Making great strides in the engineering sector is Tekfen Construction and Installation Co, but they are doing so whilst firmly attending to environmental concerns. We spoke to Area Manager Ilhan Ildeniz, to find out more about this giant of industry.

WRITTEN BY AMY TOCKNELL

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Where other organisations founded back in the 50s may be limited in their ability to adapt to new and flourishing industries, Tekfen has actively sought out opportunities

for growth, diversification and specialist focus, as Ilhan Ildeniz explains,

“Tekfen Construction and Installation Co. Inc., specialises in petroleum, gas and petrochemical facilities, pipelines, land and marine terminals, off-shore platforms, tank farms, oil refineries, pumping stations, power plants, and highway, subway, bridge and tunnel construction, electrical and instrumentation projects, infrastructure projects, production facilities, commercial and technical building complexes and major sports complexes.”

A far cry from what would have been required back in the early days, this extensive list of incredibly specialist projects is a clear demonstration of the adaptability that is key to Tekfen and at the core of their success. Ilhan continued to discuss the diversity of the company,

“Alongside Tekfen Construction and the turnkey solutions it provides, is Tekfen Engineering, which provides engineering design, project management and consultancy services and Tekfen Manufacturing, which specialises in the manufacture of process equipment and storage tanks.

A prestigious international journal linked to the construction industry, Engineering News Record, annually selects the ‘Biggest 250 International Contractors of the World’ and the ‘Biggest 225 International Design Firms of the World”. The selection is based on the international business volume that the firms contracted the previous year and Tekfen has placed within both lists.”

Though not a surprise that this industry giant has been

recognised by respected publications, it is no less impressive, especially when you discover that in addition to the accolades from Engineering News Report, Tekfen has been named as one of the top three most admired companies within the Turkish contracting industry.

High praise indeed, but when we look at the seemingly endless range of business activities and current projects being completed, there is no doubt that such prestigious recognition is thoroughly deserved.

“Tekfen Contracting Group operated in eight countries, on two continents in 2014. The Group’s portfolio is concentrated on three main regions – the Caspian, Middle East, and North Africa and it encompasses Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Morocco, in addition to Turkey.”

Ilhan goes on to explain, in great detail, how the company has been involved in steel structure fabrication since its inception, with total steel works completed exceeding 500,000 tonnes to date. Recognising that this element of the organisation had significant value, Tekfen took the step of creating a dedicated location for fabrication activities,

“Ceyhan Steel Structure plant was established in 1993, with a view to centralising the Company’s steel structure fabrication activities. Today, the plant is capable enough to serve specific requirements of the projects undertaken by the Group on three continents, with an annual capacity of 25,000 tonnes.”

He continues to highlight the commitment to quality and safety that permeates every facet of Tekfen,

“We have achieved ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management), ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management) and OHSAS 18001:2007

TEKFEN

Founded in 1956 as an engineering consultancy, Tekfen, as it is now, has an impressive legacy in providing expert services, but not a company willing to merely rest on tradition and ‘old school’ thinking, it has moved with the times.

(Occupational Health & Safety Assessment Systems). Our certified plant is equipped with advanced, numerically-controlled machinery to secure accuracy and high quality in the fabrication of steel works and for design and drawing requirements, the plant is in close cooperation with its sister firm Tekfen Engineering. Specialised in the design and engineering of industrial plants, bridges/viaducts and other structures, the engineering arm utilises extensively up-to-date CAD/CAM Systems with specific software.”

By keeping every element ‘in-house’ in this manner, Tekfen can be certain that their exacting standards are being upheld at every stage of project completion. At the centre of these projects is what Tekfen considers to be its greatest asset; a team of dedicated and expertly trained staff.

“Due to work load, Ceyhan Steel Structure plant employs up to 650 skilled, well trained direct and indirect personnel of which 520 are foremen and workers of the manufacturing team, while 40 are employed as a paint subcontractor’s work force. The plant has the same strict quality and HSE requirements for the hired personnel, subcontractors and third parties involved in its manufacturing activities as it does for permanent employees.”

Specialising in the engineering and manufacturing of all kinds of storage tanks, pressure vessels such as drums and reactors, shell and tube type heat exchangers, air coolers, condensers, semi-trailers and road tankers for LPG, ammonia and similar liquefied gases, heat recovery steam generators and industrial boilers and pressure piping, to name just a few, the importance of competent, committed staff cannot be underestimated.

“Tekfen’s main principles are “doing the job you know” and “doing the job well”. These principles have served to protect the company from instability and unnecessary risks and made the selection and training of high quality individuals intensely important. We take no shortcuts, despite having approximately 3000 employees.

To reach required quality, our most important concern is having experienced and well trained personnel. For that reason, Tekfen distributes key staff from its own sources, many of who have had long careers in the Group, allocating them to strategic positions based on the conditions in the various countries where we are active.”

He goes on to further explain,“Managerial positions on our projects are usually filled by

Turkish nationals. Depending on a project’s location and applicable regulations in that particular country, all other workers are selected, primarily, from locals.”

Clearly, having an educated and experienced workforce is a huge advantage for any organisation, but what can make the difference between a truly engaged and invested employee and an individual merely completing a work day, is what the company offers back to them, in addition to a salary. Consider this; a company that regularly seeks to promote and support its staff will suffer far less from turnover than one who regularly brings in new members in senior positions, not to mention the fact that any company with a firm grasp on corporate social responsibility is, generally, considered to be worth working for. We asked Ilhan what he felt

made Tekfen stand out from its competitors and why its staff felt compelled to turn a job into a lifelong career.

“Capital magazine’s survey of Turkey’s 50 Most Charitable Businesspersons named Tekfen’s founding partners, Nihat Gökyiğit, Feyyaz Berker, and Necati Akçağlılar in the top 15 for 2014.

One of the most important social activities for the Tekfen family is the Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra, which is composed of artists from different nationalities. To raise funds and use to fund scholarship, Tekfen Philharmonic performed the first concert of the year under the direction of Darrell Ang at Lütfi Kırdar ICEC.”

Had we written about this aspect of the company at the start of the article, you would have been forgiven for being slightly shocked by a construction and engineering giant taking a keen interest in the arts, but having learnt about the diversity of services on offer and heartfelt commitment felt everyone at Tekfen, it is less surprising and more affirmative.

As we look to the future, one thing is certain; Tekfen will continue to grow, nurture new talent and remain intrinsically concerned with sustainable practices and charitable support. What is interesting is that not one area is being neglected in favour of another. Tekfen has mastered the art of high-level multitasking and project diversification, without negating any fundamentals. Staff are happy, charities are benefiing and clients are delighted, meaning that Tekfen makes big business look easy, a skill very few can master.