PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION

Purposes of SOSİAD (Association of Refrigeration Industry and Businessmen) are to enable cooperation, solidarity and exchange of information among its members who operate in representation, sales and production of cooling and air conditioning devices, automatic control devices, their main components and spare parts, to carry out operations and attempts in order to solve the financial, economical, legal, administrative, technological, exportation and importation problems of its members, to develop and raise to the utmost level in terms of cooling and air conditioning market in Turkey and to conduct the necessary activities so as to meet the needs of the country in terms of cooling and air conditioning, to enable highly developed and quality products to reach the consumer.

Our association members must sign and apply the “Principles of Business Ethics” of SOSİAD.

HISTORY:
SOSİAD is a non-governmental organization established by the leading importing companies of the sector in October 2005 in accordance with its purposes which are specified in its bylaw so as to enliven the sector, to help with the problems of the sector, to develop solidarity and job environment among its members and to be aware of the market constantly. 
SOSİAD commenced work on 19.12.2005 by performing its first general meeting. The number of our association members which was 16 at its establishment is now 84 from 76 companies.
The 4th Ordinary General Assembly was held on 23 November 2011 and M.Cem ATALKIN was selected as the chairman by the Board of Directors. Increasing number of members and presenting better services for the sector by speeding up the commission operations are among the purposes of new management. Since July 07, 2010, our Association has been continuing its activities in its new office.

ACTIVITIES:
SOSİAD, which has been carrying out operations in order to find solution for the problems of sector since its establishment, has performed various activities with the support of commissions it formed. Some of these activities are:

● Introduction of our association and members was performed by attending as the Supportive Organization to ISK-SODEX 2008 Fair which was held between 8 and 11 May.

 ● SOSİAD, which carried out operations for organizing Special Fair in terms of cooling sector, supported the COOLEXPO Expertise Fair for Cooling Air Conditioning Ventilating Techniques which was held between 12 and 14 February 2009.

● In order to introduce our activities and members, our association attended the CLIMATIZACION’09 International Air Conditioning, Heating, Ventilation and Cooling Fair which was held between 24 and 27 February 2009 in Madrid, Spain.

● 96 of 101 unemployed young people who attended Development and Adaptation Course and 162 of 191 unemployed young people who attended Vocational Course with the help of European Union Supported “Cooling and Air Conditioning Service Personnel Vocational Course” project which was held in Bağcılar Industrial Vocational High School and in which we were as attendants successfully completed their courses and took their certificates. Information about these young people has been given to the sector for their employment.

● Our main purpose is to raise vocational knowledge and efficiencies of the sector employees and to increase the number of qualified employees since a trained employee will enable it to use the materials properly in the process of manufacturing and maintenance and therefore the product which will reach the customer will be more qualified and durable. Our studies are going on so as to establish a full-equipped facility. We are aware of the fact that this requires patience and struggle, but we are trying to do best for our sector. Moreover, our association made it possible for lots of sector employees to take certificate in association with Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Education and Turkey Technology Development Association in the issues of collecting, cleaning and reusing the cooling gases which give danger to ozone layer in maximum rate. Again in the framework of providing better conditions and qualified education for our young people, we supported and contributed to the full operation of a cold air room with its panels in Sancaktepe Samandıra Industrial Vocational High School Department of Installation Technologies and Air conditioning.  

● Equipment donated to our association by our members are given away to Sancaktepe Samandıra Industrial Vocational High School and this presents a good example for the cooperation of sector-educational institution by which recognition of our association increases. Our supports to educational institutions are going on. Our members donated materials to Bursa Demirtaşpaşa Technical and Industrial Vocational High School in December 2010, ISOV Zincirlikuyu Technical and Industrial Vocational High School in February 2011 and Yıldız Technical University Air Conditioning and Cooling Technology Program in January 2012. 

● In the skill based project competition held among vocational and technical education institutions by the Ministry of Education, Sancaktepe Samandıra Industrial Vocational High School gained the first prize in the category of Production and Engineering Technology in Anatolian Side and Marmara Region, and then ranked top in Turkey with its ‘’BİKASES Computer Controlled Cooling System” which was supported by SOSİAD members in terms of equipment.

● Operations have been started in order to provide the necessary certificates for the products sold by our members in accordance with the Law no 4077 on Protection of Consumers and the regulations of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The necessary correspondences and negotiations were performed with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and in accordance with these negotiations, our members were informed about their products which they had sold and it was made possible for them to take certificates for these products. As a result, the protection of consumer rights and supplying more qualified products to the consumer was realized.

