Selahattin Aydın Answered Our Questions

In the interview we conducted, Klaus Union Turkey General Manager Selahattin Aydın answered our questions. Aydın explained Klaus Union's establishment and development process, providing information particularly about pumps, pump systems and valves that play an important role in the chemical sector.

First, we would like to introduce you to our readers. Could you tell us about your education, professional career, personal interests and hobbies?

I was born in Izmir in 1977. After completing high school in Izmir, I graduated from Boğaziçi University with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 2001. After working for Alfa Laval for approximately 2 years, I founded Seterm Teknik in Izmir in 2004. Alfa Laval made a great contribution to my learning about processes and process-related equipment. Initially starting only with plate heat exchangers and separation work, I began seeking responses to incoming pump inquiries and first met Klaus Union in 2006, beginning our long-term partnership. To take our 14-year collaboration to the next level, we established a partnership with Klaus Union in 2020 and started production in Izmir. I am married and father of two children. I spend most of my time outside work with my family. I have also been playing guitar in a music band for the past 4 years. Nature walks and sports are part of my weekly routine. [caption id="attachment_152679" align="aligncenter"] Klaus Union Turkey General Manager Selahattin Aydın[/caption]

Klaus Union is a company that has been operating in the sector for many years. Could you provide information about Klaus Union's development from its founding to today? Could you describe Klaus Union's structure and activities in Turkey?

Klaus Union, founded by F. Klaus in 1946, presented its first magnetic coupling pump at the ACHEMA fair in 1955. After establishing a valve factory in 1957, it merged both pump and valve factories in Bochum, Germany. After producing magnetic coupling pumps conforming to ISO 2858 standards, it became the company selling the most of this type of pumps to the chemical sector. After producing the largest magnetic coupling pump with a capacity of 3,500 m³/h in 2003, it also began producing the SLM AVP series to API 685 standard. After starting production of twin-screw pumps in 2012, it took over its second factory and increased production capacity. In 2020, it began supplying mechanical seal centrifugal pumps to API 610 standard. During the pandemic when investments were suspended, Klaus Union GmbH made the decision to invest in Turkey, establishing Klaus Union Turkey factory in 2021. As Klaus Union Turkey, we are currently producing ISO 2858 standard mechanical seal chemical industrial pumps in our 1,250 m² factory in Kemalpaşa, Izmir. We have a production capacity of 800-1,000 pumps per year. Our NOV-T model mechanical seal pumps; are working in chemical, mining, petrochemical and power plants. We can deliver standard 1.4408 material pumps in a short time depending on stock availability. In addition to 1.4408 material, we can also offer 1.0619, 9.4539 (904L), 1.4409, 1.4470 material options.

We know that Klaus Union particularly operates in the field of pumps and valves. How do these systems play a role in chemical industries, and what kind of solutions do you produce with which products as Klaus Union?

We supply pumps, pump systems and valves to many different sectors. Our main customers are from the chemical sector. Through magnetic coupling pumps, we can provide solutions for the transfer of corrosive, explosive and toxic chemicals where the use of mechanical seals would be difficult. For temperature-sensitive processes, we can proceed with heating jacket solutions, and with specially alloyed materials at points where corrosion may be intense. For chemical or condensate transfer, we produce centrifugal pumps in ISO 2858 standard with single or double mechanical seals. We produce closed impeller pumps for clean fluids and open impeller pumps for fluids containing particles. We can provide pump solutions for the transfer of ammonia, methanol, ethanol, kerosene, organic chemicals, special chemicals, acid solutions, heating oils, cooling fluids, cyanide solutions. We can provide ATEX certification for both pumps and complete pump-motor assemblies.

What kind of innovations and R&D activities do you conduct as Klaus Union? Could you provide information about the technologies you have developed?

Both in Turkey and globally, we work very actively at points requiring special solutions. For example, for applications very close to boiling point, we produce the isolation sleeve of magnetic coupling pumps using different materials. We perform fluid modeling inside the pump and can calculate localized heating. Actually, every special project becomes a new R&D work for us. In Turkey, we are working on the ERP we use to ensure full traceability. We are making new developments with our consultants to make every moment of production traceable and to shorten processes. Recently, the SCADA-PLC supported test system in our factory was built in-house. In this way, all conditions required by standards are met, we can achieve the values that pumps will provide in real operation, and we guarantee to our customers.  

Could you provide information about your strategies for the future? What kind of investments are you planning in the short and long term? What criteria do you prioritize when making these plans?

First and foremost, our biggest goal is to increase both the quantity and number of models we produce in our Turkey factory. While doing this, we have planned necessary investments to not compromise on quality and maintain traceability. Initially, we increased the capacity of our test equipment from 500 m³/h to 1,000 m³/h. For this, we increased the capacity of our test motors, made investments in new equipment and electrical infrastructure. We added 904L, Duplex, cast steel material pumps to our product range alongside the 1.4408 material pumps we produce as standard, and we are making preparations for different material pumps in the future. To provide quick responses to our customers, we are increasing our inventories. We monitor the raw materials, semi-finished products and finished goods we keep in stock, and we also increase capacity depending on our customers' requests. Our biggest investment is in our employees. 80 percent of our team consists of engineers. We plan training for their development and progress according to the planned program. To keep our team dynamic and maintain their enthusiasm, we listen to their requests one-on-one and take actions we can. As we understand how important feedback is, we have a transparent management approach. Looking at our plans, you can see that our biggest criterion is human and customer satisfaction. Although we produce mechanical equipment, as the Klaus Union family, we look at the pumps we produce not as equipment but as products that will contribute to living systems, and we plan all our investments accordingly.