2025 NARSA International Tour Takes on Turkey
By: Linda Nguyen Skoglund, Communications Director
linda@narsa.org
New cultures, new friendships, and new business opportunities were all experienced during the 2025 NARSA International Tour (NIT) in Turkey. This was the 7th NIT, which took place from September 13-20, 2025 in Istanbul, Çorum, and Cappadocia.
Members from 12 different countries attended this trip including Canada, Dominican Republic, Finland, Guatemala, Iceland, Mexico, Poland, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
NARSA’s entire itinerary was managed by Özgül Cesur and Erkan Vural of the Travel Kitchenette company, based in Cappadocia. Özgül actually accompanied the group the whole week across all 3 cities in Turkey.
Day 1 - Sightseeing in Istanbul
Before the factory tours began, most of the group went sightseeing in Istanbul on Sunday, September 13. Led by a local guide named Hamide Yavuz, members visited the Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern. They also had a nice lunch on a rooftop restaurant in the famous Sultanahmet district trying Turkish foods like chicken and lamb kebabs and mezes, which are small shared appetizers. For dinner, members ate at a Michelin-rated Ottoman restaurant.
NARSA member Eva Ruiz, President of Radiadores La Torre in Guatemala, came to Turkey with her son Luis Pedro Cardenas. While she has been to many NARSA events over the years in the United States, this was her first International Tour and her first visit to Turkey. “Turkey is a beautiful country. I think the mosques were very impressive,” said Ruiz. “It’s really different from our culture in Guatemala. It’s nothing like we’ve seen before.”
This was also Northern Radiator President/CEO Hope Thompson’s first time in Turkey. “I don’t really know what I had expectations for, but I was really unaware of the rich history Turkey has. It’s been very interesting to learn how the Romans impacted Turkey’s history. The Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern were really interesting.”
Day 2 - Kale Oto
The first factory visit on Monday, September 14 was at Kale Oto located in the Kocaeli region of Istanbul.
“We have had a long standing relationship with NARSA for 40 years,” said Ibrahim Zengin, Kale Oto Factory Manager. “Being involved with NARSA is important for us to connect with more than 200 radiator shops, manufacturers and cooling experts. We find such relationships important in terms of introducing our opportunities and capabilities to a large group of participants.”
NARSA members were welcomed to Kale Oto’s 25,000 sq meter facility that includes 673 employees. “Members saw an integrated facility that produces heat exchanger sub-components in-house, has a wide product range, designs and manufactures both the products and the special machines to manufacture them and has all modern machinery and equipment required by the industry,” said Zengin. “We have automatic core builders, furnace lines, progressive toolings and dies, machines and assembly lines equipped with robotic systems and electronic poka yokas. Also, our accredited laboratories have all required test machines and equipments which are capable of all kind of performance and durability tests. So, we offer our customers for collaboration as a Full Service Supplier.”
This was the first International Tour for Maciej Stempniewicz, Deputy Team Leader for CAB Sales for SECO/WARWICK. NARSA members got to know Stempniewicz last year when they visited SECO/WARWICK during the 2024 International Tour in Poland.
“There are a few reasons I wanted to come on this trip. Last year when we were the host of the International Tour in Poland, I felt like this team had a lot of fun together. But the main reason was because I wanted to see the Turkish companies. We’ve known KALE Oto for years, but it’s not so easy to go see them. So this trip was a huge benefit for me to see their facility and meet the right people. I was very impressed with KALE Oto’s experience and how many products they make. They really care about quality control.”
KALE offers a wide range of products covering engine cooling radiators, heating radiators,condensers,Charge Air Coolers,oil coolers, complete engine cooling modules, HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) systems, complete air conditioning systems to the customers. “We have a wide domestic and international customer portfolio as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), OES (Original Equipment Supplier) and IAM (Independent After Market),” said Zengin.
“I really liked how organized and clean the facility at Kale Oto was,” said Eva Ruiz of Radiadores La Torre. “I was also impressed with how they take care of their employees and give them lunch. We are trying to do the same in Guatemala.”
