Packaging holds significant importance across various industries, with the pasta and flour industry being particularly noteworthy. Pasta and flour are globally consumed staple food products. Packaging not only serves as a means of preservation but also plays a crucial role in safeguarding product quality, ensuring food safety, enhancing brand value, and meeting consumer expectations. In an enlightening conversation, we had the opportunity to interview Mr. Saim Gürhan, Chairman of Martı Engineering, a prominent distributor of numerous companies operating within this sector in Turkey, about the industry itself and their activities.

Founded in 2000, Martı Engineering is one of the three companies within the Gürhan Group. Gürhan Group serves our customers in Turkey with an organization of 60 people. The Group also includes Doğuşsan Engineering and Tekomark, the official distributor of Markem-Imaje in Turkey. Martı Engineering provides process and packaging solutions according to customer needs in the Turkish market with specialized machinery manufacturers worldwide.

It is managed by people with professional work experience in international and Turkey’s leading companies and aims to meet the investment needs of the sector with the most appropriate, accurate, economical, fast and efficient solutions with “Process, Packaging Machinery and Control Systems” solutions for the needs of the food sector in order to present the gained experience in the best way to the companies it works with.

You provide production and packaging solutions to the Turkish market with foreign partners. What do you pay attention to when choosing your partners?

We have been working in cooperation with our partners, whom we choose according to their technology, the importance they attach to R&D studies and their experience in their field, for many years.

We offer solutions with packaging machines in the pasta and flour sector. In the flour sector, especially with the pandemic process, interest in small package (1-2-5 kg) flour products used in homes has increased a lot. We provide our customers with services for the filling of small packages using Italpack packaging machines, for which we are the representative in Turkey. Turkey’s food exports are increasing day by day and there are great developments in the pasta sector. Together with the Italian Altopack company, we are working with our producers on pasta packaging.

As Martı Engineering, we produce turnkey projects in the bakery sector with mixers, production lines, brewing towers, decorating units, tunnel and spiral ovens, cooling and shocking towers, packaging machines. With our fully automatic systems that can completely eliminate human labor, we can reach maximum capacity with minimum consumption.

When we offer the technological solutions used by the global food industry to our esteemed customers in Turkey, we receive positive feedback in terms of short return on investment periods and improvement processes. 

Freezing is a food preservation method that has been used for many years and is growing with an increasing market share compared to previous years with the increase in packaged food consumption. In the bakery sector, being able to reach these products in their freshest form at any time is developing in parallel with the success of the freezing process.

At the end of our fully automatic lines, which have the capacity to produce frozen and fresh products on the same line, the products are checked with imaging systems and the appropriate products are packed in the determined quantities. 

In general, Turkish companies’ perception of constantly evolving and renewing technology is changing in a positive direction. In recent years, Turkish companies have shown a growing awareness of adapting to technological innovations and remaining competitive.

Many Turkish companies are improving their production processes and increasing their productivity by investing in innovative technologies. Investments in areas such as industrial automation, artificial intelligence, data analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT) enable companies to operate more efficiently, quickly and flexibly.

In addition, Turkish companies are increasingly focusing on R&D and innovation. Platforms such as university-industry collaborations, technoparks and innovation centers provide support for companies to advance innovative ideas and use technology to gain competitive advantage.

The flourishing entrepreneurship ecosystem in Turkey and the rise of technology-focused start-ups also increase interest in ever-evolving technology. By offering innovative products and services, these start-ups play an important role in the Turkish business world and set an example for other companies.

However, each business may have a different approach to technology. While some companies rapidly adapt to technological changes, others continue to operate in more traditional ways. Nevertheless, in general, it can be said that Turkish companies have an increased interest in technology and see ever-evolving technology as a competitive advantage.

Turkey is expanding its market share in the world with its young workforce and growing food sector. Due to this volume and potential, the potential for cooperation with Europe’s leading manufacturers, including bakery products, is growing every day.  

With this awareness, the perspective of the companies you mentioned above has turned into an effort to deliver technological innovations and projects that can add value to the bakery sector to the companies in Turkey in the fastest way possible.