● In today’s world in which the ozone layer is becoming thinner and global warming is reaching more serious levels, as SOSİAD, our Industry, Environment and Commerce Commissions will make the upmost contribution to leave a healthy environment and world for our future generations. For this purpose, with the cooperation between our members who import Cooling gas and Turkish Ministry of Environment and Forestry, a web based software program was prepared in terms of import and usage control of the Chemicals which are taken into Consideration within the Framework of Climate Change and the OTİM - Substances Making the Ozone Layer Thinner. Online registration can be made and the firms which take approval of the Ministry can carry out purchase-sale-use of these chemicals with this program which will be used in the process starting from importing procedure to consuming these substances which have harmful effects. Therefore, individuals who do not have any certificate and qualification related to this work will not be able to use these substances and the negative impacts on the environment will be decreased.

● SOSİAD made some operations for the change of OTİM Regulation which was issued on 23.05.2006 and expressed its opinion about the draft prepared by the Ministry. It also carried out some operations so as to make it possible for the employees working in the sector to take Certificate of Proficiency. In this framework, negotiations and works were performed with the Ministry of Education, in order to inform the sector, an article was issued which shows the necessary conditions, documents and the schools that will be applied for getting Certificate of Proficiency. Furthermore, the necessary organization was carried out for making it possible for the people who live in Istanbul and Thrace Region to attend the OTİM course which is held with the cooperation of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Education and Turkey Technology Development Association, negotiations were made with the Ministry of Education and related schools and it was enabled for the applicants to attend the course. The information of other provinces’ schools which give this course was noticed to the sector. As a result of studies carried out, The Regulation Concerning Decreasing Substances which Make Ozone Layer Thinner was issued and entered into force on 12 November 2008.

● Education Commission organized technical excursions to improve technical knowledge and skills of the students at the Department of Cooling Systems at Vocational High Schools in cooperation with schools and companies.

● Introduction of our association and members was performed by attending the ISK-SODEX 2010 Fair which was held between 5 and 8 May, 2010.

 ● SOSİAD participated in the Workshop on the Environmental Management during the EU Process as held in Sapanca by the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry between May 27 and 28, 2010.

● As part of the activity of the International Ozone Layer Preservation Day as held in Istanbul by the cooperation of the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry and UNIDO on September 16, 2010, the Ministry awarded plaques to 10 members of our association which successfully managed the use of the substances that make ozone layer thinner and which switched to the use of alternative gases.

● SOSİAD supported the COOLEXPO Expertise Fair for Cooling Techniques which was held for cooling sector between March 10 and 12, 2011.

● SOSİAD supported 10th National Installation Engineering Congress organized in Izmir by the Chamber of Mechanical Engineers between April 13 and 16, 2011.

● The Ministry of the Environment and Urbanism organizes Ozone Panel every year. The 12th Ozone Panel, which was held on December 2, 2011  was performed with the contributions of our association.

● SOSİAD participated in various meetings regarding the sector as held by the Ministry of the Environment and Urbanism. It is involved in OTIM Disposal Project and the Commission on Determination of Fixed Equipment containing OTIM and HFC as executed by the Ministry of the Environment and Urbanism.

● Certain works were carried out to promote our association and to improve its recognition in the sector. The works performed by our association were published in sector magazines.

● TOBB (The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey) established a sector assembly for various sectors. Our association is a member of Turkey Air conditioning Assembly which will provide major contributions for development of our sector in the future.

● It contributed to the preparation of Turkish Air Conditioning Sector Objectives and Strategies Document.

● It contributed to the establishment of Turkish Air Conditioning Industry Exporters’ Association.

● SOSİAD is involved in the works for preparation of professional standards concerning air conditioning branches within the framework of the protocol signed by and between the Professional Qualification Organization (MYK) and Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. The working group which involves SOSİAD will establish the standards and qualifications in 8 professions determined in the cooling systems branch in the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). This work involves İSKİD, İSEDA, ISKAV and ESSİAD along with SOSİAD. The professional standards prepared were submitted to MYK for approval.

● SOSİAD is the member of ISKAV’s (Heating Cooling Air Conditioning Research and Education Foundation) Board of Trustees and it participates in all activities of the committee.

● Cooperation with other associations in the sector and MMO is continuing and relationships are developing.

● Some operations have been carried out about the regulations of the sector at and before the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Turkish Standards Institution and Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade and important benefits have been gained.

● SOSİAD made necessary amendments to its bylaw in accordance with the Law on Associations and the relevant legislations. Thanks to those amendments, manufactures can also become our members.

● The new website of our association was launched in January 2011 and our Facebook and twitter accounts were opened in March 2012.

● The operations carried out by our association and some of our notices are submitted for the information of our sector at our website.

COMMISSIONS

INDUSTRY, ENVIRONMENT AND TRADE COMMISSION

EDUCATION COMMISSION

UNFAIR COMPETITION COMMISSION

COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE PREPARATION COMMISSION

PRESS, PUBLICITY, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES and INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMISSION