Özer Küçükgöl, who studied mechanical engineering in Frankfurt, convinced the oil pump shafts producing company HPT Hartner, that he worked as internee when he was a vocational school student, to make investments in İzmir and became a shareholder. In time, he enlarged his business and bought all the shares.
He was born as a child of a tailor father in Germany and he has his origins in Simav, Kütahya. He achieved a success by buying the company he worked as an internee. In Germany, where his father went because of economic reasons, first he studied in a vocational school and then graduated from mechanical engineering studies from Frankfurt. He convinced the company that produces oil pump shafts for world’s giant automotive manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen to make investments in İzmir.
Every year, he enlarged his business with his further investments, after some time, other shareholders have decided to retire and offered to sell their shares to Özer Küçükgöl. Thus, Özer Küçükgöl became the main shareholder of the company. Özer Küçükgöl is known as a successful and cheerful businessman, and the chairman of Automotive Branch Committee in EBSO (Aegean Region Chamber of Industry).
“The revenue has octupled ”
After he had met with the ex-shareholders of the company, Günter Hartner and Manfred Grunski, when he was an internee, he has offered them to make investments in İzmir and bring HPT Hartner to Aegean Free Zone in 1996. At first, the factory had only 8 workers. However, with consistent investments, the company grown up to 80 workers and moved all the production from Germany to Turkey. In the first phase, company had a revenue of 1 million euro, but now 8 million euros and had a production capacity of 3000 pieces for week, now 100.000 pieces for week. Küçükgöl also interested in sailing sport and has approximately 50 trophies.
As a child of a tailor father in Germany, he represented the second generation of Turkish immigrants in Germany and grew up with having both social and cultural difficulties. Küçükgöl stated that, in his story to success, he always had plans of a life with his children and high standards in Turkey. After the first day he had completed his studies in Germany, he always had thoughts about moving back to Turkey and avail to his country. Küçükgöl adds : “I have taken a step to business life at my early ages. When our fellow townsman İsmail Tiryaki, father of the current EBSO Chairman Mehmet Tiryaki, came to Germany for expos, I have acted as a translator for him. He pointed me to automotive industry. When I was a vocational school internee, I worked in HPT. After my graduation from mechanical engineering, I started to work in Stellram, also owned by Manfred Grunski. Since I wanted a career in Turkey, I offered them to make investments in İzmir and convinced them and we started to produce oil pump shafts in Aegean Free Zone in 1996 with 8 workers. Today, we are still the Turkey distributor for Stellram.”
THEY WERE FASCINATED
Küçükgöl remarks that his interest in sailing played a big role on moving the company to İzmir. In addition, the German shareholders were fascinated by their performance on the business from 1996 to 2010. He had the 5% of the shares of the company when the investment in İzmir initiated and says : “At first phase, we have started to work in a 150 meter-square workshop in Aegean Free Zone. Within the years, we have grown up. We run our production in a 3000 square-meter workshop. We have started with 8 workers but now we have 80. We have increased our revenue from 1 million euro to 8 million euro. We have increased our production rate from 3000 per week to 100.000 per week. Now, we are producing parts for 15% of the German automotive industry. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen are some of our customers. My partners, Günter Hartner(77) and Manfred Grunski(78) , observing this situation, when they wanted to retire, they offered to sell the company to me. Thus, I have bought the company that I have worked for 15 years and moved all of the production from Germany to Turkey. Including my team in Germany, I employ 100 person and provide more employment opportunities and accretion value to Turkey.”.
NEARLY 50 TROPHIES IN SAILING
Küçükgöl reminds that his interest in sailing played a big role for his investments to be held on İzmir. He is a member of Aegean Open Ocean Sailing Club and he has been participating in sailing races for more than 15 years. He has started to do sea sports with surfing in Alaçatı and he is one of the first surfers of İzmir. Nowadays, he is preparing to participate in sailing race in Cannes, France and he would like to bring one more trophy to İzmir.
http://www.yeniasir.com.tr/Ekonomi/2011/09/04/almanyada-staj-yaptigi-fabrikanin-sahibi-oldu
