ERCAN AÇIKGÖZ, Sales Director for Liquid Inks, Toyo Printing Inks & MEHMET HAKAN ÜLÜŞ, Export Manager, Toyo Printing Inks

What changes have occurred in domestic market and export demand dynamics in recent years? How have these changes affected your product portfolio?

ERCAN AÇIKGÖZ – Sales Director, Liquid Inks 

In recent years, there has been a significant transformation in customer expectations in the domestic market. In particular, demands for cost optimization, environmentally friendly products, and fast delivery have come to the forefront. This trend is especially notable in the food and flexible packaging segments. In this context, we are placing greater emphasis within our portfolio on specialized ink series that maintain a price-performance balance, meet sustainability criteria, and enhance production efficiency by reducing waste rates. Furthermore, through our ongoing R&D pilot projects and joint development processes with customers, we continuously update our products.

MEHMET HAKAN ÜLÜŞ – Export Manager 

In export markets, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, customer demand has shifted direction. While products that reduce carbon footprint, are fully compliant with regulations, and are suitable for recyclable packaging have come to the forefront in Europe, the Middle East is seeing a demand for high-performance and value-added inks. This trend has increased the prominence of environmentally friendly and high-performance products in our portfolio, such as water-based and low-migration ink series, as well as lamination adhesives. By structuring our R&D processes in order to rapidly adapt to the regulations and customer expectations of different regions, we continue to strengthen our position in existing markets and explore opportunities to expand into new ones.

In the upcoming period, are there any new areas or markets with growth potential that you foresee in both the domestic market and the countries to which you export? What strategies are you developing to capitalize on these opportunities?

ERCAN AÇIKGÖZ – Sales Director, Liquid Inks 


In the domestic market, growth potential is emerging particularly in product groups that offer environmentally friendly and high-performance solutions. Increasing regulations and sustainability expectations in the food packaging and flexible packaging segments are motivating our customers to invest in these areas. We are responding to this need by highlighting our low-migration, water-based inks that are suitable for recyclable packaging. In addition, we develop project-based solutions tailored to the specific needs of our customers through our R&D team.  

MEHMET HAKAN ÜLÜŞ – Export Manager 


On the export side, alongside our established position in the European and Middle Eastern markets, we see growth potential in Africa and Eastern Europe. In these regions, there is a growing interest in environmentally friendly product groups, particularly water-based inks and lamination adhesives. We are building our strategies for these markets on strengthening local distributor networks, developing products in compliance with regulations, and optimizing our logistics networks. Additionally, we aim to establish long-term collaborations by developing joint R&D projects with customers in these regions.

How do you incorporate customer feedback into your new product development process?

ERCAN AÇIKGÖZ – Sales Director, Liquid Inks 

Customer feedback is at the core of our product development processes in every segment we operate in within Türkiye. We regularly analyze feedback from our customers regarding performance, environmentally friendly content, and production efficiency, and we take swift action by establishing joint working groups with our R&D and production teams. We test the products we develop in the field together with our customers. We thoroughly evaluate the results of these trials with our R&D and production teams, continuously improving our products. 

MEHMET HAKAN ÜLÜŞ – Export Manager


In export markets, the regulations and customer expectations of different regions directly shape our product development strategies. We integrate the feedback received from our business partners in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa into our R&D processes by combining it with market-based analyses. In this way, we are able to develop competitive and sustainable products that comply with the technical standards of each country. Additionally, the data we collect through global customer visits and technical sessions at trade fairs is one of the key sources guiding the direction of our new product launches.

1. What kind of initiatives are you undertaking in your ink formulations to incorporate environmentally friendly or recyclable content?

ERCAN AÇIKGÖZ – Sales Director, Liquid Inks 

In line with the European ’s new regulations, developing sustainable ink solutions is a strategic priority for us. Since 2017, as Türkiye’s first ink R&D Center, we have been developing low-migration, water-based and vegetable oil-based ink series that use recyclable raw materials. With our innovative solutions, such as BPA-free internal coatings for metal packaging and oxygen barrier and UV-block coatings that serve as alternatives to aluminium in flexible packaging, we contribute to our customers’ sustainability goals.

MEHMET HAKAN ÜLÜŞ – Export Manager

Regulations of the European that are now in force, such as the “Waste Shipments Regulation” and the “New Packaging Rules” directly affect not only packaging manufacturers but also the inks and other components used in packaging. Our customers now demand not only high-quality products, but also solutions that are less harmful to the environment and contribute to the circular economy. In the countries where we operate, compliance with local regulations and solutions suitable for recycling have become one of the most important criteria for our collaborations. For this reason, in line with artience Group’s global vision, we are developing our recyclable and low-migration ink series in compliance with the technical standards of different regions. In this context, while accelerating our R&D activities, our mono-material and mono-layer compatible products manufactured in Türkiye are increasing their export potential both in neighbouring countries and the European market. 

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the printing industry. What concrete steps is Toyo Printing Inks taking in this regard?

ERCAN AÇIKGÖZ – Sales Director, Liquid Inks

In 2025, sustainability, operational efficiency, and digitalization remain at the forefront of our strategic priorities. In this regard, we are transforming not only our products but also our production processes. Our new factory, which we inaugurated in April 2025 in the Manisa Organized Industrial Zone, has become the strongest reflection of our sustainability vision, particularly with its technologies focused on energy efficiency, resource conservation, and digitalization.

MEHMET HAKAN ÜLÜŞ – Export Manager

 In global markets, sustainability is no longer merely a legal requirement but also a factor that provides a competitive advantage. In line with artience Group’s global vision, while expanding our environmentally friendly ink portfolio, we also adopt an approach that utilizes resources efficiently in our production and supply chain. We are strengthening our collaborations with local and international suppliers that embrace an environmentally friendly production approach. With the fully automated production lines of our new factory, which we inaugurated in April in the Manisa Organized Industrial Zone, we are reducing energy consumption, lowering our environmental impact, and aiming to strengthen our position in export markets through compliance with international regulations.

Compared to both local and global competitors, what is Toyo Printing Inks’ competitive advantage?

ERCAN AÇIKGÖZ – Sales Director, Liquid Inks

The most important factor that distinguishes us in the domestic market is our approach to our customers’ business processes not merely as a supplier, but as a solution partner. Instead of standard products, we offer solutions tailored to different printing techniques and production conditions. With our technical support aimed at enhancing product performance and our ability to take swift action, we enhance our customers’ efficiency. We focus on long-term collaborations rather than short-term trade, aiming to grow together with our customers by developing joint projects. This approach enables us to build trust-based relationships and to achieve a sustainable position in the industry.

MEHMET HAKAN ÜLÜŞ – Export Manager


The foundation of our competitiveness in global markets is the extensive production network and strong infrastructure of the artience Group. What sets us apart, however, is that instead of offering a standard product to every customer, we develop solutions tailored to their production conditions and market dynamics. When necessary, we revise product formulations and stand by our business partners with swift technical support and flexible solutions. The sharing of knowledge and technology across the Group, supported in particular by the advanced testing systems in Japan, enhances our product quality and accelerates our pace of innovation. In addition, our multicultural and highly experienced export team strengthens our competitive advantage by adapting to the cultural expectations and specific needs of our customers in different regions.