Industrial powerhouse

ILH takes a deep dive into the lifting equipment markets in Turkey, finding a vibrant blend of domestic OEMs and major players from overseas.

Türkiye has transformed itself into an industrial heartland in the past decades and manufacturing now accounts for around 17% of the country’s GDP. With construction also on the rise, demand has been strong for across the board for lifting equipment. It is also home to several fast-growing domestic OEMs, in both the cranes and MEWPs market segments.

Cranes sector

CMAK is one of the high-profile Turkish manufacturers of cranes and hoists. It has opened subsidiaries in Germany and the USA as it drives for global expansion.

“From early on, our thinking has always been international,” says Mustafa Bayrakdar, part of CMAK’s sales team. “We serve customers and crane manufacturers across multiple markets worldwide and we continue to grow that presence, always looking for new opportunities and joint ventures with the right partners.

“Our global strategy is not an add-on to our business, it is central to who we are, and that has been true since the very beginning.”

CMAK says that the USA and Germany are two of the most demanding and most important lifting equipment markets in the world, both in terms of volume and in terms of the standards they set.

“The core reason we are there is simple: we want to better serve our partners,” says Mustafa. “Establishing a direct presence means we are close to them, responsive, and accountable. It is not about planting a flag, it is about building the kind of trust that only comes from being truly present. It also reflects our broader commitment; CMAK is a global business, and we invest in the markets we are serious about.”

Along with investing in its own subsidiaries, CMAK continues to grow its dealer network. We are always looking for the right partners in markets where we see strong industrial demand,” adds Mustafa. “We are selective, we look for distributors who share our values: long-term thinking, technical competence, and genuine commitment to the end customer. The right partnership is more important to us than fast expansion. Where we find those partners, we invest in the relationship and build something that lasts.”

CMAK’s business is split between providing products to end users and supplying components to other crane manufacturers. But growing sales has also required overcoming old prejudices about the quality of Turkish manufacturing.

“Our approach has always been scientific,” says Mustafa. “We follow technology closely, apply it where it adds genuine value, and build systems around it.”

Outside of Türkiye it works primarily with crane manufacturers and system integrators. “This means our equipment is evaluated by technical professionals before it reaches the field – that is quality assurance built into the business model,” he adds.

CMAK’s standard product range runs from 1t to 160t which it says very few manufacturers in the world can match. “It is the result of systematic engineering and disciplined standardisation,” he says.

Recent examples of applying new technologies include HoistSense+, its IoT-based condition monitoring system, and CMAK Tools, a digital platform for crane configuration and support. “They are direct expressions of that philosophy adopting evolving technologies to give customers better visibility, better reliability, and better decisions.”

New products

CMAK was founded in 1977 as a component supplier and steadily grew into a full line manufacturer of overhead cranes, gantry cranes, jib cranes, and electric wire rope hoists.

“From the very beginning, CMAK was built on the idea of long-term, sustainable business, not short-term gains,” says Mustafa. “That means robust, durable engineering: we design products to perform reliably for years, not to generate failures that drive spare parts revenue. We only sell spares that are genuinely necessary, that is a point of principle for us.

Ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2027, the company is planning two product launches later this year.

The first is a DUR Series Electric Chain Hoist that is IP66-rated, FEM 2m duty-rated, and housed in a robust, fan-less aluminium enclosure. CMAK says it is engineered for the most demanding environments such as confectionery lines, cooling and washdown areas, and any application where ingress protection and duty reliability are non-negotiable.

The second is a new light crane system, based on aluminium profiles and built around flexibility. “We use the tallest aluminium profiles available, which means fewer support columns needed and a cleaner, more open installation,” says Mustafa. “The system requires the lowest possible push-pull effort. Operators can move loads with minimal physical force and we have kept connection points to a minimum for both reliability and ease of assembly.”

