ОТДЕЛ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ И РАЗРАБОТКИ
A place where the ideas are being born
Han İyigün, Director of R&D at Beko & IHP: Curiousity helps
It is the R&D department, where trends are anticipated and translated into engineering solutions, and market research is transformed into real innovations within the next model of refrigerator or washing machine. We spoke with the company's new R&D Director of Kirzhach and Lipetsk team to learn how they manage to accomplish these challenging tasks.
– Han Bey, you just came to Russia this spring. Was the country new for you?
– Not really. I was here a long time ago, around 2002 or 2003, visiting Moscow. Then again in 2013, when I worked for a month in Kirzhach. And honestly, in Turkey we meet Russians all the time. My younger daughter lives in Izmir and even has Russian friends at school. Our cultures cross paths everywhere, so coming here feels natural.
– You’ve been with Arçelik Beko for more than 30 years. How did this journey begin?
– I joined the company in 1995. It sounds like a huge number, but it never felt heavy. The company culture supports you, it feels like a family. I got married, raised two daughters and built my whole professional life inside this environment. I graduated as a mechanical engineer from Middle East Technical University, and then worked across many areas: R&D, planning, engineering and production in Turkiye (Eskisehir and Manisa) and Romania. I’ve been in many roles, which also means I’ve made many friends.
– Now you lead R&D in Russia. What does the local team look like?
– We have around 40 people in Lipetsk and Kirzhach. Mostly engineers and very strong technicians. Both sites have their own laboratories where we work on new product concepts and on improvements for existing models.
– How would you describe the mission of the Russian R&D department?
– First, we think about our customers. We design and improve products that are safe, environmentally friendly, reliable and easy to use. Then we try to make them better. Better cooling performance, better washing results, better energy efficiency. There is always something to improve.
– Not really. I was here a long time ago, around 2002 or 2003, visiting Moscow. Then again in 2013, when I worked for a month in Kirzhach. And honestly, in Turkey we meet Russians all the time. My younger daughter lives in Izmir and even has Russian friends at school. Our cultures cross paths everywhere, so coming here feels natural.
– You’ve been with Arçelik Beko for more than 30 years. How did this journey begin?
– I joined the company in 1995. It sounds like a huge number, but it never felt heavy. The company culture supports you, it feels like a family. I got married, raised two daughters and built my whole professional life inside this environment. I graduated as a mechanical engineer from Middle East Technical University, and then worked across many areas: R&D, planning, engineering and production in Turkiye (Eskisehir and Manisa) and Romania. I’ve been in many roles, which also means I’ve made many friends.
– Now you lead R&D in Russia. What does the local team look like?
– We have around 40 people in Lipetsk and Kirzhach. Mostly engineers and very strong technicians. Both sites have their own laboratories where we work on new product concepts and on improvements for existing models.
– How would you describe the mission of the Russian R&D department?
– First, we think about our customers. We design and improve products that are safe, environmentally friendly, reliable and easy to use. Then we try to make them better. Better cooling performance, better washing results, better energy efficiency. There is always something to improve.
– What projects are you working on now?
– Right now we are deep into conceptual design for two new refrigerator projects. The focus is on the cooling system, because it’s the heart of refrigeration. We want to achieve more even temperature across the cabinet. Air behaves differently at various temperatures, so it’s technically challenging. We start with customer expectations, then move to design, simulations, tests and finally mass production.
– Do you also update existing products?
– Yes, and it’s also important. Productivity projects may sound internal, but they affect customers too. If we produce more efficiently, we can offer better prices. We also work on component improvements, reducing energy consumption and adopting new technologies.
– Global appliance trends have changed a lot. What do you see as the key ones today?
– In line with the contemporary living styles, Households are getting smaller in many markets, so compact appliances are in demand. At the same time, families ask for more capacity as they grow. Both trends exist in parallel, so we design for both. Another huge trend is connectivity. IoT is everywhere now. Appliances learn to talk to users, give suggestions, even order supplies. Washing machines will soon identify fabric types. Refrigerators recognize what’s inside. Artificial intelligence already affects home appliances, and it will grow further.
