Eczacıbaşı Building Products

ECZACIBAŞI GROUP
Founded in 1942, Eczacıbaşı is a prominent Turkish industrial group with 46 companies, 12,000 employees, and a combined net turnover of €1.6 billion in 2021. Eczacıbaşı’s core sectors are building products, healthcare, and consumer products.

ECZACIBAŞI BUILDING PRODUCTS GROUP (EBP)
Eczacıbaşı Building Products Group is the largest division of the Eczacıbaşı Group in terms of workforce and turnover. The main production site is the Bozüyük production campus in Bilecik, Türkiye, which ranks among the top ceramic manufacturing facilities worldwide in terms of capacity, technology, and environmental performance. The group operates 5 production plants in Türkiye and 9 additional facilities in Germany, France, and Russia.

Product Portfolio
EBP’s broad portfolio includes:
WC pans, cisterns, washbasins, pedestals, sinks, urinals, separators, bidets, shower trays, squatting pans, seat covers, flushing mechanisms, bathroom & kitchen faucets, shower systems, bathroom accessories, and concealed cisterns.

INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
Established in 2011 with a €7 million investment, the VitrA Innovation Center at the Bozüyük campus drives technology and market-oriented innovation. It undertakes R&D in materials, design, production processes, and smart systems for the bathroom industry. Research areas include nanotechnology, water and energy optimization, sensor technology, acoustics, ergonomics, and composite materials.

Expertise Areas

• Material Science: Functional coatings for ceramic, metal, and glass surfaces (e.g., anti-slip, antibacterial, hydrophobic, PVD, photocatalytic), new polymers.

• Mechanical Design & CAE: Advanced design and simulation of sanitaryware, faucets, cisterns, accessories, and furniture using cutting-edge engineering tools.

• Electronic Systems: Development of touchless, sensor-based smart bathroom products, IoT integration, and connected solutions.

USER EXPERIENCE (UX)
The UX Laboratory conducts ergonomic and usability tests during product development, aiming to anticipate and resolve user difficulties early. Real-life usage studies are performed in homes, schools, hospitals, and public restrooms to inform design decisions.

PACKAGING DEVELOPMENT
The packaging team designs and optimizes product packaging from initial concept to container loading, balancing design, strength, material usage, moisture control, and cost. Labeling and structural improvements are also developed for existing products.

TESTING & VALIDATION
Functional performance tests are carried out in accordance with international standards. Specialized labs support verification, including:

• Smart Connected Technologies Lab

• NVH - Acoustics of Fluid Mechanics Lab

• UX Laboratory

• VR Simulation Lab

• 3D Prototyping & Digitalisation Lab

• Pilot Production & Testing Lab

• Hygiene Assurance Lab

• Product Performance Verification Lab

• Material and Surface Sciences Lab

INNOVATION IMPACT (Past 5 Years)

• 324 patent applications

• 103 commercialized patents

INTERNATIONAL R&D PROJECTS
EBP participates in numerous collaborative projects funded through European frameworks, including:

• 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 – Eco-friendly Decorative Chrome Alternatives (MANUNET 2019)

• WE_Smart – Smart Faucets for Water and Energy Saving (EUREKA)