After the tour and discussion, Kale Oto’s team treated NARSA members to a delicious lunch in their company cafeteria.
“Since our founding in 1966, Kale Oto’s motto has been to be a pioneer and leader in quality,” said Zengin. “We have guided all of our developments throughout the process so far with the same motivation. Our main goal is to collaborate with our customers within the codesign concept, to carry out activities that will provide added value to both parties and to ensure customer satisfaction.”
After leaving Kale Oto, NARSA members took a relaxing cruise of the Bosphorus, which is a natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in Turkey that is straddled by the city of Istanbul. Then, part of the group visited the famous Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar. Since 1660, this market was known as the center for spice trade in Istanbul. Members took time there to buy souvenirs and take pictures.
While there were some hiccups (a brief albeit slightly scary elevator incident in which 7 NARSA members were trapped for 17 minutes), the day ended at another rooftop restaurant in Istanbul with another fabulous meal.
Day 3 - Panoto
The second stop on the International Tour was at Panoto, located in Istanbul. Founded in 1975, Panoto has two divisions: one for manufacturing cooling systems for generator manufacturers and another one for agricultural machinery.
Akin Duru, Key Account Manager for Panoto, was one of the guides. “NARSA members saw manufacturing with experienced engineering in our 15,000 sq. meters facility. What we are trying to do is offer optimal solutions and tailored made radiators. First, we saw metal sheet manufacturing, then core building, then baking furnaces, testing pools, and we visited the agricultural side, the flat fin core assembly line and fin and tubes manufacturing and press machines and mold making areas and complete installation area. We export our radiators to more than 60 countries all over the world.”
For Rafael Taveras of Industria CORE in the Dominican Republic, he was really impressed with Panoto’s operation. “Panoto was also interesting because they make very large radiators. Panoto is more copper brass focused, which is my company’s focus right now. I could see they are just beginning their aluminium processes, which is something every manufacturer should be looking at.”
Taveras was actually the first NIT host in 2017, and this trip was his third International Tour. “Coming to Turkey, I really wanted to see the host facilities: Kale, Panoto, and Yetsan. I have heard of those companies before, and I really wanted to see how they were doing things. Because for us, they are at a point where we would want to be in a few years. I just wanted to see what they were doing, and how they went from Point A to Point B. What really stood out to me was the organization they have.”
While each facility had its strengths, Mohammed Al Baqmi, of Salama Radiator said a few key things stood out. “The high level of automation in their production lines was immediately noticeable, significantly enhancing consistency and efficiency. I was also deeply impressed by their rigorous quality control protocols at every stage of the manufacturing process, which clearly contributes to product longevity. Furthermore, their investment in dedicated Research & Development departments focused on new materials and designs for even greater heat transfer efficiency was truly inspiring.”
This was the first NARSA International Tour for Al Baqmi. “I decided to participate in the International Tour for two primary reasons. First, to gain firsthand insight into global manufacturing best practices, innovative technologies, and advanced processes that we can potentially adapt to improve our own operations at Salama Radiator. Second, and just as importantly, it was a unique opportunity to build personal relationships with other industry leaders outside of the typical conference setting, fostering a deeper level of collaboration and knowledge exchange.”
Panoto also agrees that these potential partnerships are beneficial. “Because we are in the same sector, I think this kind of activity opens doors for future cooperations between companies,” said Duru. “As Panoto, we can’t do everything. So in future projects, we may need some cooperation with different cooling systems manufacturers. NARSA is a nice organization for us, because you are getting people in the same field organizing trips for people to see different companies. There are small but detailed things that may open future business opportunities.”
