OSTİM Defence and Aerospace Cluster (OSSA), with its 255 companies, all manufacturers and SMEs, and approximately 10,000 employees, continues to meet the needs of the defense industry, while also being ready to respond to demands in the healthcare sector.
OSSA Chairman Mithat Ertuğ, in a statement to the AA correspondent, said that with the emergence of the new type of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, they have implemented various measures in their businesses in line with the "14 Rules Against Coronavirus Risk" determined by the Ministry of Health.
Ertuğ explained that OSSA members supply the main manufacturers in Türkiye's defense and aerospace industry, and that military factories directly meet some of the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces and security forces, saying, "There are materials that we are obliged to produce as subcontractors. We have security forces in the operational field, in hot zones, who expect products and materials from us to meet their needs. We are at our posts to produce these and keep our businesses open."
Emphasizing that no one would want to risk their health during a pandemic, Ertuğ said:
"The importance of businesses operating in sectors like ours increases even more during extraordinary times. You have responsibilities both to those who have expectations of you and to the people you have employed until now. We are trying to respond to all of these by taking our precautions to the highest level."
"These are not impossible things"
Ertuğ stated that 255 companies, members of the cluster, are ready to take responsibility for meeting the material and equipment needs that have arisen in the healthcare sector during this process, adding, "There are some urgent needs being mentioned, such as testing equipment, etc., but these are not impossible things to produce. With the capabilities gained in the defense and aerospace industry, it is not possible for these products not to be manufactured. As the Medical Industry Cluster and the Defense and Aerospace Cluster within OSTİM, we can respond to this. It might take 10-15 days with molding times, but these are not things that cannot be done or that cannot be met."
Mithat Ertuğ pointed out that the biggest challenge for his businesses in continuing production is ensuring the safe transportation of employees, and stated that steps to support public transportation as much as possible, especially in industrial areas, would support the measures they have taken in this regard.
Hygiene measures in all areas
DIGITEST Defence and Aerospace, one of the OSSA members, continues its operations with its 65 employees while taking precautions against the pandemic.
The company, which designs and manufactures domestically products that are difficult to produce, have not been produced, or are difficult to procure in Türkiye, has recently integrated a domestically produced version of the M60T Tank Gunner's Viewing Unit, which was difficult to obtain from abroad, into the tanks.
In line with the "14 Rules Against Coronavirus Risk," the company took precautions and distributed protective equipment and hygiene materials such as protective masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and cologne to its employees.
While regular disinfection procedures are carried out in the company, employees have started going to eat in two groups to reduce crowding in the cafeteria.
Source: AA