As environmental sensitivity has increased and the effects of global warming have become more apparent, many of our brands have started to take more responsibility for sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Sustainable Production: Brands are optimizing their production processes with methods that are less harmful to the environment and increase energy efficiency. They adopt sustainable production practices to use resources efficiently, reduce the amount of waste and keep environmentally harmful emissions under control.

Use of Renewable Energy: Many brands are taking steps to meet their energy needs from renewable sources. They aim to reduce their carbon footprint by switching to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind or hydroelectricity.

Recycling and Waste Management: Brands are taking steps to reduce packaging waste and encourage recycling. Making packaging materials recyclable or reusable helps reduce waste and conserve natural resources.

Sustainable Product Development: Brands focus on developing products that reduce environmental impacts and promote sustainability. This includes design and manufacturing processes that incorporate factors such as the use of renewable materials, energy efficiency, recyclability and longevity.

Social Responsibility Projects: Brands carry out social responsibility projects to raise public awareness and support in tackling environmental issues. For example, they contribute to sustainability through various initiatives such as forest protection projects, efforts to increase access to clean energy or waste management projects.

These responsibilities demonstrate the role of our brands in environmental sustainability. As consumers’ expectations on environmental sensitivity and sustainability increase, brands are expected to pay more attention to these responsibilities and adopt environmentally friendly practices.

The latest technology in packaging brings significant innovations by combining factors such as environmental sustainability, consumer experience, and product safety. Here are some of the recent advancements in packaging technology:

Renewable Materials: Materials derived from renewable resources are becoming increasingly common in the packaging industry. For example, bioplastics are materials produced from plant sources and used as an alternative to traditional plastics. These materials can be recyclable or biodegradable, thus reducing environmental impacts.

Smart and Interactive Labels: Technologies such as NFC (Near-field Communication) and QR codes give packaging smart and interactive features. By scanning labels, consumers can learn more about the product, trace its origin or view the production process. This provides transparency and credibility, as well as enriching the consumer experience.

Microbial and Chemically Active Packaging: Microbial and chemical active packaging is an innovative technology used to extend the shelf life and preserve the quality of food. These packages may contain properties such as antimicrobial components or oxygen absorbers. This delays food spoilage, reducing waste and providing fresher products to the consumer.

Recyclable and Easily Decomposable Packaging: Recycling and sorting of packaging materials are of great importance in terms of sustainability. State-of-the-art packaging utilizes recyclable materials to facilitate this process. Additionally, some packaging is designed to enable the separation of different materials, enhancing the recycling process.

Functional and Innovative Designs: In packaging design, we can observe the latest technological innovations. For example, packaging that can expand like an accordion can be more efficient in terms of volume. Moreover, vacuum-sealed packaging can reduce the amount of empty space while preserving the freshness of the products. Functional and innovative designs make products more appealing while meeting consumer needs.

These state-of-the-art packaging solutions offer more sustainable, effective, and user-friendly options. It is anticipated that these innovations will continue to advance both in the packaging industry and in the realm of environmental sustainability.

Edible and renewable packaging are significant steps towards environmental sustainability. The use of traditional plastic packaging contributes to increased waste, depletion of natural resources, and environmental pollution. Therefore, edible and renewable packaging offers an important solution to reduce environmental impact and address waste issues.

Edible packaging is made from materials that can naturally degrade or be consumed after use. For example, edible packaging used for food products not only protects the food but also becomes harmless when consumed. Such packaging reduces waste and eliminates recycling concerns.

Renewable packaging typically utilizes biodegradable or recyclable materials. These materials are derived from renewable resources and can be composted or recycled. By reducing the reliance on fossil fuels, renewable packaging helps lower the carbon footprint and preserves natural resources.

However, edible and renewable packaging face certain challenges. There is a concern that edible packaging may impact the shelf life of food products or affect their taste and odor. Moreover, the cost and production processes associated with edible and renewable packaging may not currently be competitive with traditional plastic packaging.

Nevertheless, the availability of renewable and sustainable packaging is expected to increase as an environmentally friendly packaging option in the future. Through innovation and technological advancements, it will be possible to enhance the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and convenience of such packaging. Prioritizing renewable and sustainable packaging is a vital step in the future.