Hakan Bozcu

ECZACIBASI GROUP: Founded in 1942, Eczacibasi is a prominent Turkish industrial group with 46 companies, 12.000 employees and a combined net turnover of € 1,6 billion in 2021. Eczacibasi’s core sectors are building products, healthcare and consumer products. ECZACIBASI BUILDING PRODUCTS GROUP: Eczacibasi Building Products Group (EBP) is the largest division of Eczacibasi Group, one of the leading industrial groups in Turkey, in terms of work force and turnover. The main production plant is the group’s production campus in Bilecik-Bozuyuk which utilizes environment-friendly technologies, ranking among the top ceramic manufacturing plants in the world in terms of capacity, technology and quality. The group has 5 plants in Turkey and 9 plants in Germany, France and Russia. Product Portfolio: WC Pan, Cistern, Washbasin, Pedestal, Sink, Urinal, Separator, Bidet, Shower Tray, Squatting Pan, Seat Cover, Flushing Mechanisms, Bathroom & Kitchen Faucets, Shower Systems, Bathroom Accessories, Concealed Cisterns. INNOVATION Eczacibasi Building Products Group’s VitrA Innovation Center was set up in 2011 with an investment of 7 million € at the Bilecik Bozuyuk production campus.The center prioritizes market and technology-focused innovation efforts and carries out research, design, development and production activities in new bathroom materials, processes and technologies. Areas such as nanotechnology, electronics, water and energy, sensor technology, acoustics, ergonomics and composite materials are explored in the center. EXPERTISE: VitrA Innovation Center has expertise mainly in following areas: • Material science: Developing and applying functional coatings on different surfaces such as anti-fingerprint, anti-slip, antibacterial, hydrophobic, glossy& scratch resistant, easy cleaning coatings on ceramics, metal and glass surfaces; aerogel and different polymer coatings in order to create warmer and lighter materials; PVD coatings on ceramics to increase resistance to scratches; photocatalytic and self-cleaning coatings on tile surfaces; developing flexible and easily formable materials with insulation, super slim ceramic products, geo-polymers, composite materials, etc. • Mechanical Design and CAE (computer-aided engineering): Design and development of ceramic sanitaryware products, faucets, concealed cisterns, bathroom accessories, furnitures and bath& showering areas by using the most up-to-date design tools and simulate their working conditions before production. There is also an expert production team in the factories turning these designs and developments into real products. • Electronic Systems: Bringing smart solutions to bathrooms by the use of latest sensor technologies; developing touchless products, use of IoT, etc. With this expertise, it tries to develop innovative and sustainable products and processes and it can participate in projects both in research& development stages and also in pilot trials and demonstration. User Experience: The main goal of the studies are to understand the user relationships of the products. Ergonomics and usability tests are carried out with various methods in order to detect the problems that the users may experience while using the products while they are still in the design and development phase. These tests take place in the UX (User Experience) laboratory. In addition, studies are carried out where users and products come together in places where the products are actively used (Houses, schools, hospitals, public toilets, etc.). Packaging: Following the packaging process of newly commissioned products from packaging design to loading into containers. Making design or material changes in existing packaging and designing product labels. Optimization for placement in boxes, labels, bags, containers, taking into account issues such as strength, moisture capacity, time and cost. • Testing and Validation: functional performance tests according to desired standards. LABORATORIES: •Smart Connected Technologies Laboratory •NVH - Acoustics of Fluid Mechanics Laboratory •UX- User Experience Laboratory •VR- Experience Simulation Laboratory •3D Rapid Prototyping and Digitalisation Laboratory •MF-Pilot Production & Testing Laboratory •HL Hygiene Assurance Laboratory •PPV- Product Performance Verification Laboratory •MS-Material and Surface Sciences Laboratory DURING THE PAST 5 YEARS: •324 patent applications •103 commercial patents INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS: •SUSAAN- Sustainable Antimicrobial and Antiviral Nanocoating /HORIZON EUROPE •VIRMAN-Virtual Manufacturing Plant / EUREKA SMART •PIANiSM-Predictive and Prescriptive Automation Smart Manufacturing/ ITEA 3 CALL •NEWCHROM-New Advanced Environment Friendly Technology as Substitute for Current Decorative Chrome Solutions /MANUNET (2019) •WE_Smart-Smart Faucets for The Reduction of Water and Energy Consumption/EUREKA