Baerlocher Kimya is the youngest member of the Baerlocher family - in two respects. After almost three years of preparation, the company started to produce one-pack stabilisers for the Turkish and African markets, the Middle East and the CIS states in Akhisar in 2015. With a current average age of 35, the site has the youngest workforce in the group. "We have a very dynamic and modern team. In the white-collar sector, 40 per cent of our employees are women. I am very proud to emphasise this," says Managing Director Mustafa Ataman. Ataman built up Baerlocher Kimya. When he started at Baerlocher in 2012, there was not even an office. "Travelling, meetings, challenges" is how he describes the turbulent initial phase: "We were building a production site from zero, starting everything from scratch. That was very exciting." First, a plot of land had to be found, a factory had to be built and a competent team had to be put together. But thanks to help from the group, we successfully dealt with these challenges and construction began in 2013. This involves also a close personal relationship of trust: "I developed a very emotional bond with the Baerlocher family. I feel like a part of it."

When thinking back to this eventful time, Ataman smiles. On the day the company was entered in the commercial register, he spontaneously came up with the idea of ordering a cake to celebrate this milestone properly and to record it for posterity in the form of a photo. His colleagues Andrew Tate (Head of PVC Additives EU/MEA) and Bekir Ergün (Technical Director of Baerlocher Turkey), who were present in the office with him, were amazed when a magnificent cake was delivered just a few minutes later. With a twinkle in his eye, Tate then stated appreciatively: "We made the right decision ..., the speed of response here is not comparable to anywhere in the world." A speed of response that naturally also applies to solution development and sample production in Akhisar. There is no question that Baerlocher made the right decision by investing in Turkey. It is both the hospitality and clear and open communication that distinguish the site and its committed employees. Mustafa Ataman himself is fulfilling a long-cherished dream with his employment at Baerlocher. As a chemical engineer specialising in PVC additives, he knew Baerlocher well. When he was offered the opportunity, he jumped at it excitedly. His motivation continued to drive him, even when times became more uncertain and difficult. Ataman credits his team with exceptionally high crisis management competence. This should benefit a market leader in calcium-based products, which has also had a highly modern application technology laboratory complex since 2022, on its way into the future. Because from the very beginning, the focus has been on a strong and trusting relationship with customers in a wide range of countries.