Selim ALGÜL

Project Manager with over 5 years of experience in industrial automation, IoT integration, and embedded systems. Co-founder of SMOtomasyon and currently leading complex transformation projects at Navbea. Specialized in building smart, scalable solutions for factory automation using sensors, communication protocols, and digital transformation strategies. Strong entrepreneurial background with a history of developing patentable technologies.

• Prototyped and prepared for patent an ultrasonic distance sensor as an alternative to ToF-based systems
• Delivered MQTT + RFID + GNSS-based forklift tracking and productivity analysis system for Kocaer Çelik
• Founded SMOtomasyon and implemented region-wide factory automation infrastructures
• Built customer-specific PLC and SCADA solutions using Siemens, ABB, Mikrodev, and Delta

My Profile

1) Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanics, Industrial, Mechatronics or Automation is preferred

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Physics from the Middle East Technical University (METU), a globally recognized institution where the medium of instruction is English and the academic environment is deeply rooted in international scientific standards.

During my studies, I specialized in the subfield of "Instrumentation in Science," which focused on the physical principles of developing scientific instruments. This concentration required me to complete coursework in C programming, digital electronics, and analog electronics — all of which laid the foundation for my technical understanding of sensors and embedded systems.

After graduation, I began my career as a Technical Support Engineer at Mikrodev. However, my field-based approach to diagnosing hardware and software issues quickly demonstrated my R&D potential. Within six months, an R&D department was established, and I began collaborating directly with one of the company’s co-founders, Mustafa Çayır (+447913628333), (LinkedIn). Together, we worked on testing and integrating new hardware and software products, shaping the company’s technological roadmap.

This early hands-on experience with real-world industrial technology development — combined with my solid academic background — uniquely positions me to understand both the theoretical and practical dimensions of sensor and automation systems.

2) Outgoing personality, enthusiasm, good attitude, a hunger for success, and an entrepreneurial mindset

I bring to every role an entrepreneurial mindset grounded not only in strategic thinking and execution, but in real-world experience as a founder. Before joining Navbea, I co-founded an automation company called SMOtomasyon, where I developed the automation systems still used in the region I serve today. The project was backed by Turkish government R&D incentives and reflected my ability to transform abstract ideas into functional, real-world solutions. Although the venture was eventually halted due to financial constraints, it taught me resilience, technical-commercial balance, and the value of adaptable leadership — all of which I now carry into my role as Project Manager at Navbea.

At Navbea, I don’t just lead projects — I cultivate a results-driven and innovation-friendly environment. I advocate for trust-based flexibility, encouraging team members to work in ways that bring out their best performance. For example, I’ve introduced remote work arrangements for developers who thrive outside the office, recognizing that rigid structures can often stifle creativity. I apply positive reinforcement to promote ownership and initiative within the team.

This same discipline applies to my own work ethic. I often stay late at the office, not for recognition or overtime, but to experiment with new ideas — like the ultrasonic distance-measuring sensor I developed, which is now progressing toward patentability. Discovering its unique market potential was a defining moment for me, reinforcing that true value comes from vision, not just execution.

For me, entrepreneurship isn’t just about launching companies — it’s about identifying opportunity, enabling people, and driving meaningful progress.

3) Proficiency in English is preferred

Having completed my undergraduate education entirely in English at Middle East Technical University (METU), I have a solid foundation in using English in academic and technical contexts. This background has made me comfortable operating in multicultural, corporate environments where English is the main language of communication.

While I would not yet describe myself as fully fluent in spoken English, I am confident in my ability to adapt rapidly — especially in an environment where English is used daily. In fact, I estimate that within two months of working in such a setting, I would fully integrate and contribute smoothly to the team.

Currently, I use English regularly for reading technical documentation, conducting research, and corresponding with international suppliers — particularly Chinese manufacturers during our exploration of UWB-based positioning systems. I have also conducted several English-language meetings with vendor representatives to evaluate solutions and troubleshoot integration challenges.

In short, while I am still sharpening my spoken fluency, I am fully capable of operating in an English-speaking technical and business environment, and I actively invest in improving my communication skills to meet global standards.

