As a leading manufacturer of high-quality and durable aprons and cots, as well as advanced grinding, UV surface treatment, and automation solutions, Asteks preserved its production strength during the challenging market conditions of 2025 and entered 2026 with a strong perspective. Despite the difficulties experienced in the Turkish economy, as well as fluctuations and conflicts in local and global markets, Asteks did not experience a decline in order intake and successfully completed its shipments. Throughout the year, the company carried out strategic moves to strengthen its position in prominent textile markets. In addition to Uzbekistan and Bangladesh, Asteks also reinforced its position in Egypt, one of the standout textile markets of recent times.
Evaluating 2025, Asteks Marketing and Sales Manager Sabri İlknur emphasized that they overcame contraction and challenges in the local market through increased exports and market diversification. “2025 was a very challenging year for manufacturers. Production costs increased beyond exchange rate movements, global and local demand contracted, and due to exchange rate advantages of import-substitute products, local brands were placed at a significant competitive disadvantage. Despite this, Asteks, with its 55-year-rooted history, achieved market results in line with its expectations through accurate planning. We identified market contraction in advance and set our targets accordingly. In this context, our unit sales figures were on par with 2024; however, our foreign-currency-based turnover did not remain at the same level due to exchange rate volatility. As I mentioned, this outcome was not a surprise for us. We experienced similar challenges alongside all stakeholders in the textile sector, and despite this, we preserved our equity and strength and were able to outline a strong vision for 2026,” he said.
Stating that Türkiye continued to maintain its importance as one of the main markets of the Turkish textile industry in 2025, İlknur noted that due to rapid supply needs under unforeseen domestic conditions, unit sales in the domestic market exceeded the previous year’s levels. “In addition to this positive demand increase in the domestic market, we accelerated our efforts to enhance our brand awareness and strength in the global market. We took steps toward every region where textile production is concentrated and achieved positive results in a short time. We reached significant customer profiles in rising textile stars such as Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. We also attained a strong position in the Egyptian market which surprised many with its growth in 2025. In Egypt, we offered not only our aprons and cots but also our cot grinding machines, and achieved very positive results. Another market where we focused our efforts and achieved strong outcomes during this period was China. Contrary to common perceptions, the Chinese market holds significant potential when approached with the right strategies and effective solutions,” he continued.
Asteks provides advantages to its partners with a rich product portfolio
Strengthening its solid ties in the Turkish textile market while also developing relationships with manufacturers in prominent global textile regions, Asteks contributes to its partners’ efficiency and quality through its rich product portfolio, while also helping optimize production costs. Apron and cot types produced from high-quality raw materials, enabling operation even under the most challenging conditions and with sensitive fibers, continue to receive strong demand from yarn producers, particularly due to their advanced technical features. In recent years, cot grinding unit solutions developed by Asteks’ in-house R&D department have also received rapid positive feedback from textile manufacturers thanks to their competitive structures.
Automation-enabled solutions that transform cot grinding from a manual process also ensure standard processing quality, allowing cots to be used for longer periods. Sabri İlknur stated that thanks to this broad product portfolio, the company has become more resilient and flexible against market fluctuations. He shared the following insights: “In 2025, we achieved a clear increase in apron sales. Demand for grinding machines generally progresses in parallel with spinning mill investments; therefore, this year we received strong demand for our technology solutions from emerging markets, particularly Egypt and Bangladesh. In the Türkiye market, our grinding machines were mainly in demand within the scope of modernization projects. However, what we have clearly observed is that whether for greenfield investments or modernization projects, Asteks has now become the first preferred brand for cot grinding machines.”
Asteks becomes a partner in a new venture: Westure Ventures
Positioning itself as a technology and R&D-driven company with a sustainable corporate structure and global market ambitions, Asteks took a significant step in 2025. Asteks and Nexrone Global, one of the strong players in the European venture ecosystem, established a new investment company named Westure Ventures with a shared vision. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Westure aims to invest over USD 30 million within the next five years. Westure will focus on future-shaping fields such as financial technologies (fintech), artificial intelligence (AI), manufacturing technologies, deeptech, space and aerospace, and health technologies. Sabri İlknur stated that the company’s investment strategy is centered on “Goodness Technologies,” emphasizing an approach that prioritizes technological initiatives that create value for society and the planet.
“2026 comes with risks and opportunities, Asteks is ready”
Sabri İlknur recalled that many investments in Türkiye have been postponed for a long time due to economic conditions, stating that a portion of these deferred investments may materialize in 2026. He emphasized that new projects related to investment and modernization are expected to be reactivated in the upcoming period and that Asteks is fully prepared for this revival in demand. He concluded: “As in previous periods, in 2026 we will continue to strengthen our ties with our customers by serving as a fast, competitive, and reliable supplier with our core expertise products, including aprons, cots, draw frame cots, perforated aprons and mesh aprons for compact spinning systems, in line with their needs. Similarly, we will continue to support our users with our technology systems covering machinery and equipment for cot grinding departments. We are maintaining our operations with a capacity capable of supplying not only Türkiye but also many different regions across global markets. Compared to the previous year, 2026 appears to offer greater opportunities.”
To further strengthen its ties with the global textile industry, Asteks is preparing for a full exhibition calendar in 2026. The major exhibitions where the company will showcase its extensive product portfolio and establish new collaborations include: DTG Bangladesh 2026 (Bangladesh – Dhaka), Igatex 2026 (Pakistan – Lahore), VTG 2026 (Vietnam – Saigon), Indo Intertex 2026 (Indonesia – Jakarta), ITM 2026 (Türkiye – Istanbul), Caitme 2026 (Uzbekistan – Tashkent), EgyStitch 2026 (Egypt – Cairo), ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 (China – Shanghai), Inlegmash 2026 (Russia – Moscow), Exintex 2026 (Mexico – Puebla).