MEWP growth

Domestic manufacturers are also gaining traction in the MEWP market. Platformder, Türkiye’s national trade association for MEWPs, reported that domestic manufacturers doubled their market share in 2025, while the number of active machines in Türkiye surpassed 35,000 units.

Behind that bullish picture is a market that Platformder believes is now stabilising, following two years for high growth. Total platform sales fell from 6637 units to 5614 units. scissor lifts dominated, accounting for 4661 of MEWPs sold.

“Following the record expansion of 2023, the Turkish AWP sector has entered a period of correction and rebalancing,” the report says. “Nevertheless, it continues to retain strong medium- and long-term growth potential.

“Institutionalisation, reducing informal market practices, improving occupational safety standards, and accelerating the transition to electric platforms are all critical to ensuring sustainable growth in the sector.

“In conclusion, while the Turkish MEWP market is expected to experience more measured growth in the short term, its structural transformation dynamics and inherent potential will continue to make it a market to watch in the years ahead.”

Natural expansion

Haulotte spotted Türkiye’s potential several years ago. In 2019 it acquired Acarlar Makine, its local distributor, operated by Serkan Acar who remains Haulotte’s general manager in Türkiye.

“At the time, the Turkish market was evolving, with rental companies playing an increasingly central role,” he says. “Acarlar Makine was also active in the rental business through a separate entity, which meant operating across different positions in the value chain.

“In this context, the acquisition allowed Haulotte to clarify its positioning and ensure a clear separation of roles, strengthening trust and alignment with all market players, particularly key rental companies.”

Haulotte had been working with Acarlar Makine since 2004. Since the acquisition, Serkan says the new entity has been able to build stronger partnerships and align its operations more closely with local market expectations. “Overall, this transition has contributed to a more transparent, structured, and customer-focused market environment, supporting the continued development of the MEWP sector in Türkiye.”

Haulotte’s plans were postponed due to the global pandemic erupting shortly after it completed the purchase. However, in the past five years it says the Turkish MEWP market has shown strong and dynamic development. The post-pandemic period was marked by a significant rebound, with rental companies investing heavily in their fleets to support growing demand.

“More recently, the market has entered a phase of adjustment, following this period of strong investment,” says Serkan. “This reflects a more balanced dynamic after a peak in demand rather than a structural slowdown.”

However, he stresses that this evolution does not indicate market maturity. “The Turkish MEWP market remains in a development phase, with increasing adoption of access platforms across multiple sectors,” he adds.

“Looking ahead, we expect the Turkish MEWP market to continue developing steadily over the next five years, building on solid long-term fundamentals. While the market is currently going through a more balanced phase following a period of strong investment, the underlying drivers remain strong and supportive of continued growth.”

Factors in this forecast include growing implementation of safety standards and safe working conditions, urban development and infrastructure projects, and the continued professionalisation of the rental sector.

“At the same time, the Turkish market still offers significant room for expansion,” he adds. “Compared with more mature European countries, rental fleet penetration remains relatively low, indicating substantial untapped potential.

As in any developing market, the key challenge will be to maintain sustainable and well-balanced growth dynamics, particularly in terms of investment cycles, while adapting to a changing economic environment.”

Rental health

Echoing this, the Platform Türkiye PT20 report finds the nation’s MEWP rental industry in rude health. While Europe’s access rental sector grew by around 2% in 2024, Türkiye’s expanded by over 30%.

However, it is warning against unchecked growth, which could impact rental rates. “Past examples show that uncontrolled fleet expansions are not sustainable,” it says. “For healthy growth, planned investments, effective fleet management, and close monitoring of market dynamics are considered essential.”

The forecast is for the nation’s total platform fleet to reach 50,000 units by 2030. Major rental companies are expected to continue to dominate the market, potentially with fleets of up to 6000 units each.

At present, approximately 80% of Türkiye’s total platform fleet is controlled by large-scale rental companies. The combined fleets of the largest players exceed 7800 units, while the upper tier of the market holds nearly two-thirds of the total fleet.