– How are your impressions of working with Russian colleagues?
– Very positive. They are friendly, curious and persistent. That’s perfect for R&D. Good ideas come from discussion, trying things, questioning things. I see a lot of initiative here. Our teams collaborate actively with colleagues in Turkey, China and other sites. Distance doesn’t matter anymore.
– How are you settling into life in Lipetsk?
– I read a lot, I go to the gym. For locals it sounds ordinary, but for someone arriving from another country even joining a sports club feels new. My big passion is sailing. I heard there is a sailing club here, so I want to meet them. Sailing builds teamwork like nothing else: ten people on a boat, each responsible for something. It’s almost like running a plant.
– We heard you might prepare a small training about sailing for employees. Is that true?
– Yes. There are things from sailing that are very useful in everyday work life. Decision-making, responsibility, coordination. I’d like to share that.
– And your final impression after joining the Russian team?
– I’m happy to be here. We already have many ideas, many projects and a strong team spirit. I’m looking forward to what we’ll build together.
– Right now we are deep into conceptual design for two new refrigerator projects. The focus is on the cooling system, because it’s the heart of refrigeration. We want to achieve more even temperature across the cabinet. Air behaves differently at various temperatures, so it’s technically challenging. We start with customer expectations, then move to design, simulations, tests and finally mass production.
– Do you also update existing products?
– Yes, and it’s also important. Productivity projects may sound internal, but they affect customers too. If we produce more efficiently, we can offer better prices. We also work on component improvements, reducing energy consumption and adopting new technologies.
– Global appliance trends have changed a lot. What do you see as the key ones today?
– In line with the contemporary living styles, Households are getting smaller in many markets, so compact appliances are in demand. At the same time, families ask for more capacity as they grow. Both trends exist in parallel, so we design for both. Another huge trend is connectivity. IoT is everywhere now. Appliances learn to talk to users, give suggestions, even order supplies. Washing machines will soon identify fabric types. Refrigerators recognize what’s inside. Artificial intelligence already affects home appliances, and it will grow further.
– How are your impressions of working with Russian colleagues?
– Very positive. They are friendly, curious and persistent. That’s perfect for R&D. Good ideas come from discussion, trying things, questioning things. I see a lot of initiative here. Our teams collaborate actively with colleagues in Turkey, China and other sites. Distance doesn’t matter anymore.
– How are you settling into life in Lipetsk?
– I read a lot, I go to the gym. For locals it sounds ordinary, but for someone arriving from another country even joining a sports club feels new. My big passion is sailing. I heard there is a sailing club here, so I want to meet them. Sailing builds teamwork like nothing else: ten people on a boat, each responsible for something. It’s almost like running a plant.
– We heard you might prepare a small training about sailing for employees. Is that true?
– Yes. There are things from sailing that are very useful in everyday work life. Decision-making, responsibility, coordination. I’d like to share that.
– And your final impression after joining the Russian team?
– I’m happy to be here. We already have many ideas, many projects and a strong team spirit. I’m looking forward to what we’ll build together.
Kirzhach R&D
New tasks every day
Ivan Ermilov,
Sr. Specialist Engineer (Group “Refrigerators”):
– My career at Beko began in 2017, when I joined the R&D department. At first I was a technician, then became an engineer, and since this summer I’ve become a lead design engineer.
Currently, I am responsible for several tasks at once. Firstly, it is development and implementation of new parts and assemblies into manufacture. Secondly, we support the manufacture and reduce the number of service calls. Since we operate using an Agile methodology, requests come to us directly from related departments, and my team and I prioritize and assign tasks so that we can respond to requests within two weeks.
One of the most important parts of our work is developing new products. This fall, for example, we implemented into manufacture a new line of Hotpoint brand. We have already received positive feedback on the changes in visual perception and usability of the product. As one of the “authors”, we are looking forward to their release on the market and hope that they will be popular.
