As in almost every sector, the welding machinery sector has also raised its voice about the need for intermediate staff. Vega Makina General Manager Serdar Selim Zengin, who complained that sufficient R&D work has not been done for technological transformation in the sector, said, “If we had been able to do this, we could have contacted vocational high schools, vocational schools and universities and introduced our sector to our young friends. Since we could not do this, the welding machinery sector, which has reached a turnover of 370 million euros and makes a significant contribution to 30 percent of our general exports, has also entered the spiral of intermediate staff. In order to gain young people, we must give the welding profession its due respect in the eyes of society in terms of material and moral terms.”
“We are missing young people with high work potential”
Drawing attention to the fact that there are chain problems in the welding sector as in others, Serdar Selim Zengin said, “The consumables side is relatively better. However, there are problems on the welding machinery side. Our biggest problem is not being able to produce technological products.” Zengin, who stated that factories actually have the financial power to produce machines, said, “However, producing machines with technology is a matter related to R&D. For this, you need to make an investment, and in parallel, you need to contact vocational high schools, vocational colleges and universities and get consultancy from the instructors there. Just because the material market is bigger and easier, no one wants to make an R&D investment to produce welding machines. Naturally, you cannot have a dialogue and contact with universities, vocational colleges and vocational high schools. These “technician or engineer friends do not prefer us because they do not know the sector,” he said.
The lack of NGOs in the sector makes it difficult to solve problems
Zengin, who drew attention to the fact that the welding profession should have a counterpart in society in order for families to direct their children to the sector, continued his words as follows: “The reason why people turn to professions such as doctors, engineers or lawyers is that it has a spiritual respect in society as well as a financial aspect. We should also raise the respect of the welding profession to higher levels so that families are convinced first. This has both a financial and spiritual aspect. Unless you can solve both issues, there is no way we can take families with us.”