WHO ARE WE?

The foundations of the modern Erikoğlu Group of the 2000s were laid in 1937 by the industrial pioneer Ahmet Nuri Erikoğlu, who started his career as a coppersmith in Denizli Kaleiçi Bakırcılar Bazaar. During those years, he produced essential kitchenware such as cauldrons, pots, trays, and platters entirely by hand, using only a hammer and a few basic tools, without any technological assistance. With his innovative perspective, he expanded his business, transitioning from traditional coppersmithing to a significant innovation of the time: spinning copperware on molds. Soon, he began selling his products across the Aegean region, including İzmir, Aydın, Muğla, and Isparta. In 1959, a copper electrolysis facility (Elektrobakır) was established in Istanbul to produce copper sheets. These sheets were then transported to Denizli for spinning. In the 1970s, Ahmet Nuri Erikoğlu decided to transition to mass production and began producing copper in the form of wires. These copper wires were primarily sold to the Istanbul market. Together with his partner Mehmet Ergür, Ahmet Nuri Erikoğlu combined local labor with effective training, breaking the monopoly of minorities in copper wire production and securing a permanent place in the market. When the wires sold to Istanbul were coated with plastic and resold to Denizli, a decision was made to start cable production in Denizli, leading to the establishment of Ergür Kablo. While copper wire production continued, Ergür Kablo grew rapidly and, by the 1980s, became one of the top five factories in its sector in Turkey. In the 1980s, Ahmet Nuri Erikoğlu's dream of establishing an integrated facility capable of producing its own copper and converting it into wires came to fruition, laying the foundation for Er-Bakır. Today, Er-Bakır stands as the largest capitalized enterprise in Denizli and the second-largest facility in its sector in Turkey. The entrepreneurial spirit of the Erikoğlu Group extended to other sectors, leading to its involvement in enamel copper wire and electrical materials industries. Erikoğlu Group continues to serve Turkey as a leading and exemplary organization in the 21st century, just as it did in the 20th century. Ahmet Nuri Erikoğlu passed away on January 1, 2010. With his passing, the Denizli industry lost a great pioneer. Some of Ahmet Nuri Erikoğlu's contributions to civil society include: Founder and Chairman of Denizli 1st Industrial Zone. Founder and Chairman of Denizli 2nd Industrial Zone. Founding Member of the Denizli Chamber of Industry: He played a key role in establishing an independent chamber of industry in Denizli, previously operating as a branch of the İzmir Chamber of Industry, and served as its Assembly President until 1987 Member of the Board of Directors of the Denizli Chamber of Industry Chairman of the Assembly of the Denizli Chamber of Industry