“NARSA is an essential partner for Salama Radiator,” said Mohammed Al Baqmi. “We joined to become part of the global community of heat transfer experts and to gain access to the technical resources, training, and industry standards that the association provides. Being an active member of NARSA is critically important to us for several reasons. It keeps us at the forefront of industry trends and technological advancements, ensuring we remain competitive. It provides a platform for us to contribute to the industry and validates our commitment to quality and professionalism. Most importantly, it connects us to a network of peers—like on this tour—which is an irreplaceable source of support, knowledge, and growth opportunity for my company and for me personally.”
After the factory tour, members were treated to yet another amazing Turkish meal at a local restaurant, courtesy of Panoto. Following the visit, NARSA members then took a short flight from IST to MZH in the Amasya Province of Turkey, about an hour from the city of Çorum.
Day 4 Yetsan
On Wednesday, September 17, Yetsan literally rolled out the red carpet for attendees of the 2025 NARSA International Tour at their facility in Çorum.
The tour was led by Eyyüp Yetik and his sons, his nephew, and his grandson. Yetsan, a family-owned company established in 1970, has two facilities. In Corum, they make copper brass radiators, aluminum tube and fin radiators, bar and plate coolers, for aftermarket and OE. While in Ankara, they produce tube and fin, and bar and plate aluminum coolers for OE markets only.
“We believe we are really good at tool design and tooling manufacturing and fixture design and fixture manufacturing,” said Akif Yetik, who is a General Manager and also responsible for Export Markets at Yetsan. “During the tour, we first started with our tooling department. The next stop was our robotic welding area where we have 7 robots welding radiators, bar and plate coolers, tube and fin coolers, so members really like that area. Then we went into our CAB brazing section where they saw our core builders. NARSA members asked so many interesting questions, and we tried to answer them as much as we could.”
One special moment happened when NARSA member Margrét Ingibergsdóttir of Grettir Vatnskassar in Iceland noticed a Yetsan technician working on a repair.
“She saw our technician repairing a leak from a tube to header area,” said Yetik. “She asked, ‘What kind of tube was being used? What temperature does she need? How many minutes does she need to apply it for? So we showed her.”
“When we were walking through the plant, I saw a guy welding an aluminium radiator,” said Ingibergsdóttir. “I saw he was welding with solder. So I went to one of the owners and asked him about it. I asked if he could give me a sample or tell me what kind of wire he was using. Then before we left, he took me to where the repairman was and told me, ‘No, I’m going to let you try.’ And so he brought me a brand new radiator and had me two different weldings. He showed me how he welds the tube to header. We used a wire that has a lower temperature. We cleaned around the tube with flux, and then we filled the gap.”
This experience and teaching moment meant a lot to Ingibergsdóttir. “I thought it was amazing to do that,” she said. “It was a dream for me to test something others are doing that I have never done. And also, I think I did a pretty good job!”
When asked why Yetsan wanted to participate in the International Tour, Yetik said his company did not want to miss an opportunity to showcase their knowledge. “I was following NARSA’s website and The Cooling Journal, and I saw that you were visiting several locations around the world–specifically last year in Poland. When NARSA approached us about Turkey, we wanted to share our knowledge and experience with NARSA members from around the world. That was the whole goal: to share what we make and show how we make it. Sharing our experience of what we have gained over the last 30 years.”
The Yetik family says they are very excited to be a part of NARSA again. “I’m the second-generation at Yetsan,” said Akif Yetik. “I first went to a NARSA event with my father in Las Vegas in 1999. I was a senior in high school. My father and I went to the exhibition which was the only one in the world dedicated to the radiator industry. It was fascinating. NARSA is doing a fantastic job bringing all of us together, so we are very proud to be a part of NARSA now.”
After the Yetsan tour, NARSA members were taken to a local restaurant where they tried İskender kebap, a dish of sliced meat over pieces of bread generously slathered with melted butter.
The first half of the trip ended as some NARSA members left Çorum on a bus to Ankara where they returned home. Meanwhile, the other 16 continued by bus onto Cappadocia.
Day 5 - Sightseeing in Cappadocia
NARSA members woke up early the morning of Thursday, September 18 to board a hot air balloon. There was a slight weather delay due to wind, but the flight took off shortly after sunrise. The hot air balloon ride over the beautiful Cappadocia landscape lasted about 70 minutes.
