BEYSAD visited IFA Fair this year as the last 6 years. 27 people from 15 of our member companies attended the fair where we got the opportunity to see the innovative products of local brands, which make us proud, and to see what is new and where technology is going. 

To make our trip more efficient, which happened from August 31 to September 2, 2018, we visited Bosch IoT Campus on the first day. We thought it would be beneficial to add a visit regarding Industry 4.0 before IFA in order to increase the awareness and knowledge of our members about data, facilities, and projects, since Industry 4.0 has recently been a focal point for us as for the whole world. We would like to thank Bosch Industry 4.0 Sales Director Mr. Murat Kurtlar and his team for supporting us to organize this event and welcoming us in Berlin. 

In the first section of the visit, we watched detailed and informational presentations on the campus and activities held and products and solutions developed. Next, we visited the facility. During the second part of the day, we had an entertaining, enjoyable, efficient, and informative workshop using the Design Thinking method. Hereby, we had the opportunity to learn more on this systematic, which is used in the Campus. The workshop was led by Bosch Industry 4.0 Manager Mr. Hamza Bilgen. We would like to thank him once again. 

(Design Thinking is a methodological approach to not only developing innovative products but also coming up with creative ideas for services, processes, and venues. At Design Thinking Workshops, prototyping and assessing prioritized ideas is as equally important as developing creative ideas.)

Artificial intelligence technologies were the focal point of the fair. Berlin International Consumer Electronics Fair (IFA) is the leading trend-setter of entertainment electronics and any electrical devices. Organized in 1924 for the first time, IFA is the oldest industrial fair in Germany. 

Europe’s biggest consumer electronics fair IFA 2018 has given participants the opportunity to see and compare innovative trends in home electronics and white goods sector as well as to meet new products and technologies for the 58th time. Held every year in the German capital Berlin by Messe Berlin, IFA opened its doors on August 31 - September 5 this year to showcase the world’s leading brands’ cutting-edge technologies to professionals and visitors.

Last year the main scene was smart technologies, Internet of Things, and wearable technologies, while this year it was all about artificial intelligence, new design televisions with enhanced reality screens, and energy-efficient devices. 

It is noteworthy that this year companies give importance to environment friendliness and renewability besides design, technology, and innovation. Attention-catching home electronics and voice-controlled products were also in the fair. 

Smart home systems, robot technologies, enhanced reality, and latest-technology video and audio systems were the focal points of the fair where 1814 companies displayed their newest technologies and products and also, start-ups showcased their new ideas. 

BEYSAD President Ş. Burak Özaydemir talked about the trip: “We take fair participation and visits in our agenda every year in order to observe the developments of brands and the current trends of new technologies, considering that Berlin IFA is the leading fair of our sector in both Europe and the globe. The strong representation of our producers in terms of stands and products in this year’s visits made us proud and confirmed the accuracy of the sector’s production and export focus especially in this period. 

We think that our approach of assessing risks and advantages and creating solutions with a common mind as the main and suppliers’ industry and the public is more critic than ever for the sustainability of the leading status of our country in the sector and our companies.” 

August 31, 2018 was the first day of the fair and in the early morning, we listened to the LG CEO Jo Seong-Jin and LG CTO Dr. I.P Park as the IFA Keynote Speaker and watched LG technology shows. That day was the free fair day for our members. 

Arçelik, Vestel, Arzum, and Simfer from Turkey besides a number of companies attended the fair which grew in terms of area space and the number of participants. 

Sector professionals hold important marketing and sales meetings at the fair; that is why IFA has a special importance for companies. Local and global brands displayed their latest technologies and new products. 

Our first date on September 1, 2018 was with Vestel Purchasing Director Mr. Kemal Özgür. We had the chance of visiting the amazing Vestel stand together and also, evaluated the fair and the sector. 

Our second date was with Simfer. We are happy to see our local brands make us proud with their ever-growing and eye-catching stands. 

Next, we were guests of Candy Turkey CEO Mr. Servet Akkaynak and Marketing Manager Ms. Gözde Küçükyılmaz at the Candy-Hoover stand. We held a brief meeting and then, visited the stand and saw their innovations. 

Our last date was with Arçelik Purchasing Director Mr. Hakan Kozan. After a short meeting, we visited the stand with Global Product Manager Ms. Sinem Yelkanat. During the same hours, Arçelik General Manager Mr. Hakan Bulgurlu as well as Oğuzhan Öztürk, Fikri Özdemir, Alp Karahasaoğlu and several other BEYSAD friends from Arçelik.

Comments on the fair:

Arçelik CEO Hakan Bulgurlu mentioned that they have products in 145 countries and said: “IFA for us is a platform to show our technology. With Beko and Grundig, Arçelik has been investing in R&D for 25 years. Our goal is always to offer premium technologies to people for affordable prices. Arçelik now has 18 factories in 8 countries. All of our R&D and innovation comes from Turkey. IFA is where we showcase the products we develop as a result of these investments.” When asked about any reflections of the undulations in the foreign exchange on consumers, Bulgurlu replied: “They have to be reflected. We will have to reflect the increasing costs gradually on the customer. However, we resist to do this as late as possible.”

Vestel Corporate Group Executive Board President Turan Erdoğan said that they displayed 730 products on the 3800 square meter stand in IFA and added: “At this fair, new connections are built with especially European companies and primary connections are made for 2019. We are closing Q4 here. We make long-term strategic collaborations. During the first 6 months, Vestel achieved 16% increase in Dollars. We had an export worth of 2.1 billion Dollars. This year we will have an increase band of 15%. Export is now the way out for Turkey. We are aware of that. Vestel is the only Turkish company in the top 100 companies applying for a patent to the European Patent Office.”

We would like to thank all of our shareholders once again for welcoming us and for their hospitality. 

Big thanks to all our participating members (Alpplas, Anot, Balorman, Birlik Bağlantı, De-Ka Elektroteknik, Ekinler, Endel, Farel, Ferel, Kayatel, Konveyör, Semiz Elektronik, Sipil, Spek, and Suptek) and hope to meet again for another beneficial trip.