Pre-packed innovation Sarten

PRE-PACKED INNOVATION

Sarten is one of Europe’s great success stories in the field of packaging. For over 45 years the family-owned company has achieved rapid growth thanks to its dedication to innovation in product design and its manufacturing processes. Philip Yorke reports on the company’s next dynamic chapter: its strategy to increase its regional presence and to achieve its target to exceed $100 million in export sales in 2018.

Innovation is an over-used word in the packaging industry, but it is well deserved in the case of Sarten Ambalaj of Turkey. Since it began operations at its Corlu plant in 1972, it has adopted a dynamic growth strategy that shows no sign of abating. Initially, in order to meet the growing demands of the Turkish market, Sarten established a number of high-tech manufacturing plants. Following consistent, year-on-year growth since the 1970s, it now operates 18 state-of-the-art facilities built at strategic locations close to its clients’ diverse operations.

Today Sarten continues to set the highest standards for metal and plastic packaging, as well as for the design and manufacture of food processing equipment and mould-making machinery. It is the clear market leader and technological frontrunner in its region. This is largely due to its creative approach and application of packaging science, as well as its extensive R&D facilities located at its Silivri Plant in Turkey. This modern facility also provides precision moulds for its own factories, thus in turn constantly enhancing its technological leadership.

In 2017 Sarten recorded revenues of US$85 million in export sales alone. The target for 2018 for its export sales is US$100 million. Currently the bulk of its overseas sales are destined for the EU, the Middle East and North African markets. The company’s significant on-going investments are in parallel to its stated vision, ‘To be the region’s leading packaging company’, with a continuous programme of investments in new technologies and sustainable products and processes.

Star performer

At the recent 8th ‘Metallic Stars of Export’ award ceremony organised by the Istanbul Ferrous and non-ferrous Metal Exporters Association, more than 70 successful European export companies in 14 different categories were recognised and honoured for their achievements. On this occasion Sarten won the Grand Prize for innovation and export sales.

Sarten CEO Zeki Saribekir said, “We are very pleased to win the grand prize once again. I would like to thank everyone who contributed. Great effort and hard work lay behind this success.

“At Sarten, we produce healthy and high quality metal and plastic packaging for our customers in a variety of sectors such as canned, cooking oil, agricultural pesticides, mineral oil, paint and cosmetics.

We are positioning Sarten as the ‘Supermarket of Packaging’. We reflect on this motto in every step of our business to provide our industry with high quality and fast solutions at an affordable price. We continue to work on cost-decreasing projects, investments in automation, and increasing production capacity in required areas, as well as major investments in new plant. Our adventure, which started in Corlu in 1972, is still going strong and is based on the same high principles of innovation and sustainability.”

Increased global presence

Sarten continues to extend its global reach as well as increasing its sales in traditional markets such as the Middle East, North Africa, Russia and the EU. The success of its two marketing companies established in Romania and Serbia have recently opened the way for other marketing companies to be established in countries where Sarten’s presence is low.

New customers are attracted to Sarten owing to its rare combination of low price and high quality, as well as its unrivalled range of products. For example, the company sells its aerosol cans to its clients in the UK who appreciate the high quality and tailor-made services. Its products go to UK fillers and can be seen on the shelves of major retailers such as Boots and Asda.

Canned quality

More than 80 per cent of Sarten’s extensive range of products are classed as metal packaging. The company produces high-quality cans for a broad range of food products in diameters ranging from 70g right up to 10kg; it also produces cans for paint, edible oils and agricultural chemicals. Specially shaped cans are created and used by clients to add a distinctive on-shelf appeal to food products.

Sarten’s twist-off metal caps are another important product line, primarily designed for the food and beverage markets. In addition, its high quality necked-in aerosol cans are used for a wide range of health and home care products. In the area of plastic packaging, Sarten makes single-layer and co-extruded bottles, injection and blow-moulded PP bottles and PET bottles, among other things. Its plastic injection buckets for food and paint products are all available with tamper-evident lids, and these are capable of carrying volumes that range from 2.5 to 30 litres.

Sarten also offers in-mould labelling lines for products such as margarine and ice-cream and many of the world’s biggest brands are listed among its customers. These include Unilever, Nestlé and Colgate Palmolive in the food sector, and Mobil, Shell and BP in the petrochemical sector. n

For further details of Sarten’s innovative products and services visit: www.sarten.com.tr