UNICERA Ceramics and Bathroom Trade Fair, which is held every year in April since 1988, was held this year April 19-23, 2006, in TÜYAP Beylikdüzü Fair and Convention Center.
At the opening ceremony of 18th UNICERA Trade Fair held with the collaboration of Ceramics Federation, TIMDER Trade Association for Sanitary and Building Supplies and TÜYAP Tüm Fuarcılık Yapım A.Ş., Ceramics Federation President Adnan Polat, European Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Federation President Alain Delcourt, Istanbul Chamber of Industry President Tanıl Küçük, Tüyap Chairman of Board of Directors Bülent Ünal, Timder Trade Association for Sanitary and Building Supplies President Kemal Yıldırım and Kale Seramik Executive Board Chairperson Zeynep Bodur Okyay were present.
Opening
In the opening ceremony which started with the speech of Tüyap Chairman of Board of Directors Bülent Ünal, articulating the happiness he felt due to having experienced the 18th year of Unicera Trade Fair, Timder Chairman of Board of Directors Kemal Yıldırım spoke next. After Yıldırım, who stated his hope that the most elegant trade fair of the ceramic industry would be benefical for participants, Chairman of Istanbul Chamber of Industry Tanıl Küçük said that he believed that Unicera Trade Fair, which brings together the ceramic industry, one of the powerful sectors of the industry, will be successful this year as in previous years, added; "Input costs lead the factors reducing the competitive power of the industry". It is very important but not sufficient for input costs to be brought down to the level of international prices. Factors like increasing quality, original design and brand creation, too, play significant roles in competition. Unicera Trade Fair is the best example of this".
European Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Federation President Alain Delcourt, one of the important guests of the fair, said; "The ceramic industry in Turkey is very important in Europe. Turkey is the third largest ceramics manufacturer next to Spain and Italy. However, Turkey is growing although these markets shrink. This shows how rapidly the industry advances in terms of quality and design".
Ceramic Federation President Adnan Polat, who spoke last, in his speech in which he touched upon the problems of the ceramic industry, said; "We advanced seriously in the world ceramics arena in the last decade. Turkish ceramics are used all over the world. Yet, this speed slowed down during the past two years. The reason is Turkey's being among the countries using the most expensive energy. Considering that 30 % of costs are attributable to energy, this is an important cause. Besides, transportation, copyrights, unregistered economy, imports made without seeking quality and overvaluation of TRY are factors which brought exports to a stop today. We don't want much from the government. We just want to be protected from unfair protection". Adnan Polat, stating that their export target is 1 billion Dollars in 2006, added; "We came a long way in the efforts we used for raising the image of Turkish ceramics with Central Anatolia Exporters Union. When only 20-30 firms used to participate in Unicera Trade Fair before, today there are over 300 participants; over 100,000 visitors are targeted. I would like to thank everyone who has played a part in this trade fair".
All speeches were translated into English and Turkish simultaneously for the first time this year, allowing those attending the ceremony to hear them by earphones supplied by Tüyap.
A press kit containing detailed information on the 2005 performance of the ceramics industry was distributed to members of the press who came to view the opening of the trade fair. This file also contains explanatory details on Ceramics Federation and affiliated associations. All information was prepared in two languages; Turkish and English.
Also, cufflinks and brooches with ceramic tulip motifs on silver bodies prepared by the decision of Ceramics Joint Promotion Committee were distributed to the members of the press who came to view the opening. The opening ceremony of the trade fair was watched with interest by the press and the news on the opening of the trade fair were quoted widely in the print press the following day.
Events
The results of Unicera 2007 Photography Contest held among Mimar Sinan University Photography Department students on Wednesday, April 19 were announced. There was no protograph worthy of the prize. The second prize was awarded to Serdar Akmanlar, third prize to Ersin Kısacık, with honorable mentions going to Mehmet Tütüncü, Barış Karamuço and Bora Şençalar. Prize winning photographs will be used in 2007 Unicera Trade Fair for local and international visual designs.
Filiz Duran's POI(Fire) Dance show followed the announcement of the awards.
The Ebristanbul' show by marbling artist Hikmet Barutçugil, exhibited for the first time in Turkey in Turkish and Islamic Works Museum met visitors during Unicera Trade Fair under the sponsorship of Genpa.
4 ceramics sheer machines were given as gifts to ceramic craftsmen at the event organized by Timder and sponsored by Egemark on Saturday, April 22 by a draw carried out by Notary Public.
Ceramic Honor Awards find their winners once again
"Ceramic Honor Awards" given out in the awards ceremony organized by Ceramics Federation as part of Unicera Ceramics and Bathroom Trade Fair since 2003, were given to the leading names of the industry this year, too. Winners of awards presented in 7 different categories are esteemed individuals who have made contributions to the art, education and industry of ceramics. Awardees were determined by Turkish Ceramics Association, Trade Association for Sanitary and Building Supplies, Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Association, Ceramic Sanitary Ware Manufacturers Association, Ceramics and Refractories Manufacturers Association, Ceramics Glass and Raw Materials Manufacturers Association and Ceramics Association. Ceramic honor awards designed by Prof. Dr. Sadi Diren were produced again by Vitra Art Studio.