The next site was visiting the Göreme Open Air Museum. These early Christian monasteries contain examples of Byzantine frescos. Next, the group saw the Fairy Chimneys, which are structures formed from volcanic eruptions millions of years ago.
After that full day of walking around and another lunch of lamb and chicken kebabs, some of the members opted to try a Turkish Hammam, while others went on an ATV ride.
“I had never been to Turkey before this, and I think it’s amazing,” said Rafael Taveras. “The infrastructure was top notch, and the people have been very friendly. Everything has just been amazing. My favorite sightseeing was Cappadocia when we went to the monasteries inside the caves. Seeing churches built in the 10th century and seeing how those churches are so similar to current churches was a very interesting experience.”
This was also the first time in Turkey for Charlie Dorsey of Chesapeake Cooling Systems in Maryland, United States. “I’ve done more networking on the second leg of the trip than the first leg. I’ve talked more about work on the second half of the trip. Every manufacturer does everything a little differently. There were several people here I’d only met briefly, but I feel like I’ve talked to every single person here and know them better.”
When asked what his favorite sites were, Dorsey said, I loved Hagia Sophia. The entire history of the Hagia Sophia is incredible. I also really enjoyed the Cappadocia leg of the trip. I liked the experience of the Turkish Hammam. Seeing the Christian monasteries was really interesting to me.”
Day 6 - More Sightseeing in Cappadocia
The last full day in Cappadocia started with a trip to the Kaymakli Underground City. These caves are believed to have been built in the 7th-8th centuries and over the years, they were used by locals to hide from invaders. The various tunnels were used as homes, storage areas, stables, kitchens, and cellars.
After that, NARSA members got to try Turkish pistachio coffee while overlooking a panoramic view in Ortahisar, which means “Middle Castle.”
The last night ended at a local restaurant followed by a special surprise trip to a beautiful local winery where members tasted various local wines, celebrated Linda Skoglund’s birthday with a delicious hazelnut chocolate cake, and listened to live classical music.
When asked what she hoped NARSA members took away from the trip, tour guide Özgül Cesur said, “Turkiye is a Euro-Asian country and, contrary to popular belief, it is a secular and democratic nation. I know that each person in our group arrived with their own assumptions about Turkiye. My hope is that I was able to transform any negative prejudice into a positive impression. I also hope they will share what they experienced here with their families, friends, and colleagues—and, of course, that they will remember Travel Kitchenette, the travel company I run together with Mr. Erkan Vural. I want to sincerely thank each person in the group for their kindness, curiosity, and passion to learn about my beautiful country. The energy we shared during those days is something I will always carry with me, and I hope it comes back to me in the form of their warm feedback and memories.”
Lisa Morrow attended the International Tour with her husband, Aaron Morrow of Johnson Manufacturing in Iowa, United States. This was her fourth NARSA trip, and she enjoyed connecting with all of the members. “Even though we're spouses, all of the company hosts and all the people who are a part of NARSA made us feel so welcome.”
This was the first NARSA event for NARSA President Corey Roppel’s wife Melody who is from Kentucky. “The factory visits were my favorite parts. I loved hearing about the business. We talk about work too much, so it was really nice to see different challenges, similar opportunities. I loved getting to know the owners and their back stories. So many of our businesses are similar. It felt really nice and welcoming to be a part of that. I’ve heard stories about every single person that’s on this trip. We’ve had such a great time. We wouldn’t have ever thought to come to Turkey, and we’ve learned so much.”
Margrét Ingibergsdóttir of Grettir Vatnskassar in Iceland attended the trip with her husband Bjarki Logason. “I don’t think we would have gone by ourselves to Turkey, so this was an opportunity for us to come to Turkey with people we like and have fun with,” said Ingibergsdóttir. “We get to know more people and visit companies that we are interested in seeing. So, this was a great opportunity.”