4) You have own car and driving license

I possess a valid driver’s license in Türkiye and have my own vehicle, which I regularly use for site visits and project coordination. Having a personal car offers flexibility and ensures prompt on-site engagement when needed.

That said, I see even greater strategic value in collaborating closely with a Sales Engineer — ideally someone who speaks both Thai and English — particularly for field visits and client-facing meetings. Co-traveling not only fosters real-time brainstorming and rapid technical alignment, but also builds stronger team synergy and faster decision-making in dynamic sales environments.

While it is beneficial for both of us to have our own vehicles, I personally prefer attending site visits with at least one teammate — a ‘body’ — to ensure that multiple perspectives are present when interpreting client needs and shaping technical solutions on the spot.

My Tasks

1) Sell our innovative sensor and machine vision products

While I currently do not sell off-the-shelf sensors directly, I lead strategic technology transformation projects at Navbea, where I serve as Project Manager. My work focuses on integrating innovative technologies such as sensors, edge devices, and machine intelligence into real-world industrial environments.

One notable example is a project I led for Kocaer Çelik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., where we designed and implemented a custom IoT-based forklift monitoring system. By using a single 0–10V pressure sensor mounted on the forklift’s fork and integrating it with an RFID + sensor reader unit via analog input, we enabled real-time load tracking and asset identification. This system communicates over MQTT and was developed using local R&D firms under my coordination.

Additionally, we developed a task planning module that collects GPS and GNSS data from tablets mounted on the forklifts, allowing the client to analyze operational efficiency based on geolocation and dwell times in different zones.

This project not only improved safety and traceability on the shop floor, but also provided management with actionable insights through our analytics platform — all of which helped strengthen client trust and open the door to broader solution sales.

2) “Engage in cold calls, sales meetings, product demonstrations, negotiations, and successful closings.”

In my role as a Project Manager at Navbea, I actively engage in all phases of the B2B sales cycle — starting with cold calls, which I value not merely as a sales tool, but as an opportunity to listen to potential clients’ operational challenges firsthand. These early conversations often reveal critical needs, which I then translate into tailored technological solutions.

During sales meetings, I take the lead in presenting the technical topology of the proposed solution — including communication protocols (e.g., MQTT, BLE, LoRa,), system architecture (cloud vs. on-premise), and the specific sensors or devices that offer the best cost-benefit outcome. Rather than offering standard product pitches, I focus on showing how our technology directly solves client pain points through concrete examples and visualized architectures.

In product demonstrations, I complement our topology explanations with hands-on showcases, often drawing from similar projects we've delivered. This consultative approach helps us build not just deals, but strong, long-term relationships — especially with client-side IT teams, EHS managers, and digital transformation leaders, with whom I maintain close and trusted partnerships.

Through this model, I’ve been able to not only drive successful closings but also position Navbea as a strategic innovation partner rather than a simple vendor.

3) Provide exceptional pre and post-sales service, ensuring customer satisfaction

In my role at Navbea, I personally take charge of the pre-sales phase, approaching each client engagement with an empathetic, problem-oriented mindset. I begin by actively listening to stakeholders with a participatory approach — placing myself in their operational context to fully understand the pain points as if I were experiencing them myself.

This depth of understanding allows me to design cost-effective and scalable technological solutions tailored to their specific needs. For instance, although some clients approach us with interest in UWB-based systems, I’ve often been able to address their challenges more efficiently using BLE-based alternatives — achieving the same outcomes with reduced complexity and cost.

On the post-sales side, when hardware-related issues arise, I coordinate with our supplier network to resolve them swiftly by procuring technical services directly from the vendors. I also work closely with customer-facing support teams, ensuring their operational competence aligns with project-level expectations and service quality standards.

This end-to-end ownership of both pre- and post-sales service has helped us deliver not only high-performing solutions but also long-term client satisfaction and trust — positioning Navbea not just as a provider, but as a strategic partner.

