machines.
