NETPAK AMBALAJ, ONE STEP AHEAD OF ITS COMPETITORS WITH INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

Netpak Ambalaj, which produces reusable tote bags by integrating nonwoven fabric into automation production lines with ultrasonic welding technology, has broken new ground in the world and has been deemed worthy of many awards in this field. Having left 40 years behind in the packaging sector, Netpak also draws attention with its R&D studies. Netpak Ambalaj Board Member Özge Avcı Paşaoğlu said that their company is one step ahead of its competitors with its ultrasonic welded automation machines.

Having completed 40 years in the packaging industry and attracting attention with its R&D studies, Netpak Ambalaj continues its work as an R&D Center affiliated with the Ministry of Industry and Technology through its technology company Ultrapak Makina, established in 2017.

Stating that they have enabled 100% recyclable and reusable technical fabric to gain a place in the packaging sector by integrating nonwoven fabric into automation production lines with ultrasonic welding technology, Netpak Ambalaj Board Member Özge Avcı Paşaoğlu said, "Since our first automation production, which created a global economic impact on the industry, our goal has been to sustain this innovation and expand its usage area." Explaining that the first 10 months of 2024 were a period of intensive R&D studies and significant technological developments for Netpak Ambalaj due to the effects of the global economic contraction in our country, Paşaoğlu said, "Our company has taken important steps in developing automation machinery to produce tote bags from nonwoven fabric using ultrasonic welding technology. Netpak continues to offer innovative solutions by investing a large part of its revenue in R&D activities. During this period, the company focused on producing domestic and national technology, contributing to the country's goals of increasing exports and reducing the foreign trade deficit through the development of high value-added machinery. The performance in 2024 highlighted Netpak's success in R&D and technological innovation and its efforts to increase its competitiveness in the global market." Paşaoğlu reported that Netpak, which operates in the Esenyurt region of Istanbul, increased its production capacity by commissioning its second production facility in Hadımköy, Istanbul, in 2022 in line with increasing demand, and noted that this investment brought their capacity utilization rates to the level of 80-90%. Emphasizing that the increasing use of reusable and environmentally friendly tote bags has positively contributed to the capacity utilization rate, Paşaoğlu announced that their annual production capacity is approximately 1 billion 200 million units.

EXPORT TO MORE THAN 50 COUNTRIES

Pointing out that ultrasonic welded automation machines put Netpak one step ahead of its competitors, Paşaoğlu said they have achieved significant success in foreign trade. Stating that they continued their international success in 2024 by exporting approximately 30 million nonwoven bags last year, Paşaoğlu spoke as follows: "We carry out intensive exports to many countries, especially the USA, Sweden, Macedonia, Hungary, Germany, Tunisia, and Greece. Our exports to more than 50 countries, with a focus on the USA and Europe, are a strong reflection of our growth in international trade and our leadership in the sector. Our export activities constitute 25% of our total turnover, and we are carrying out strategic studies to increase this ratio. Our nonwoven bags, produced with the ultrasonic welding technology we developed, increase our export rate and market share every year. With the growing environmental awareness, we anticipate that the demand for recyclable products will grow, and accordingly, we think our export share will also increase. In line with our goals of realizing value-added exports, we export products at an average level of 3.50-6 dollars per kilogram. This is an indicator of the importance we place on quality, innovation, and high standards."

WE ARE PREPARING FOR NEW INVESTMENTS

Reporting that they are preparing to make new investments in the upcoming period, Paşaoğlu emphasized that the culture of innovation has become one of the fundamental values of their company, and thanks to this strategy, they are constantly generating new ideas, developing innovative products, and expanding their customer network. Stating that they closely follow the market and technology to increase their competitiveness in the global market, Paşaoğlu pointed out that they maintain their strong position in the sector by patenting the innovations they develop. Saying that they aim to grow their market share by continuing their R&D investments in the upcoming period, Paşaoğlu said, "Within the scope of our new market entry strategy, we will focus on market expansion studies in developing regions. In this direction, we aim to increase our global competitiveness by optimizing production costs, labor, and raw material expenses using our technological infrastructure. With the new products and technologies we have developed through our innovation strategy, we plan to further advance our production capacity and technical superiority by offering them to the market with cost advantages. With these efforts, we aim to develop new products, establish a strong market presence in geographies where our products are not yet used, and support marketing innovation." Paşaoğlu claimed that they have been serving the sector with their R&D studies that have been ongoing since 2005 and that they have made a difference in their sector with more than 90 patent and utility model applications, stating, "In 2005, we accomplished the world's first production of tote bags by combining nonwoven material with ultrasonic welding in an automation system." Paşaoğlu emphasized that they registered this innovation with the TPE application number 2008/00712.

WE ARE AIMING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Pointing out that their company places innovation at the center of its business culture, Paşaoğlu said, "Especially our decision nearly 20 years ago to shift our production line from single-use, non-recyclable products to reusable and eco-friendly products was a turning point for us. With this change, we aimed to reduce environmental impacts with our products and contribute to a more sustainable future. Innovation has been decisive not only in our green product development processes but also in our production technologies. In every new product development process, we have further strengthened our position in the sector by protecting our innovations with patents." Explaining that they have given an institutional structure to their innovation studies by establishing a Ministry of Industry and Technology-approved R&D center, Paşaoğlu reported that while they carry out TÜBİTAK and state-supported projects in this center, they also attach great importance to academic collaborations. Noting that their R&D center aims to develop energy-efficient, environmentally friendly production technologies and offer solutions that optimize resource use, Paşaoğlu said, "Thus, we are both reducing our production costs and taking important steps to reduce our environmental impacts. Through the machinery we developed within our company Ultrapak Makine and our long-term R&D studies, we aim to further strengthen our leading position in the sector and gain a stronger place in the global market. In this way, we aim to contribute to our country becoming a machine-exporting country, not an importing one."

WE ARE LEADING THE SECTOR

Stating that as Netpak, they see innovation not just as a way to increase competitiveness, but as a tool for ensuring sustainability and producing environmentally friendly solutions, Paşaoğlu said that in their nearly 40-year journey, they have led the sector by transitioning from single-use products to eco-friendly and reusable ones. Explaining that today, they develop energy-efficient, environmentally friendly technologies through their R&D investments, Paşaoğlu said, "We continue to be a company that makes a difference in local and global markets. In the future, we aim to increase the market share of our eco-friendly packaging products and to bring our sustainability vision to wider audiences."