At the ceremony held with broad participation of the ceramic industry, Basri Sezer was awarded "Science Art and Technology Discipline Ceramics Honor Award" by TCF. A ceramics engineer with a graduate degree, Basri Sezer, after completing his academic studies, in Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. and North Carolina State University with an M.S., served at various levels of management in companies and affiliates relating to the manufacturing of ceramics, glass and refractories of SÜMERBANK, Şişe Cam and Türkiye Çimento ve Toprak Sanayi T.A.Ş. and most recently, he retired in 1993 when he was Vice-President and member of Board of Directors of Çimento ve Toprak Sanayi T.A.Ş. Sezer, who was the founder and first Chairman of Board of Directors of Turkish Ceramics Association, served as Chairman of Board of Directors of Ceramics and Refractories Manufacturers Association and Secretary General of SEREF, SERKAP, SERSA ve SERHAM Associations and Chairman of ceramics and refractories sector of Turkish Union of Chambers and Exchanges.
Sales and marketing discipline Ceramics Honor Award was awarded to Orhan Önalan by TİMDER. Graduating from Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering with an M.S. degree, Orhan Önalan worked for a while as an engineer in Tübitak Marble Research Insittute. He started working in the building supplies sector as Chairman of Board of Directors of Önalanlar A.Ş. in 1982. Önalan, who started production under Artemis brand, making an investment in bathtubs and shower cabins, served as Chairman of Board of Directors of Timder.
Turgut Aktan was awarded the "Ceramic Refractories Branch Ceramics Honor Award" by SEREF. Turgut Aktan, who studied in Chemical Engineering Graduate School in Ankara University Faculty of Sciences on behalf of Sümerbank, started his first job in Kimya Sanayi Directorate. He was appointed in 1971 to Filyos Refractory Industry Undertaking, which was his first place of employment as facility director. Later, he pioneered in foundation of Toprak Sanayi Directorate in Sümerbank and became its first director in 1976. He took part in studies on standardization of refractories prepared by Turkish Standards Institute and carried out efforts in the research and development activities of Tübitak and MTA relating to earth industry and in SPO's Ceramic Refractories Specialization Commissions. He also was an instructor on the subjects of refractory technology, its use and cement technology.
"Ceramics, Glass and Cement Raw Materials Discipline Ceramic Honor Award" was awarded to Ibrahim Öztürk by SERHAM. Ibrahim Öztürk, who launched a marble quarry in the highlands of Caltı Village in 1958, started operating a clay quarry in 1964. He left the clay quarry operation he started in 1964 to his grandson in 2003. Öztürk is the only minor who started to supply the clay raw material from Söğüt for the first time to Turkish ceramic industry and who is alive.
Yüksel Güner was awarded the "Ceramic Sanitay Qare Ceramic Honor Award by SERSA. Yüksel Güner, who graduated from School of Fine Arts Ceramic Department in 1961, launched his own ceramic studio in 1958. Starting from 1961, he served as Frit and Glaze Preparation Division Supervisor in Çanakkale Ceramic Factory, founder and executive of the current Kale Bodur Factory, Operation Supervisor of Eczacıbaşı Ceramic Factories, Operations Manager, Plant Manager, General Manager, General Coordinator, founder and general manager of Eczacıbaşı Kitchen Cabinets and Bathtub Factories, Technical Coordinator and Vice-President of Eczacıbaşı Holding Building Group and as consultant. He took part in foundation of N.G.O.s Toprak Employers Union, Ceramic Manufacturers Union, Turkish Ceramics Association, S.A.M. (Ceramics Research Center) and like İ.M.S.A.D., SERSA, SERKAP, SERHAM and SEREF; and also took on the positions of Member and Chairman of Board of Directors and Secretary General. He taught ceramic courses in various universities.
Süleyman Bodur received the "Ceramic Tile Ceramic Honor Award" from Serkap. Bodur, who carried out his Ph.D. studies in Justus Liebeg University Agricultural Farming and Management Institute from 1955 to 1963, started working in Çanakkale Ceramic Factories in 1965. He started with the enthusiasm of Kalebodur "This is ceramics" as Kalebodur's General Manager when Kalebodur ceramics industry firm started production in 1973. He was involved in promotion of Kaleflex Company in the marketplace and in investment and marketing activities of Kaleporselen, Kalekalıp and Bandırma Fertilizer Factories. He has been serving and Member of Board of Directors in Kaleseramik A.Ş. after merger of Kalebodur A.Ş. with Çanakkale Seramik under the newly founded Kaleseramik Ceramic Industries Company after 25 years.
Şadi Burat was awarded the "Ceramic Honor Award" on behalf of the Ceramics Industry by CERAMICS FEDERATION. After completing his high school studies at Robert College, Şadri Burat graduated from Boğaziçi University Mechanical Engineering Department in 1973, then went to Canada for his graduate studies, completing his industrial engineering master's studies at University of Windsor. Şadi Burat, who started working as an industrial engineer at Eczacıbaşı Ceramic Factories after returning home, worked as Industrial Engineering Supervisor, Data Processing Manager and Materials Manager. Burat, who subsequently served as Technical Coordinator, Plant Manager and Manager of Bozüyük and Kartal Plants, was appointed as General Manager of Orta Anadolu Seramik A.Ş. in 1983, becoming General Manager of Eczacıbaşı Seramik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. in 1986. Presently, he is the Managing Director of Eczacıbaşı Yapı Gereçleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. a member of Board of Directors and Member of Board of Directors of various Eczacıbaşı Construction Group Companies.