We have a very interesting job – there is practically no routine, templates or monotony in it. New tasks every day. We always try to keep our finger on the pulse. Our central R&D department helps us with this, holding coordination meetings with them approximately once a quarter. Once a year, my team and I visit the shops, where we talk to promoters and collect feedback on our products, as well as suggestions on design and functionality. Our excellent marketing department also helps greatly, researching the market and sharing clients’ feedback.
Ivan Ermilov,
Sr. Specialist Engineer (Group “Refrigerators”):
– My career at Beko began in 2017, when I joined the R&D department. At first I was a technician, then became an engineer, and since this summer I’ve become a lead design engineer.
Currently, I am responsible for several tasks at once. Firstly, it is development and implementation of new parts and assemblies into manufacture. Secondly, we support the manufacture and reduce the number of service calls. Since we operate using an Agile methodology, requests come to us directly from related departments, and my team and I prioritize and assign tasks so that we can respond to requests within two weeks.
One of the most important parts of our work is developing new products. This fall, for example, we implemented into manufacture a new line of Hotpoint brand. We have already received positive feedback on the changes in visual perception and usability of the product. As one of the “authors”, we are looking forward to their release on the market and hope that they will be popular.
We have a very interesting job – there is practically no routine, templates or monotony in it. New tasks every day. We always try to keep our finger on the pulse. Our central R&D department helps us with this, holding coordination meetings with them approximately once a quarter. Once a year, my team and I visit the shops, where we talk to promoters and collect feedback on our products, as well as suggestions on design and functionality. Our excellent marketing department also helps greatly, researching the market and sharing clients’ feedback.
The simpler the better
Evgheny Minus,
Electric Engineer (Group “Refrigerators”):
– My responsibilities include everything related to refrigerator electronic components. Implementation, modification, and standardization of components, simplifying or enhancing product complexity, depending on current tasks and market needs at a given time. Everything needs to be done urgently, “preferably yesterday”.
Of course, we always try to act quickly, but in the R&D department, meticulous, thoughtful, and systematic work plays a significant role. First, you consider various solution options, then find the most optimal and feasible ones. And our work is a team effort, not just within the R&D department, but across the entire plant.
The main principle I adhere to in my work is: the easier – the better, or, as our lead electronics engineer, Mustafa Baydemir, says, “simple is best”. You eliminate the redundant, optimize the existing, and what I most enjoy about my work is that ultimately, you make life easier for both yourself and others. For example, I remember implementing the models with remote Wi-Fi control – a complex, fairly high-tech project, but we never have boring ones – each one is interesting in its own way. It’s rewarding to see the fruits of your labour when a solution is implemented in a finished product.
Evgheny Minus,
Electric Engineer (Group “Refrigerators”):
– My responsibilities include everything related to refrigerator electronic components. Implementation, modification, and standardization of components, simplifying or enhancing product complexity, depending on current tasks and market needs at a given time. Everything needs to be done urgently, “preferably yesterday”.
Of course, we always try to act quickly, but in the R&D department, meticulous, thoughtful, and systematic work plays a significant role. First, you consider various solution options, then find the most optimal and feasible ones. And our work is a team effort, not just within the R&D department, but across the entire plant.
The main principle I adhere to in my work is: the easier – the better, or, as our lead electronics engineer, Mustafa Baydemir, says, “simple is best”. You eliminate the redundant, optimize the existing, and what I most enjoy about my work is that ultimately, you make life easier for both yourself and others. For example, I remember implementing the models with remote Wi-Fi control – a complex, fairly high-tech project, but we never have boring ones – each one is interesting in its own way. It’s rewarding to see the fruits of your labour when a solution is implemented in a finished product.
Group “Refrigerators”. Left to right: Maxim Kuznetsov, Alexey Sviatkin, Alena Grishkina, Ivan Ermilov, Alexandra Pashkova, Khan Iyighiun, Margarita Sirotkina, Evgeny Minus, Ekaterina Igolnikova
The perfect recipe for innovations
Artur Teterin,
Technician (Group “Washing Machines”):
– During my seven years at “Beko”, I became deeply immersed in the specifics of our products and development processes. My skills as a quality control operator and my subsequent work as a technician in R&D, where I moved four years ago, helped me with this.
