We spoke with Selim Aydın, sales manager at Bimeks Çelik, about the company’s operations and its goals for 2026.
First of all, could you tell us a bit about yourself and Bimeks Steel?
I was born in Trabzon in 1974. I completed my elementary, middle, and high school education in Istanbul. I graduated from the Metallurgy Engineering department at Yıldız Technical University in 1997. I began my professional career at a very young age in the family business of quilt-making. During this time, I played an active role in all stages of the business, including production, sales, shipping and customer relations. The discipline, responsibility and work ethic instilled in me by the quilt-making profession over approximately 12 years formed the foundation of my career.
I completed my internships at Ferro Casting Industry and Foreign Trade Inc. and As Welding – Welding Technology Industry and Trade Inc. (Lincoln Electric). After completing my military service, I began my professional career as a sales engineer at Odak Construction Inc. I joined Bimeks Çelik A.Ş. in 2000; after serving as a sales engineer for 15 years, I was promoted to the position of sales manager. I have spent my entire professional career in sales and marketing and have had the opportunity to work with numerous companies across various sectors. I am married and the father of two children.
Bimeks Çelik was established in 1989 to market and export engineering steels used in the manufacturing industry. In 2000, Rodacciai Spa became a shareholder in the company. Following this partnership, the sale of products of grades such as AISI 303, AISI 304, AISI 316, AISI 316Ti, AISI 430F and similar grades began in both the Turkish market and international markets such as the Middle East and Far East.
Bimeks Steel, which set out with the aim of exporting based on its technical knowledge and expertise in the field of specialty steels - such as free-cutting steels, tool steels and case-hardening steels - conducts its operations across various products and markets. Bimeks Steel serves the steel needs of various sectors, primarily the automotive and home appliance industries, as well as the defense industry, machinery industry, petrochemical sector, electrical and electronics sector, and the fastener industry.
Bimeks Steel has adopted the role of a guiding and solution-oriented partner, fully versed in the technical details of relevant national and international standards for all projects and requests it manages. Built on this perspective and adhering to work principles that never compromise on quality, the company has made it its mission to be the most reliable and the first name that comes to mind in its sector, both technically and commercially.
Could you inform our readers about your product range and the sectors you serve?
We have an extremely wide product range. Our main product groups include: free-cutting steels (not suitable for heat treatment, but suitable for carburizing and hardening), alloyed and unalloyed carburizing steels, alloyed and unalloyed hardening steels, general engineering steels, cold-forming steels, cold-headed wires, special steels compliant with ASTM standards, stainless steel bars (austenitic, duplex, ferritic, martensitic, and heat-resistant), stainless steel wires, stainless steel ribbed construction bars, stainless steel and nickel superalloy welding wires, aluminum welding wires, nitriding steels, and bearing, tool and spring steels.
Materials are supplied either heat-treated or untreated, depending on customer requirements. Our heat treatment capabilities include annealing, isothermal annealing, spheroidizing annealing, softening and normalizing annealing, stress relief, solution annealing, precipitation hardening (aging) and machinability annealing.
All our products are delivered in compliance with relevant standards such as EN, ASTM and ISO, including dimensional tolerances, surface and internal defect inspections (US inspection), even if the customer does not make a specific request. Additionally, we provide supplies compliant with customer standards such as Bosch and Fiat, and an EN 10204 3.1 quality certificate is provided.
Our business partners include Rodacciai S.p.A. (Italy), Olarra S.A. (Spain), and Bursa Çelik A.Ş. With an annual production capacity of approximately 500,000 tons, Rodacciai and Olarra are among Europe’s leading steel producers. Olarra S.A., one of our group companies, is a liquid steel producer specializing exclusively in stainless steel.
In which sectors are your products used? Could you provide information on the sectoral distribution of your business volume, as well as import and export figures?
The primary sectors we serve include the automotive industry, defense industry, home appliances, tractor and truck manufacturing, fasteners, and hydraulic pipe and fitting applications. We also supply materials to the supporting industries that manufacture for these main sectors. In terms of sectoral distribution, approximately 50 percent of our sales are directed toward the automotive sector, and 20 percent toward the defense industry.
How did your 2025 sales compare to the previous year?
I can say that 2025 was a very challenging year. Despite all the difficulties, we managed to achieve sales volumes similar to 2024. However, I cannot say the same regarding revenue and profitability. It was a year marked by falling prices and significantly reduced profitability.
What are your plans for 2026? Could you share your forecasts for the sectors you operate in for 2026?
I believe 2026 will be an even more challenging year than 2025. We have set a target to increase our sales by 20 percent for 2026. We have developed plans to expand the sectors we operate in and increase our customer base. We can say it will be a year where we place a strong emphasis on our international sales. We will play a more active role in the new product lines added to the product portfolios of our strong manufacturers.
What are the key features and capabilities that set Bimeks Çelik apart?
Our work is built on core values such as a focus on success, knowledge sharing, innovation, teamwork, a sense of responsibility and sensitivity toward people and the environment. Our company, which possesses high reliability in both technical and commercial areas, prioritizes quality consistency and material standards as its strongest priorities. Our extensive product and quality diversity compliant with EU standards and customer specifications, our supply capability for the supporting industries of globally active companies, and our project-based expertise in the bright steel sector are the key factors that set us apart in the industry.
Can you tell us about your export activities?
We are particularly active in the Far East and Middle East regions.
Finally, is there anything else you would like to add?
Since its establishment, Bimeks Steel has continued on its path with confidence, having established a strong and reliable reputation as a supplier in the industry.