"WE SEE QUALITY AS THE STARTING POINT OF PRODUCTION"
Strengthening its success in masterbatch production in the plastics sector with R&D, sustainability, and digitalization investments, Colorex shared its growth story extending from Bursa to the world. Murat Doğan, General Manager of Colorex Concentrated Color Plastics, said, "For us, quality is not a control performed at the end of production, but the point where production begins."
Operating in the field of color and additive solutions in the plastics sector, Colorex stands out as one of the remarkable brands in the industry with its quality-focused production approach, solutions specially developed for customer needs, and continuous investment mindset. Established in 2006 in the Bursa Organized Industrial Zone, the company stands out today not only with its success in masterbatch production but also with its R&D-focused vision, sustainability approach, and technology investments.
In our interview with Murat Doğan, General Manager of Colorex Concentrated Color Plastics, we discussed the company's founding story, production philosophy, future goals, perspective on the plastics sector, and industrialist mindset. Doğan also shared with our readers his versatile vision shaped by the business world alongside his technology venture Yofy, the Onaltı Offroad Club, and his support for Bursaspor.
Could you briefly introduce yourself and the founding story of the Colorex brand?
I was born in Elazığ in 1978. My passion for business life, production, and industry has always led me to bring my own vision to life. I am married and have two sons named Onur and Yiğit. In my journey in the business world, I aimed to be a versatile entrepreneur beyond just being a manufacturer; in fact, we successfully continue our commercial activities today with the Erkhan company, which I founded and manage. We laid the foundations of Colorex, our main production power, together with my wife Sedef on November 5, 2006. Starting this journey based in Bursa, in Turkey's first Organized Industrial Zone (Bursa OIZ), we brought our brand from scratch to where it is today by working hand in hand. Our goal from day one was not just to be a supplier in the sector, but to create a long-term solution partner focused on quality, trust, and innovation.
Could you briefly introduce Colorex and your product portfolio? In which areas do the solutions you offer make your brand stand out in the sector?
As Colorex, we add color and functionality to the plastics sector. Masterbatch solutions form the backbone of our product portfolio. We constantly update our capacity to respond quickly to strong demands from the market; in fact, in 2025, we commissioned two new production lines on the black and white masterbatch side. What makes us stand out in the sector is our ability to offer completely "tailor-made" formulations suitable for our customers' processes, machinery tracks, and end-user goals.
What are the main elements that make Colorex different and strong in the sector today?
Our greatest strength is the sincerity brought by being a family company, the flexibility to react quickly, and our ability to blend this with a corporate structure. In this dynamic structure, which we also support with our management experiences in our Erkhan company, we can instantly adapt to market expectations. Taking behind us the deep-rooted production culture and infrastructure advantage brought by Bursa OIZ, Turkey's first OIZ, we ensure standardization in quality. The fact that we always invest our earnings back into our business in Colorex, whose foundations we laid with my wife Sedef, makes us strong. We constantly keep both our machinery park and our technology up to date.
What are the main differences that distinguish Colorex products from their counterparts? How do your R&D, quality, and sustainability approach reflect on your products?
For us, quality is not a control stage at the end of production, but the starting point of the process. The most fundamental difference that separates our products from their equivalents in the market is excellent dispersion quality and color consistency between series. We are especially assertive on the colored masterbatch side. Manufacturing in a city like Bursa, which is the heart of the automotive industry, and working intensively with an industry like automotive that accepts no errors and has very strict specifications and tolerances, constantly keeps us at the peak in terms of quality.
What place do sustainability and recycling hold in Colorex's strategy?
Sustainability is no longer a choice for industrialists, but a necessity. As Colorex, we believe in the power of the circular economy. In this context, we focus on additive formulations that provide perfect harmony with recycled polymers and improve the physical properties of these materials. To leave a more livable world for future generations, eco-friendly steps that will reduce our carbon footprint are at the very center of our strategy.
How do you evaluate the role of PLASFED and sectoral NGOs in terms of the future of the plastics industry?
It is impossible for the structural problems of our sector to be overcome through individual efforts. Umbrella and strong non-governmental organizations like PLASFED play a key role in making the voice of the industrialist heard by decision-makers, organizing intra-sectoral solidarity, and combating unfair competition. I find the visionary lobbying and promotional activities carried out by our NGOs extremely valuable, especially to elevate the power and perception of the Turkish plastics sector abroad.
We know that alongside your industrialist identity, you also have a special interest in technology and make investments in this field. Could you tell us a bit about this vision and Yofy?
I am passionately attached to technology, not just as a part of my job, but personally. We wanted to add the unlimited potential of the digital world alongside our production power and physical investments in the industry. As a result of this vision, completely independent of our activities in the plastics sector, we brought our next-generation technology investment, a mobile application called Yofy, to life. With Yofy, our goal is very clear: to create a technology brand expanding 'from Bursa to the world'. We plan to expand our operations throughout Turkey by the end of this year and in Europe in 2027. We will continue to add value to our country in both fields by combining our experience in traditional industry with the speed of digitalization.
Alongside your industrialist identity, you have a very dynamic social life and passions. You are the founder of the Onaltı Offroad Club. What kind of connection do you establish between your passion for off-road and your business life?
Off-road is not just a hobby, it is a philosophy of life for me. Advancing on unknown routes, struggling with difficult terrain conditions, making the right decisions in instantaneous crises, and most importantly, building a strong team spirit... In fact, business life is exactly such a journey. Unforeseeable obstacles and rugged roads can also appear before you in the industry. The culture of solidarity, developing the right strategy, and never giving up no matter what, which we acquired in the Onaltı Offroad Club, contributes greatly to me in overcoming crises with a cool head and walking shoulder to shoulder with my team. In both fields, the right equipment, a good team, and focusing on the goal bring success.
As a Bursa-based brand, you also strongly support Bursaspor, one of the most important values of the city. Could you talk about your sense of belonging to the city and your corporate social responsibility approach?
We are a brand nurtured by these lands and growing in Bursa. Therefore, we consider it a debt to add value to the city not only economically but also socially and culturally. Bursaspor is the biggest brand, crest, and common denominator of this city. We aim to continue this sponsorship support, which we have proudly maintained for two years, in the upcoming period. Contributing to the training of young athletes and carrying the energy of our city higher is one of the cornerstone elements of our corporate culture. Being an industrialist is not just producing within the walls of a factory, but being able to touch society and the city you live in.
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.