The solid panel sector is increasingly preferred in the construction and furniture sectors thanks to the durability and aesthetic appearance of wood materials. Technological developments significantly increase the production capacity and quality standards in the sector. Thanks to new investments and modern machinery, companies are increasing their competitive power in both local and international markets. These positive developments in the Turkish solid panel sector allow solid panel products to reach a wider user base. We met with Ali Kulu, CEO of Hasan Kulu Orman Ürünleri, who has been serving in the field of solid panels from Turkey to many parts of the world since 1993, and listened to both the work of their company and the developments in the sector. Stating that they have adopted continuous development as a principle in order to meet the needs of their customers with quality products, Ali Kulu stated that the Turkish woodworking machinery sector has undergone a great change over the years and that they use domestic machines to a large extent in their own companies.
Hasan Kulu Forest Products, as a well-established company that has grown and gained new experiences in business life since 1933, is strengthening its place in the sector day by day with the slogan of “Quality product, satisfied customer”. We talked to Ali Kulu, CEO of Hasan Kulu Forest Products, which produces in its approximately 70 thousand square meter production facility annually, about the company’s activities and the Turkish solid panel sector.
- Can you introduce your company? When was your company founded?
Hasan Kulu Orman Ürünleri, which has been developing and growing by adding new experiences to its business life since 1933, is a company that strengthens its position every passing day with the slogan “Quality product, satisfied customer”. In 2017, Hasan Kulu Orman Ürünleri, which invested in a new production area of 70 thousand square meters in total, 20 thousand square meters of which is closed area, increased its annual production capacity to 70 thousand cubic meters. Our company, which expanded its professional, administrative and production staff with this big investment, continues to provide service with more than 120 employees. Our company, which adopts continuous development as a principle in order to meet the needs of its customers with quality products, also constantly invests in its machinery. Hasan Kulu Orman Ürünleri meticulously processes forest products, which are the cornerstone of the construction sector, with its state-of-the-art machinery and professional team. Our company, led by Fahrettin Kulu, aims not only to continue its great success in Turkey, but also to successfully represent our country on a global scale.
- What product groups does Hasan Kulu manufacture?
Our product groups include solid panels, door sills, paneling and accessories, wooden stairs, railings, railings and posts, planed timber used in bench and pergola construction, laminated wooden house elements, construction timber-wood and also special productions for project works to be made from wooden materials.
- Our company’s capacity according to main product groups is as follows
- Pine Solid Panel 3000 m3/year
- Spruce solid panel 1200 m3/year
- Oak solid panel 2400 m3/year
- Solid beech panel 2400 m3/year
– Our solid panel production capacity: Total 9000 m3/year
– Our door frame production capacity: Total 3000 m3/year
– Our pine paneling and accessory capacity: Total 9000 m3/year
– Our wooden stairs, railings, banisters and poles capacity: Total 600 m3/year
– Our planed timber capacity used in bench and pergola construction: Total 3000 m3/year
– Our laminated wooden house elements capacity: Total 300 m3/year
– Our construction timber and firewood capacity: Total 12,000m3/year
- We have left the first half of 2024 behind. How was the first half for your industry?
The first half of the year was almost the same for us as last year. As Turkish solid panel manufacturers, we continue production even in this inflationary environment that affects the world and makes production difficult. We see that all sector stakeholders are making efforts to meet both domestic demand and increase international export figures. It is not easy to make short-term predictions as before under these difficult economic conditions.
Leaders of the global solid panel industry
- Which are the top 5 countries leading in the solid panel sector in the world?
The USA, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, Germany and Scandinavian countries lead in solid panel production.
“The European market is the most important”
- Which are Turkey’s most important export markets?
Due to its sensitivity to naturalness and human health in solid panels, the European market is the most important export market for the Turkish solid panel sector.
“Solid panel saves labor, time and material”
- Why is solid panel so popular? What advantages does it provide in use?
Solid panel is a 100% natural product, which is one of the most important reasons for its preference. It is also a long-lasting, wear-resistant and decorative product. It saves labor, time and material. The glue used is environmentally friendly. Solid wood offers a large surface area without compromising the naturalness of the material. Wood is a sustainable resource and can be recycled. There are many different types of wood that offer variety in design. It can be customized with different surface treatments and coatings. It also provides better comfort in interior spaces and helps save energy.
“The Turkish woodworking machinery sector has made significant progress in production quality with its investments in R&D and new technologies.”
- In the last 10 years, the Turkish woodworking machinery sector has shown great development and increased its recognition in the world. In this context, what would you like to say about the development of the woodworking machinery sector?
The Turkish woodworking machinery sector has made significant progress in production quality in recent years, especially with investments in R&D and new technologies. Machine manufacturers have made significant changes worldwide in log cutting, multiple slicing, cover processing, lumber classification and side cutting machines. In our own factory, we use 100% domestic production machines from log to lumber, including drying. Of course, there are also imported machines in our production lines. However, we think that the use of imported machines will decrease even more in the near future. Turkish machinery manufacturers manage a successful competition process with their competitors, so they work to produce machines suitable for every process. The manufacturers of the domestic machines we use are proven brands in the sector. So far, we have not experienced any problems regarding the quality of the machines and after-sales services.
