The panel discussion titled “The Position of the Konya Elevator Sector in Turkey,” jointly organized by the Konya Branch of the Turkish Mechanical Engineers' Association (TMMOB) and the Electrical Engineers' Association, was held on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Konya MMO Conference Hall. The panel, which assessed the current status and future prospects of the rapidly growing Konya elevator industry—which holds a significant share in industrial production— addressed topics including the sector's current state, quality standards, production capacity, domestic production rate, export potential and challenges faced.

The Turkish Mechanical and Electrical Engineers' Association (TMMOB) Mechanical Engineers' Association (MMO) Konya Branch and the Electrical Engineers'

Association (EMO) Konya Provincial Representation, brought together the elevator industry on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Konya MMO Conference Hall for a three-session panel titled “The Position of the Konya Elevator Industry in Turkey.” The panel, consisting of three main sessions, was moderated by Ömer Erdoğan Duransoy in the first session, Erdener Saraçlar in the second session and Özhan Şerefli in the third session. The sessions covered a wide range of topics, from the legal framework of the sector to R&D processes, installation errors and platform safety, all discussed at a technical level.

The event, which was attended by many stakeholders ranging from manufacturers to academics, public authorities and engineering offices, featured presentations on technological transformation, safety standards, legal obligations and accessibility in the sector.

The panel, jointly organized by the Konya Branch of the Chamber of Mechanical Engineers and the Konya Provincial Representation of the Chamber of Electrical Engineers, was held in three different sessions with intense participation. The topics discussed were “The relationship between conformity assessments, periodic inspections, market surveillance and control of elevators in Turkey” and “The place of the Konya elevator sector in Turkey.” The panel, which included evaluations by sector representatives, attracted significant interest.

The panel was attended by Ferhat İnal, Board Member of the Ankara Branch of EMO, Mehmet Küçükkut and Ceyhan Çorakçı, Assistant Provincial Representatives of Konya and Tuncay Lamci, Member of the 26th Term Board of the Branch. Erdal Tozoğlu, President of the Konya Branch of the Turkish Mechanical Engineers' Association: “The elevator sector makes a significant contribution to the economy.”

Speaking at the opening of the panel, Erdal Tozoğlu, President of the Konya Branch of the Mechanical Engineers' Association, said, "Konya has serious production and employment potential not only in agriculture and automotive but also in the elevator sector. As one of the leading provinces in production and exports in our country, Konya has become an important center in Turkey's elevator sector. The highquality, innovative Technologies used by elevator manufacturers in Konya contribute greatly to the local economy. They support the country's development and increase export revenues."

President Tozoğlu also pointed out that the elevator industry creates more investment and employment opportunities in Konya, saying, “Our main purpose in organizing this event was to examine all developments in the elevator sector in Konya, which is the production base for elevators, a product group that directly affects human health and safety in the construction of high-quality and comfortable buildings and to reveal perspectives on future developments.”

The first session focused on inspection processes in elevators

The first session of the symposium was titled “The Relationship Between Conformity Assessments, Periodic Inspections, Market Surveillance and Oversight of Elevators in Turkey.” Moderated by Ömer Erdoğan Duransoy, President of the 12th and 13th Term Board of Directors of the Konya Branch of the Mechanical Engineers' Association, the session addressed important technical issues.

In his opening remarks at the first session of the symposium, Ömer Erdoğan Duransoy, former President of the Konya Branch of the Mechanical Engineers' Association, emphasized that elevators are not merely transportation vehicles but also vital systems in terms of safety and engineering. Duransoy stated, "Konya is one of Turkey's sectoral leaders with its production culture and export capacity. However, this leadership should be measured not only by quantity but also by quality." In the first session, Mustafa Gürel from the Ministry of Industry and Technology evaluated the elevator sector in Turkey in terms of legislation, applications and statistics.

Serdar Tavaslıoğlu from Serkon Technical Consultancy drew attention to new targets in the sector, while Mustafa Görmüş from D Kare Gözetim explained the conformity assessment processes for safety components. Burak Demircan from MMO Elevator Control Center shared examples of technical assessment differences encountered in the field.

Konya's position in the elevator industry and the technology it produces were discussed

Following the lunch break, the second session began with presentations prepared by engineers from Konya-based companies under the title “Konya's Position in the Turkish Elevator Sector.” The second session was moderated by Erdem Saraç from Second Line Consulting.

In the second session of the panel; Metin İlhan Başpınar from Emlak Konut Asansör spoke on “Traceability in Elevators,” Ömer Nasuhi Haskul from EQ Lift shared his experience on “Comfort and Insulation in Electric Elevators,” Murat Topuz from Butkon Asansör discussed “Elevator Emergency Service Supports Around the World,” and “Parallel, Serial and Ready-to-Install Systems,” and Yasin İrhan from Onaylift Asansör presented on “Quality and Management Systems in Elevator Production and Compliance with Regulations.” They shared their assessments of the current state of elevator and technology production in Konya.

Sectoral experiences were shared

The third and final session of the day was also held under the theme “Konya's Elevator Sector's Position in Turkey.” The session was moderated by Özhan Şerefli from Asansör Vizyon Magazine. Panelists Yasin Eker from Eker Elevator presented on “Motor Selection in Elevators,” Naif Yüksel from Hidoks Elevator on “Design and Installation in Elevators,” Suna Kütük from Poltime Platform Lift on “Standards for Accessible Platforms,” and Süleyman Altay from Ah-Met Elevator on “Elevator Concept Design and Elevator Designs”

At the end of the third session of the panel, moderator Özhan Şerefli discussed Konya's export success, its role as a supplier in component production and its branding process.