In contrast, the total number of machines held by small-scale companies remains at around 6000 units. “This structure points to a dual-market environment, where a small number of major players coexist alongside a high number of smaller operators,” it says.

The past three years have been marked by significant volatility for the MEWP rental sector. In 2024, high inflation, rising financing costs, exchange rate pressure, and the implementation of a supervision tax led to an estimated 10% contraction in total fleet size.

“The increasing cost of imported equipment, in particular, extended investment payback periods and pushed companies toward a more cautious approach,” it says. “In 2025, however, the relative easing of cost pressures and the activation of postponed investments brought the sector back into a growth trend.”

The main driver of growth in 2025 was large-scale rental companies. According to the PT20 list, some expanded their fleets by 40 to 45%. The combined fleets of the top five companies grew by more than 30 percent, with large companies adding over 7000 new platforms.

Approximately 80% of Türkiye’s total platform fleet consists of scissor lifts. While this indicates a level of saturation in the scissor segment, 2025 investments show that segment preferences are beginning to shift.

According to PT20 2025 data, investment in scissor lifts has slowed, but the market share of boom lifts has increased. In addition, high-reach and hybrid platforms have started entering fleets.

“This trend indicates that the sector is moving toward more technical, larger-scale, and complex projects,” it adds. “PT20 2025 data clearly demonstrates that Türkiye’s platform rental market has passed a critical threshold on the road toward this target and has entered a new scaling phase.”

IPAF links

IPAF has been strengthening links in the region, and last year held its first event in partnership with Platformder.

“The April 2025 event was an important public milestone in our collaboration with Platformder, but the relationship is much wider than one event,” says Peter Douglas, CEO and managing director of IPAF.

Platformder has worked as IPAF’s agency in Türkiye since January 2024. Through this agreement, it supports IPAF’s development in the Turkish market, helping promote IPAF membership, training, safety guidance and engagement with local companies.

“The thinking behind the collaboration was very clear,” adds Peter. “Türkiye is an important and growing market for powered access, but to develop IPAF properly in any country, we need strong local knowledge and credibility. Platformder has a good reputation, a strong network, and a very good understanding of the rental sector and the local market.”

Abdullah Tuncer, secretary general of Platformder, is now IPAF’s representative for Türkiye. “He helps us stay close to the market, understand local needs, and build relationships with Turkish companies,” adds Peter. “Together, we can support the Turkish powered access sector much more effectively than IPAF could do alone from outside the country. Since the start of the collaboration, the relationship has grown into a more structured and strategic partnership, covering events, membership growth, training development, safety awareness, and improved operational standards in the rental sector.”

He feels that Türkiye is moving in the right direction, but safety culture is still developing. “Within the Platformder network, we see different levels of maturity. Some members already have very high safety standards and operate professionally. Others are still developing their systems, procedures and safety culture. This is normal in a growing market, and it is exactly why the collaboration with Platformder is so important.”

IPAF is also working with local rental companies to raise operational standards. It recently translated the IPAF Rental Standard into Turkish, giving companies a practical reference point to improve their rental operations, safety procedures and quality standards.

“Türkiye has strong potential,” he adds. “The market is growing, awareness is increasing, and there are already companies with very good standards. The next step is to make those standards more consistent across the whole market.”

IPAF’s presence in Turkey is growing, with 17 members and five IPAF approved training centres. Two of these training centres are contractors from the oil and gas sector, working abroad. “They trust IPAF because IPAF training is recognised internationally and is seen as a quality standard,” says Peter. “For companies working outside Türkiye, especially in sectors such as oil and gas, internationally recognised training is very important.”

IPAF’s plan is to increase the availability of training in Türkiye and grow its membership. “For us, Turkey is a strategic market,” says Peter. “Through our collaboration with Platformder we have the right local partner to help the industry grow in a safer and more professional way.”