By Sara Giunchi; Communications & Marketing Manager @ Oradoc
Project overview
Lila Kağıt, a leading Turkish industrial enterprise headquartered in Istanbul, is expanding its tissue paper production capacity with the installation of a fifth tissue machine (TM5) in a brand-new facility in Erzurum, Eastern Türkiye.
Known for its diversified operations in tissue paper, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), energy and textiles, Lila Group Kağıt already operates four tissue machines at its Çorlu Tekirdağ plant and employs nearly 1,000 people.
The new TM5 will be a state-of-the-art tissue machine with a width of 5.7 meters and a design speed of 2,200 m/min, adding 70,000 tons/year of tissue capacity for both domestic and export markets.
The start-up is scheduled for 2026.
Overview of Ora Crepe. Photo: Oradoc
Oradoc’s supply scope
To support the high-performance goals of TM5, Oradoc will supply a complete set of Yankee doctoring systems, designed to optimize creping, cleaning, and sheet detachment processes. The systems include:
• OraSlick™ in cut-off position
A rigid doctor ideal for detachment, ensuring clean and efficient sheet release from the Yankee dryer and an accurate profiling.
• OraCrepe™ NEXT with OraSet™ in creping position
This configuration combines controlled flexibility with precise blade self-profiling, enabling superior creping performance and consistent product quality.
• OraCrepe™ NEXT in cleaning position
A next-generation flexible doctor that enhances cleaning efficiency and blade life, even under high-speed conditions.
Oradoc will also oversee the installation, setup, and commissioning of these systems in 2026, aligning with the machine’s start-up schedule.
The OraSet system. Photo: Oradoc
Technology highlights
OraCrepe™ NEXT
• Pneumatically controlled flexible blade holder
• Self-profiling capabilities for optimal blade contact
• Less maintenance and better reliability
• Equipped with new ELV (Edge Load Variation) system to ensure a better edge control
OraSet™ System
• Integrated with OraCrepe™ NEXT for enhanced creping control
• Easy blade angle adjustment while machine’s running
• Improves crepe ratio and surface characteristics
OraSlick™
• Rigid design for stable detachment
• Easy profiling against Yankee crown
• Ideal for high-speed operations
• Low maintenance and long service life
Strategic impact
The Erzurum facility marks a significant milestone for Lila Kağıt, as it will be the first tissue paper production site in Eastern Anatolia and the Eastern Black Sea region. With 160,000 m² of land and 60,000 m² of construction, the plant is poised to become a regional hub for tissue production.
Oradoc’s contribution ensures that TM5 will operate with cutting-edge doctoring systems, supporting Lila Kağıt’s commitment to quality, efficiency, and sustainability.
Mr. Orhan Öğücü. Photo: Oradoc
The project through the eyes of Lila Kağıt
We’ve asked Mr. Orhan Öğücü – Lila Kağıt’s Chairman of the Board – how this project saw the light and was developed.
What inspired the decision to expand Lila Kağıt’s production capacity with a fifth tissue machine?
Tissue paper production is a sector where economies of scale play a decisive role. To stay competitive on a global level, continuous growth and capacity expansion are essential. At Lila Kağıt, we have pursued a steady growth journey for nearly 20 years, commissioning a new paper machine every five years. Our most recent investment was completed in 2022. Today, as part of our growth strategy, we believe the time has come to bring our fifth paper machine into operation.
Why was Erzurum chosen as the location for the new facility, and what strategic advantages does it offer?
Our existing facility is located in Tekirdağ, in western Türkiye, serving as our gateway to Europe and America. However, we have long aimed to diversify our locations and position ourselves closer to the Middle Eastern and Asian markets. Following comprehensive evaluations since 2018, Erzurum stood out with its land availability, the city’s vision for industrialization, and its logistical advantages. With its proximity to railway lines, ports, and highway connections, Erzurum will serve not only Türkiye’s eastern provinces but also neighbouring countries, making it a strategic production hub for us.
Will TM5 primarily serve the domestic market, or are there specific export regions you’re targeting?
Both, in fact. Alongside TM5, we are also establishing a converting facility in Erzurum, which will enable us to transform jumbo rolls into finished consumer products on-site. This investment will eliminate the need to transport jumbo rolls from Tekirdağ, allowing us to carry out both production and conversion directly in Erzurum. As a result, we will strengthen our presence in eastern Türkiye with broader product variety, faster logistics, and stronger market access. Additionally, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraq, and the other nearby countries will be our primary export markets. With TM5, we will also gain the capacity to deliver jumbo rolls directly from Erzurum to more distant markets.
What were the key factors in selecting Oradoc as technology partners for TM5?
For us, high performance, innovation, customer focus, and production efficiency are non-negotiable. We saw that Oradoc fully aligns with these values and shares our ambitions. At Lila Kağıt, we aim to be a leader not only in exports but also in technology. That is why we choose to move forward with reliable partners who share our vision for the future.
What performance improvements do you expect from the advanced doctoring systems provided by Oradoc?
Our primary goal is to achieve maximum efficiency with zero errors and zero waste, while ensuring the fastest possible production. With Oradoc’s advanced systems, we expect to establish a production structure that eliminates human error, enables real-time monitoring at every stage and allows for continuous improvement.
Conclusions
“We are honoured to be part of Lila Kağıt’s strategic expansion with the supply of our advanced doctoring systems for the new TM5 tissue machine in Erzurum. This project represents a significant milestone not only for the Turkish tissue industry, but also for Oradoc’s continued commitment to delivering high-performance, reliable, and innovative solutions, underlines Mr. Maurizio Tomei, Oradoc’s Customer Service & Sales Manager
- The combination of OraCrepe™ NEXT and OraSet™ technologies will ensure optimal creping control and product consistency, while OraSlick™ will provide stable and efficient sheet detachment at high operating speeds. We are confident that our systems will contribute to maximizing production efficiency and supporting Lila Kağıt’s ambitious growth in both domestic and export markets. We look forward to a successful installation and start-up in 2026, and to continuing our partnership with Lila Kağıt in their journey toward technological excellence.”
The collaboration between Lila Kağıt and Oradoc demonstrates the synergy between machine innovation and process optimization. With TM5, Lila Kağıt is not only expanding its production footprint but also reinforcing its position as a technological leader in the tissue industry.
Oradoc’s advanced doctoring systems will play a pivotal role in achieving high performance, reduced downtime and superior product quality.