My typical workday is a continuous cycle of monitoring, experimentation, and analysis aimed at ensuring the highest product quality: I check operation of the washing machines being tested, verify parameters, and ensure the equipment is in good working order. At the end of the day, another important step is preparing reports and conclusions, which then form the basis for making key decisions regarding product refinement and release.
It may seem that in our globalized world, technologies are also universal – that is, they are standardized and the same for everyone. But in reality, adaptation to specific markets, materials, and manufacture chains is always necessary – that is, innovation. No any two companies are exactly alike, so our task is to find that competitive advantage, be it a unique design, cost reduction without sacrificing quality, or increased durability.
Teamwork is also important. The ideal recipe is a combination of personal and collective contributions. This hybrid approach is the most productive, in part because we enjoy a supportive atmosphere and a shared passion for the work. We’re not just colleagues doing our jobs; we’re a team united by a common goal: creating better equipment. Seeing a product I’ve contributed to on a store shelf or at a major facility is a wonderful feeling.
Artur Teterin,
Technician (Group “Washing Machines”):
– During my seven years at “Beko”, I became deeply immersed in the specifics of our products and development processes. My skills as a quality control operator and my subsequent work as a technician in R&D, where I moved four years ago, helped me with this.
My typical workday is a continuous cycle of monitoring, experimentation, and analysis aimed at ensuring the highest product quality: I check operation of the washing machines being tested, verify parameters, and ensure the equipment is in good working order. At the end of the day, another important step is preparing reports and conclusions, which then form the basis for making key decisions regarding product refinement and release.
It may seem that in our globalized world, technologies are also universal – that is, they are standardized and the same for everyone. But in reality, adaptation to specific markets, materials, and manufacture chains is always necessary – that is, innovation. No any two companies are exactly alike, so our task is to find that competitive advantage, be it a unique design, cost reduction without sacrificing quality, or increased durability.
Teamwork is also important. The ideal recipe is a combination of personal and collective contributions. This hybrid approach is the most productive, in part because we enjoy a supportive atmosphere and a shared passion for the work. We’re not just colleagues doing our jobs; we’re a team united by a common goal: creating better equipment. Seeing a product I’ve contributed to on a store shelf or at a major facility is a wonderful feeling.
Washing machine pads
Polina Pidduda,
Engineer (Group “Washing Machines”):
– I’ve only been in the team for a few weeks – before that, I worked a year in the refrigerator assembly line – but I’ve already gotten a feel for the rhythm of R&D operation.
What I enjoy most is testing new developments, then analyzing the resulting graphs and compiling the reports. It’s truly research work. We test a wide range of criteria: seal reliability, water and energy consumption, various components and software – basically, everything that goes into a concept “automated washing”.
The sound of the operating washing machine is a hallmark of our department. We load in the special materials that allow us to accurately evaluate the machine’s performance: soft toys, blankets, pillows, and much more – all of which we purchase specifically for research. Testing requires more than one or two iterations. But that’s great, because it helps strike an important balance between creativity and routine. So, there’s never a dull moment here.
Polina Pidduda,
Engineer (Group “Washing Machines”):
– I’ve only been in the team for a few weeks – before that, I worked a year in the refrigerator assembly line – but I’ve already gotten a feel for the rhythm of R&D operation.
What I enjoy most is testing new developments, then analyzing the resulting graphs and compiling the reports. It’s truly research work. We test a wide range of criteria: seal reliability, water and energy consumption, various components and software – basically, everything that goes into a concept “automated washing”.
The sound of the operating washing machine is a hallmark of our department. We load in the special materials that allow us to accurately evaluate the machine’s performance: soft toys, blankets, pillows, and much more – all of which we purchase specifically for research. Testing requires more than one or two iterations. But that’s great, because it helps strike an important balance between creativity and routine. So, there’s never a dull moment here.
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