The foundations of SANKO were laid in 1904, five generations ago, with the weaving looms installed by the grandfather Mr. Sani. His son Mr. Zekeriye took over the small-scale weaving business in 1926. In 1943, Mr. Zekeriye handed over the business, which he got off the ground, to his son Sani Konukoglu.
In 1947, he had a winding machine with 24 compartments made domestically and in 1951, he had the finishing machine installed. In 1953, he had a weaving loom, which was similar to those in Europe that were equipped with four weaver’s shuttles and used to weave checkered fabric for shirts, developed, and paved the way for transformation of handlooms into power looms in Gaziantep.
Towel production commenced in 1955, and a hydrophilic cotton factory was established in 1962.
Towel production commenced in 1955, and a hydrophilic cotton factory was established in 1962.
A cotton yarn factory with a capacity of 1,500 spindles was established in 1963, and Hilal Kollektif Company was founded in 1966. A yarn factory with 20,000 spindles was founded in 1974 and the spindle capacity was increased to 30,000. The company title “Hilal Kollektif ” was changed to “SANKO Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi” in 1977, inspired by the name of Sani Konukoglu.
Leading the industry through its manufacturing capacity and wide range of products, SANKO Textile is the largest yarn producer in Turkey and one of the known yarn producers of the world. SANKO has carried this success over into other fields of textile, and it has one of the largest manufacturing capacities in Europe with its knitting facilities
In 1983, ISKO was established. ISKO is the world’s leading manufacturer of denim fabric with its current annual production capacity of 300 million meters.
In 1985, Asko Tekstil Sanayi Ticaret ve Pazarlama A.S. was established, and in 1987, production by winding machines without knotting was made for the first time in Turkey.
In 1989, Sani Konukoglu Foundation was founded to bring a corporate mindset to social responsibility projects and to contribute to social solidarity.
In 1992, SANKO Pazarlama Ithalat Ihracat A.S. (SANKO Marketing) was founded.
In 1993, Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (Super Film Packaging Films) was established by taking into consideration the development in the packaging industry.
Founder of SANKO Group, Mr. Sani Konukoglu, who paved the way for industrialization in Anatolia, died of heart failure on January 16, 1994. After the death of his father, Abdulkadir Konukoglu was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SANKO Group Companies.
In 1994, Pure Cotton Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. was established by taking into consideration the demand of yarn plants.
In 1995, Adiyaman Cimento (Adıyaman Cement Factory) was acquired after winning the privatization tender.
In 1996, Private Sani Konukoglu Hospital was put into operation, based on the saying of Mr.Sani Konukoglu, that “Those who have never waited at the hospital gate cannot appreciate the value of hospitals”.
In 1996, SANKO Group companies were restructured under the umbrella of SANKO Holding.
In 1997, Gaziantep Ytong Sanayi A.S. was established.
In 2001, Private SANKO Schools were founded to improve the quality of education in Gaziantep.
After winning the privatization tender in 2005, Bartin Cimento (Bartın Cement Factory) was acquired, and it has become one of the group companies of SANKO Holding.
In 2007, SANKO Enerji Uretim Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (SANKO Energy) was established.
Narlı Cement Plant, one of the biggest investments in the cement industry, was put into production.
Çatalca Wind Power Plant (60 MW) was commissioned in 2009.
SANKO Park Shopping Mall was put into service in Gaziantep in the same year.
In 2010, Cevizlik Hydroelectric Power Plant (100 MW) and Sanibey Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant (317 MW) were put into service.
In 2011, Yokuslu – Kalkandere Hydroelectric Power Plants (41 MW) were put into service.
Kizilagac Hydroelectric Power Plant (5 MW) was commissioned.
Private SANKO Science and Technology High School was commissioned in the academic year of 2012-2013.
SANKO University was founded in 2013 with the purpose of increasing the quality of healthcare industry and becoming a reference university.
Abdulkadir Konukoglu, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SANKO Holding, handed his duties to Zeki Konukoglu, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of SANKO Holding, at the end of 2013.
In 2014, Giresun Koclu Hydroelectric Power Plant (37 MW), Tokat Tepekisla Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant (70 MW), Hilal2 Karaman Wind Power Plant (10 MW), and in 2016, additional capacity of Catalca Wind Power (33 MW) were commissioned.
Salihli Geothermal Power Plant 1 (15 MW) was put into service in 2017.
In 2019, Salihli Geothermal Power Plant 2 (25 MW) and Salihli Geothermal Power Plant 3 (30 MW) were commissioned.
In 2020, Zeki Konukoglu, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SANKO Holding, handed his duties to his brother Adil Sani Konukoglu. Zeki Konukoglu was appointed as the Honorary President of SANKO Holding.
In 2020, Akyel-1 Wind Power Plant (40 MW), Akyel-2 Wind Power Plant (10 MW), Gazi-9 Wind Power Plant (51 MW), Guney-1 Wind Power Plant (70 MW) were put into service.
Adiyaman Rooftop Solar Power Plant (SPP) of SANKO Tekstil – the largest solar power plant ever built in Turkey – was inaugurated in 2021, with a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
In 2021, the investment in the production facility of granulated, partially oriented yarn from recycled PET was completed and production started off at ISKO.
Thanks to the new Metalized line which was put into operation in April 2022, Super Film Packaging increased its annual metalized film production capacity to 39,000 tons. With the new BOPP line which is scheduled to be inaugurated at the end of 2023, it is aimed to increase the annual BOPP film production capacity to 130,000 tons.
On May 17, 2022, SANKO Energy Group held an inauguration ceremony at Guney-1 WPP, for 4 recently commissioned wind power plants, namely Akyel-1, Akyel-2, Gazi-9 and Guney-1 WPP, with a total installed power exceeding 200 MW.