With the hope of shaping the future together, we look forward to seeing you at ELEVEX 2026...

Özhan Şerefli, founder of Asansör Vizyon Magazine, which has been a reference point in the elevator industry for 15 years with both printed and digital publications and General Coordinator of the ELEVEX Fair, moderated the third session, providing an overview of the industry and the symposium.

Özhan Şerefli stated, “The symposium has provided a visionary platform where producers, service providers, exporters and standardization organizations in the sector come together to highlight collective wisdom. The aim is not only to evaluate the present but also to begin designing the future.” Özhan Şerefli stated that the elevator sector has a total turnover of around 2 billion dollars in production, installation, maintenance, revision and domestic and international trade and that Konya's share in Turkey's total elevator production is close to 50%.

Özhan Şerefli continued his speech as follows: "Today, we have achieved a very valuable gathering for our sector. The panel titled ‘Konya's Place in the Elevator Sector’ served as a visionary platform where important information and experiences were shared and collective wisdom took center stage. By bringing together actors who manufacture, provide services, export and set standards in the sector, we did not just evaluate the present, but also began to design the future.

In addition to the presentations by distinguished figures who have made important contributions to our sector with their experience and technical knowledge, it was a pleasure to listen to the presentations by our talented young engineers on topics they had chosen themselves.

I believe that the ideas presented here today will turn into stronger collaborations, larger projects and broader international networks in the coming years. That is precisely why I see today not just as an evaluation meeting, but also as the starting point of a long journey.

- Sector evaluation

The elevator sector, including production, installation, maintenance, renovation and domestic and international trade, has a total turnover of approximately 2 billion dollars. Konya's share in Turkey's total elevator production has reached nearly 50%.

The 2024 data for the Turkish elevator sector indicates that our sector has gone through a remarkable period in terms of foreign trade. Turkey contributed significantly to the national economy with a net foreign trade surplus of over 218 million dollars, achieving 334 million 919 thousand 874 dollars in exports and 115 million 943 thousand 853 dollars in imports. Looking at export items, packaged elevator exports amounted to 176 million 618 thousand dollars, while component exports reached 158 million 300 thousand dollars.

Another notable development occurred on the import front. Component imports decreased by 61.3% in volume and 42.2% in value. This decline indicates that Turkey and Konya in particular, has begun to significantly reduce its dependence on foreign imports by leveraging its own production capacity. Konya is no longer just an agricultural and machinery city; it is now a city that is active in all areas of industrial production, stands out for its engineering capabilities and is capable of advanced technologybased production. With its organized industrial zones, Konya is one of Turkey's largest OSB areas and has become one of the leading cities in elevator production. In terms of the sectoral contribution

of Konya elevator companies, Konya's share of Turkey's elevator production has reached nearly 50%. With direct exports to over 100 countries, Konya is a global player in the sector. The nearly 60% decrease in imports based on volume indicates that Turkey has taken a significant step toward selfsufficiency in elevator technologies.

Konya is the driving force behind domestic production in Turkey's elevator industry, accounting for approximately 50% of total production. With nearly 200 manufacturing companies, Konya is making strong strides toward becoming Turkey's production hub. Approximately 80% of Turkey's machine motor production and 50% of rail supply are concentrated in Konya. The city serves as the sector's supply hub for domestic components.

As a center driving exports with its brand strength in packaged elevator production, Konya supplies at least one component to all packaged elevators exported from Turkey. This picture not only highlights numerical achievements but also underscores Konya's strength in knowledge, engineering, innovation and design.

This symposium: A platform where knowledge turns into action

The symposium we held today was not merely a forum for sharing data but also an environment where we achieved strategic vision alignment. Producers, exporters, engineers and academics from various fields gathered here to demonstrate their commitment to shaping the future of our industry together.

The gains we have achieved at this symposium are not merely an evaluation of the present; they mark an important starting point for building the future structure of the sector. If we think together, produce together and develop strategies together, we can collectively build a more innovative, more competitive and more sustainable sector structure.

We are rising together: See you at ELEVEX 2026

Distinguished participants, every topic we discussed today is part of a larger vision. The name of this vision: ELEVEX Konya Elevator and Technology Fair.

To be held for the second time in May 2026, ELEVEX will not only be a platform for showcasing products but also a window to the world highlighting Konya’s sectoral strength. At this fair, many of the topics discussed here will be shared with a broader audience, new partnerships will be established, export channels will expand and Konya will strengthen its position as a global player on the stage.

Konya is no longer just a city that produces; it is also a city that designs, manages, exports and leads. This transformation in the elevator sector is not limited to production but is supported by knowledge, vision and a sustainable development approach. The steps we take here today will become the success stories of tomorrow.

On this occasion, I would like to sincerely thank the Mechanical Engineers Association (MMO) for supporting the organization of this symposium, all the sponsoring companies, the sector representatives who contributed and especially the Seminar Executive Committee, composed of our dedicated engineer colleagues who worked tirelessly to make this event a success. With the hope of shaping the future together, we look forward to seeing you at ELEVEX 2026.