4) Continuously seek and gather valuable information about industry trends and products, sharing insights with colleagues to enhance our collective expertise

One of my primary motivations for applying to this position is to take active responsibility for this very objective — not only tracking industry trends, but contributing to them. As the Project Manager at Navbea, I have recently completed the prototyping of a proprietary ultrasonic distance-measuring sensor. This sensor offers a viable alternative to conventional Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors, which represented a global market of approximately $4.43 billion USD in 2023.

Unlike traditional ToF sensors, which often underperform in outdoor or high-glare environments due to their dependence on light-based reflection, our ultrasonic-based solution maintains consistent accuracy regardless of ambient light. We are currently preparing a patent filing for this sensor, aiming to introduce it as a disruptive, patentable hardware technology.

I view Wenglor not only as a global leader in intelligent sensor technologies, but also as the ideal ecosystem where this type of innovation can be nurtured, integrated, and commercialized. My ambition is to bring this innovation into Wenglor’s product portfolio, enabling both the company and myself to benefit from the significant market potential together.

Beyond this particular case, I actively collaborate with academic institutions to explore and develop further patentable ideas in the field of industrial IoT and smart sensing. I strongly believe that sharing such insights and innovations with colleagues elevates not just our internal capabilities, but contributes to the advancement of technology on a broader scale.

5) Maintain accurate records of sales activities, project pipelines, and provide precise sales forecasts in our CRM system

As part of my role at Navbea, I place significant emphasis on structured client engagement and accurate documentation of all sales-related activities. During every client meeting, I adopt a corporate consultative approach — posing targeted questions to uncover not just the immediate problem, but also the client’s past technological investments, their expectations on ROI, and feedback regarding potential project budgeting.

These interactions are carefully documented within our internal CRM platform, where I log meeting outcomes alongside tailored technological solution proposals. Each entry includes context-specific notes on cost-benefit analysis, feasibility suggestions, and next-step recommendations.

This process allows us to not only maintain a clear project pipeline, but also to build a data-driven basis for further discussions and strategic follow-up meetings with key stakeholders — especially on the IT, EHS, or operations side.

Such detailed records are also used to create realistic sales forecasts, based on the maturity and probability scores of each opportunity, helping both sales and technical teams prioritize effectively.

Wenglor Offers me

1) An excellent working atmosphere and the opportunity to develop your own ideas

One of the key reasons I am excited about joining Wenglor is the company's clear commitment to innovation and openness to new ideas. Throughout my career — whether while founding my own automation company, or managing complex IoT-based industrial projects at Navbea — I have thrived in environments where I was encouraged to think beyond the expected and challenge conventional solutions.

Wenglor’s culture of innovation strongly resonates with me. I see it as a place where not only can I contribute ideas, but where those ideas can be nurtured, challenged, and scaled. The opportunity to shape smart sensing technologies with a global impact is deeply meaningful to me.

2) A team-oriented management and rapid decision-making processes

Coming from a startup and project management background, I highly value flat structures and agile decision-making. In my current and past roles, I’ve seen firsthand how quick, collaborative decisions translate into real competitive advantage — especially in fast-moving industrial environments.

Working in a team where mutual respect, knowledge-sharing, and empowerment are prioritized directly aligns with how I lead and contribute. I believe Wenglor’s team-oriented structure will allow me to integrate quickly, share responsibility meaningfully, and generate impact early on.

3) A secure position, a vehicle with private use and an exciting task in a growing market

Relocating to Thailand and contributing to Wenglor’s growth in the Southeast Asian market is not just a professional step for me — it is a personal mission. Thailand’s rapidly evolving industrial sector presents tremendous opportunities to apply advanced sensor and automation technologies in meaningful, scalable ways.

I am particularly motivated by field engagement — installing demos, meeting clients on-site, and adapting solutions in real time. These experiences are most powerful when shared with like-minded professionals. For instance, during long-distance road trips with my colleague and fellow Project Manager at Navbea, Musab Talha Geylani (https://www.linkedin.com/in/musabgeylani/), we frequently held brainstorming sessions en route to client demo installations. These discussions often led to critical refinements in our approach before we even arrived at the customer site.

If you'd like a more personal perspective on my collaborative style and problem-solving mindset during such missions, I warmly encourage you to reach out to Mr. Geylani directly he can share firsthand insights from our time in the field.