The 19th International Asansör Istanbul Fair took place at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center between May 15 and 18, 2025. Held for the 19th time, the event was once again a major gathering for the industry. All vertical transportation technologies, from residential buildings to commercial buildings, hospitals to hotels, car transport solutions to disabled access systems, were exhibited at the fair.

According to online registration data, visitors from 93 countries, 401 companies from 24 countries, and industry representatives from 31 different cities in Turkey attended the fair. Filling a total area of 60,000 square meters, participants showcased their latest products and technologies, seizing the opportunity to reach both local and foreign professionals.

The Pulse of the Global Market was Taken in Istanbul

Fair Director Seda Bozkurt emphasized the global importance of the fair, stating, “The players in the $112 billion global market gathered again in Istanbul. Asansör İstanbul met expectations this year as a platform for presenting product-focused innovations and advancing the export potential exceeding $300 million.”

Fevzi Yıldırım, Chairman of the Board of AYSAD, recalled that Turkey has transitioned from an import-based structure to an engineering and export-focused production model in its 70-year industry journey, saying, “Today, our industry has achieved a current surplus structure. This fair, organized with nearly 400 participants in 60,000 square meters, clearly shows where we have come.”

Wim Koster, President of the European Lift Association (ELA), said that Turkish companies would gain a stronger position in Europe by working with ELA on digitalization, energy efficiency, and safety issues. Peter Hall, Informa Markets IMEA Regional President, also noted that the event had become an internationally successful platform bringing together brands from all over the world, including China.

Key Topics Highlighted in the Panels: Earthquakes, Fire, and Digitalization

The fair was not only an area for displaying products but also a platform for sharing knowledge and experience.

• The panel “Elevators in Seismic Conditions and Fire Emergencies” held on the first day discussed the right elevator selection in earthquake zones, systems resistant to seismic forces, fire-resistant doors, and emergency evacuation solutions. Dr. Ferhat Çelik stated that hydraulic elevators are more reliable during earthquakes, while Prof. Dr. Erdem İmrak detailed evacuation and pressurization solutions in fire scenarios.
• Paolo Tattoli, who discussed the EN 81-77 standard update process, touched on new rules that increase passenger safety. Serkan Selamet from TKE Asansör shared examples of seismic design from theory to practice.
• Murat Camgöz, Middle East Director at Fermator, emphasized that elevator doors act as a passive barrier against fire.

The agenda for the second day was digitalization. In the panel titled “Elevator Directive – Updates to Standards and Digitalization,” Alper Çalışkan from OTIS France introduced cybersecurity and artificial intelligence-supported systems. ISO representative Esfandiar Gharibaan stated that the EN 81-20/50 standards will be replaced by ISO 8100 by 2028, noting that this will be an important step in global standardization. Roberto Galizzi explained how digital twin technologies are transforming maintenance processes.

Final Report: Rising Success Graph

The Final Report released after the fair revealed a 12% increase in visitors and an 11% growth in participants compared to the previous period. The report emphasized that the fair is a strategic center not only for Turkey but also for the vertical transportation industry worldwide.

According to the report, the organization, which welcomed visitors from 73 countries in 2023, will increase this number to 93 in 2025, adding 20 new countries to its portfolio. Furthermore, the participation of the European Elevator Association board members in the fair once again demonstrated Turkey's strong integration in Europe.

New Goals for 2027

Informa Markets has already announced that it has begun preparations for Asansör Istanbul 2027. The goals for the 20th edition, to be held on May 6-9, 2027, will be higher trade volume, greater international participation, and the promotion of new technologies with a focus on sustainability.