Machine tools are the main machines that provide the manufacturing of other machines. Simply, machine tools are “machines that produce machines”. The machine tools industry is directly related to the general machinery manufacturing, automotive and defense industries. Thus, it is generally viewed as a strategic sector for a country.

In 2002, worldwide production of machine tools totalled US $31.1 billion. That’s 14% below the value created in  2001.

Efforts towards machine tools production were launched in the mid `60s in Turkey. Some private companies began to manufacture lathes in the mid `60s. In line with the industrialization efforts outlined in the five year development plans, state institutions undertook the leading role for the machine tools industry. The first step was the licensing agreements signed with two worldwide famous machine tools manufacturers. After a long and hard worktime period, the first Turkish made machine tool came off the production line in 1984. In the following years various machine tools (universal/vertical milling machines, universal/turret turning lathes, cylindrical/surface grinding machines, tool grinding machines, radial grinding machines etc.) have been produced in large numbers in Turkey.

During this period CNC machining centers were introduced to the world market. Both global and Turkish industrial manufacturers demanded these hi-tech, computer controlled machine tools. The Turkish machine tools industry has been able to meet this new demand since the beginning of the ‘90s. The process of manufacturing better, innovative machine tools with higher technology is an ongoing effort among machine tools manufacturers in Turkey. At present Turkey relies on Turkish made machine tools.

Today the Turkish machine tools industry manufactures and exports various kinds of machine tools including; CNC/conventional machining centers, CNC/conventional lathes, CNC/conventional milling machines,

CNC/conventional grinding machines, bending machines, bordering machines, honing machines, presses, shears, press breaks, CNC brakes, CNC cutting machines, profile cutting machines, band saws, seaming machines, welding machines (MIG-MAG, TIG-WIG), planning machines, thicknessing machines, rip saws, resawing machines, CNC/conventional gear hobbing machines, spindle moulding machines, corner notchers, calibrating and polishing machines, chamfering machines for stones, trimming machines for stones, splitting machines, log carriages, dust sucking machines, parts and components of machines tools (electronic components, computer controls, CNCs, NCs, cam switches, tool holders, chucks, load lifting magnets, magnetic chucks, mandrels, hydraulic cylinders and spare parts, bar feeders for CNC lathes, tooling dies, universal frames/cabinets, CNC cabinets, work benches, material cabinets, tool cabinets etc), other metal, stone, glass, wood and plastic processing machines.

Today the Turkish machine tools industry and sub-industries are composed of more than 100 companies. These companies are mainly SME’s which have less than 200 employees. About 10 companies are large-scale manufacturers of machine tools and parts/components/auxillaries. Manufacturing sites are mainly located in the Marmara, Central Anatolian and Aegean Regions of Turkey. Istanbul, Bursa, Konya, Izmir, Ankara and Kayseri are the major cities in machine tools and parts/components production.

(Value: Billion Turkish Liras-with 1998 prices)

2000 2001 2002(*)

63,391 39,529 41,500

*Estimated (Annual average exchange rate: 1 USD = 261,293 TL; 1998)

Source: SPO (State Planning Organization)

Machine tools exports of Turkey have an increasing trend and reached US $101.8 million in 2002. The Turkish machine tools industry exports high-tech machining centers as well as metal-forming type machine tools. In the year 2002, Turkish machine tools were exported to more than 100 countries all over the world. Machine tools that are exported are mainly metal-forming types, which take a 60% share from total machine tools exports.

Contributions of the other machine tools sub-categories to the total machine tools exports are as follows: metalcutting types 21%; machine tools for working stone, ceramic, wood, cork, bone, hard rubber etc. 13.5%; parts and components of machine tools 5.3%.

Turkish machine tools industry exports its products to nearly 120 countries worldwide. Main export destinations are Germany, Spain, Italy, Russian Federation and USA.

Turkish machine tools manufacturers are conscious of quality, safety and the environmental aspects of production.  Recently a large number of Turkish manufacturers have affixed the CE Mark to their products for export to the EU.

On the other hand, at the beginning of 2002, it became obligatory to fulfill CE Mark requirements in order to sell products in the Turkish domestic market. At the same time, Turkish manufacturers are closely following developments in international quality and environmental standards. The number of companies which have ISO Series Total Quality Certificates is increasing.

Turkey, as a developing and industrializing country, also imports considerable amounts of machine tools. After a 14% decrease in 2001, machine tools imports increased 33.4% and totalled $398.6 million in 2002. Economic breakdown, devaluation of the Turkish Lira and declining local demand were the main causes of low imports in 2001. Due to economic recovery in 2002, machine tools imports rose again last year.