Founded in Kayseri in 1957, İstikbal is one of Türkiye’s leading furniture manufacturers today, exporting its products to nearly 60 countries worldwide. İstikbal operates a total of five manufacturing facilities, three in Kayseri, one in Diyarbakır and one in Sakarya. Its Kayseri campus is built on a 140,000 m² site and includes 95,000 m² of enclosed manufacturing space distributed across three different levels.
I had not worked with EEC before joining İstikbal. When I joined, they had already started implementing improvements to the system. We have been working with EEC for the past two years, and we can clearly see the benefits.
The company that originally installed our Edwards Fire Detection System throughout our facility was no longer able to provide the level of support we expected, which led us to begin searching for a new service partner. Following detailed meetings with your sales manager and technical team in Kayseri, site surveys were conducted. We renewed our system step by step, starting with the detectors and implementing the most suitable improvements for our manufacturing site while maintaining our initial investment.
The previous system reportedly suffered from frequent false alarms due to improper device selection. Over time, the system had lost credibility. After the devices were replaced, we eliminated the false alarm problem. Throughout the two years I have been here, we have known that whenever an alarm sounds, it is either related to a known on-site activity or a genuine alarm condition. We can now trust the system, and our employees take alarms seriously.
New areas are periodically added to our facility. For example, we converted a section previously used as a semi-open area into an enclosed space. Once the architectural layout changed, the new area had to be integrated into the fire detection system. Our facility does not rely solely on a conventional smoke detection system. We also use beam detectors, projected beam detectors and aspirating smoke detection systems. Most recently, we added fiber-optic heat detection devices. EEC guided us toward the most appropriate solutions for our manufacturing site and helped us select products suitable for our applications. As a result, we have strengthened the system in line with our operational needs.
We renewed the system with a design tailored to our manufacturing site, and we can now identify incidents with pinpoint accuracy. We operate diesel forklifts in the semi-open area, where significant amounts of dust and dirt enter from outside. By implementing aspirating smoke detection systems, EEC helped us eliminate false alarms in these conditions. In our furniture manufacturing area, we use beam detectors to address the high levels of dust, allowing us to detect incidents accurately and reliably. We are familiar with our facility’s routine operations and even our regular cleaning days in the warehouse. When an alarm is triggered, we can distinguish whether it is related to normal daily activities before initiating our emergency procedures. The variety of devices selected according to the specific conditions of each environment throughout the system helps us make the right decisions.
The user interface is simple, informative and easy to operate, which makes day-to-day use straightforward. In the event of detection occurring as a result of an operational activity within the facility, we can quickly manage the situation without causing unnecessary concern among the entire team. When new areas are added to the facility, we can easily expand the system through additional modules. As our facility continues to grow, we can scale our detection system without major costs or operational difficulties.
During external audits, our maintenance reports are generally sufficient to demonstrate compliance. Our occupational health and safety team simply accompanies the auditors on site and presents the fire system maintenance reports. For example, following the recommendations received during a recent fire department inspection, we implemented several modifications. Some detectors had previously been installed at lower levels, and we relocated them closer to the roof structure. Whenever the layout or use of the manufacturing site changes, the system devices are updated to ensure they remain suitable for the environment. EEC provides significant support throughout these processes.
We can clearly see that the detailed maintenance work is carried out thoroughly during our periodic maintenance periods. It is not treated as a routine formality. There is virtually no area of the plant left unchecked. We are pleased to see every device being individually tested throughout the manufacturing site. Before each maintenance period, they remind us of the schedule and coordinate with us in advance.
They are also highly familiar with our manufacturing site, which enables them to provide quick support whenever a fault or issue arises. If I report a problem with a specific device, they immediately know what I am referring to and respond quickly. They can either connect remotely to the security workstation or, if the issue is critical and circumstances allow, come directly to the site and resolve it.
They also support us whenever we require technical assistance outside the maintenance scope. For example, when we replace one or two detectors from our spare stock, we request assistance with commissioning and addressing. They verify whether the selected device is suitable for the intended location and intervene whenever necessary to ensure accurate and reliable detection.
We cannot disregard the safety of 1,800 employees. Any gap in the fire detection system is unacceptable. Our ability to respond rapidly during a real fire incident is critically important. Recently, during welding work on the roof, a sponge material used to prevent water leakage inside the ventilation ducts caught fire. An employee might not have noticed the situation immediately. However, the beam detector detected the smoke and triggered an alarm. Our fire response team intervened immediately and resolved the situation before it could escalate. Thanks to the system, we prevented a potentially serious incident without putting any of our employees at risk.
On the other hand, a system that generates false alarms can result in lost time, operational disruptions and production losses. We operate a busy manufacturing plant. An unnecessary evacuation caused by a false alarm, followed by security checks and the process of bringing everyone back into the facility, would result in significant downtime. No manufacturing facility wants to experience unnecessary downtime and productivity losses caused by false alarms.
We have experienced no issues regarding the quality of the Edwards system itself. The only area that could potentially be improved involves certain peripheral components, such as module housings or pipe mounting accessories. Even so, I would rate the system 7 out of 10. It is a reliable solution that meets our expectations and effectively addresses our operational needs.
We would like to see EEC expand its team in Kayseri. Your teams also provide support to customers in Adana, Niğde and Mersin. Since you already serve many corporate customers in Kayseri, having an additional dedicated team in the region would make things easier for all of us.
We can contact both the sales and technical teams at any time and receive the information we need. Our maintenance coordinator addresses our requests individually throughout the maintenance process. The entire manufacturing site is inspected in detail and all findings are documented and reported. Whenever necessary, they resolve issues either through remote access or by guiding us through the required steps.
Personally, I would choose EEC again and would not hesitate to recommend them. They provide engineering support focused on recommending the most suitable solutions for the specific conditions of each manufacturing site. Whenever required, we can receive both spare parts and technical assistance without difficulty. When I send them a drawing of a new area, they review it and explain potential issues that could arise if a particular type of device is used in that location. They actively guide us toward more appropriate solutions and intervene whenever necessary.
Most importantly, they are accessible. When I send an e-mail or make a phone call, I receive a response. The combination of spare parts availability, technical support and accessibility is extremely important to us and gives us confidence. As İstikbal, we are genuinely satisfied with our collaboration with EEC.
