Berlin, Germany: During the CWIEME event held in Berlin, APC Media had the opportunity to interview Gulsun Alkan Colak, the Sales Manager at ENPAY, a respected Turkish manufacturer of transformers components, along with her colleague Emrah Yurekten, Commercial Manager. Join us as we explore their experiences and delve into the intricate details of their industry knowledge.
Please tell us a bit about your company's history and experience in the industry and the products or services you offer.
ENPAY Endustriyel Pazarlama ve Yatirim A.S. was founded in Istanbul in 1978 as a trading company. In 1989, the company started producing transformer insulation materials and then progressed to producing magnetic cores for current transformers. In the 1990s, ENPAY started to produce nickel-iron cores for current transformers with high-accuracy measurement capabilities. In the late 1990s, ENPAY further developed its range of products to include various types of wound cores, bushing-type CTs, and ring-type CTs.
In the early 2000s, ENPAY started manufacturing magnetic cores for Power and Distribution Transformers. To better serve our Central European customers, we established a new manufacturing facility in Slovakia in 2005, which primarily produced current and voltage transformer cores. As the market demand for our products grew, we invested heavily in both Turkiye and Slovakia, allowing us to expand our core cutting capacity by more than 100% in both plants.
In 2008, ENPAY initiated the investment in Transformerboard, and it was realized within record time by early 2009. This was followed by the launch of the technical marketing phase with large OEMs, leading to the formation of ENPAYBOARD®, our brand of transformerboard for producing insulation components for HV Power Transformers. Subsequently, the insulation business was taken to an international level with the greenfield investment in Vadodara, India in 2009 to produce shunt reactor cores, current transformers, and other HV insulation components for the 765 kV projects in India. In 2016, the expansion of ENPAYBOARD® extended to Europe with the construction of an additional plant in Bulgaria, solely dedicated to the production of insulation components.
Our robust global network spanning four countries and our ongoing investments in production capacity has provided a significant boost to our efforts to expand our sales footprint around the world. By 2021, with our plant in Bulgaria fully operational as a supplier for HV Insulation Components, we have further invested in a transformerboard, ENPAYBOARD® line 2 in Turkiye.
Today, with our cutting-edge technology and commitment to quality, ENPAY is proudly exporting HV Insulation Components, ENPAYBOARD®, and Magnetic Cores for Power and Distribution Transformer Applications to more than 60 countries worldwide, ensuring our products remain at the forefront of excellence.
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the industry currently, and how is your company addressing those challenges?
One of the largest challenges currently facing the transformer industry is the need for increased energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Transformer technology is becoming more sophisticated and complex, and this has led to increased energy consumption and environmental impact. As demand for renewable energy sources grows, transformers must become more efficient and reduce their environmental footprint.
Our company is addressing these challenges by investing continuously in production capacities and in research and development as well to create innovative, cutting-edge solutions to address them. We strive to stay ahead of our competitors by constantly researching new technologies and solutions and investing in our own resources to keep up with the latest advancements in the industry.
ENPAY has recently made a strategic investment in a second Transformerboard Production Line, which has greatly increased our production capacity and capabilities. This new production line will help us meet the increasing demand for HV Insulation Components and Transformerboard, allowing us to better serve our customers and streamline our operations. With this investment, ENPAY is well-positioned to offer best-in-class products and services and to further expand our business.
We also focus on building strong relationships with our customers, ensuring that we understand their needs and can provide them with the best possible products and services. Additionally, we prioritize sustainability, working to reduce our environmental impact while also providing our customers with the most reliable products and services possible.
What are your thoughts on the trade show so far? Have you seen any interesting developments or trends being showcased at the event?
So far, the trade show has been quite fruitful. I have seen several interesting developments and trends being showcased. In particular, I have noticed an increased focus on efficiency and sustainability, as manufacturers are looking for ways to reduce energy consumption and increase the lifespan of their products. It is clear that companies are striving to stay ahead of the curve and are utilizing the latest advancements to improve their current products and services. Additionally, there has been a lot of emphasis on sustainability, with many companies utilizing innovative methods to reduce their environmental impact. Overall, the trade show has provided us with a great opportunity to learn about the latest advancements in the industry and to connect with potential customers and suppliers.
What is your company's vision for the future of this industry, and how do you plan to contribute to that future?
Power and Distribution Transformers are critical components of electrical power systems, and their demand has been steadily increasing as the world's energy needs continue to grow. With the development of new technologies, the need for high-performance and efficient Transformers is higher than ever. Companies are investing in cutting-edge research and development to create new and improved Transformers that can handle higher power loads. Furthermore, increased investments in renewable energy sources and smart grids are also driving the demand for Power and Distribution Transformers. As a result, companies are investing in large-scale production capabilities to meet the increasing demand.
At ENPAY, we are thrilled to share that we have made significant investments in order to stay ahead of the rapidly growing demand. Thanks to our investments, we have significantly increased our production capacity for Power and Distribution Transformer Cores by adding multiple cut-to-length lines. Additionally, we have tripled our production capacity for metal fabrication, which has helped to expand our sales for Magnetic Cores for Cast Resin Transformers as well as Power and Distribution Transformers.
Furthermore, we have completed our investment in the second Transformerboard Production Line which allowed us to double our production in this product group. This increase enables us to meet the rising demand for Transformerboard and as well as HV insulation components, we are proud to be able to deliver this capacity increase in a timely manner. Our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction has been key to our success. With these investments, we are now even better prepared to meet the needs of our customers.
Thank you, Gulsun and Emrah!