Schneider turns Turkey into an export base

The French company Schneider Electric has declared Turkey to be its headquarters in the Middle East and Balkan region, which covers 27 countries.

As a result of this restructuring, the region will be managed by Turhan Turhangil, the firm’s managing director in Turkey.

The success of the Turkey team as well as the country’s position as a developing market in the global economy played a role in the decision, Turhangil said. “We have become an important actor in building the automation market since 2005,” he said. “We entered the switch business in the 2000s and have made rapid progress. Our size in medium- and low-voltage [products] is already obvious. These have been influential as well.”

Noting that Schneider has recently focused on renewable-energy resources, Turhangil added: “We now have references in infrastructure and energy management in both hydroelectric and wind-power plants and solar energy. At present, five wind-power plants in Turkey are being built through Schneider Electric’s solutions.”

The firm offers efficiency savings of 30 percent to energy and infrastructure, industry, residential building automation and data-center markets, which constitute 72 percent of global energy consumption. 

A global production base

“Large companies make regional companies their global production bases and focus on certain products. Our Manisa plant will be the production base for medium-voltage products and switches,” Turhangil said, speaking about the firm’s plant on a 720-acre property in the organized industrial zone in the Aegean city of Manisa.

“With the new capacity, we expect our export rate to surpass 50 percent,” he added. “We will further strengthen Turkey’s role as a global production and export base. The products will be exported anywhere in the world, including Europe, North Africa and the United States.”

Turhangil also noted that the firm will be using energy-efficient systems that will allow the plant to consume 30 percent less energy and release 20 percent less carbon into the atmosphere, compared to similar facilities.

The firm has invested 15 million euros in the Manisa plant for the initial stage. Its first division will start operating at the end of the year, and the investment in the plant is expected to increase further in line with its growth rate. The investment for the upcoming three years is expected to total 50 million euros.

Schneider Electric operates in more than 100 companies, offering integrated solutions in building applications, energy and infrastructure, industry, building automation and data-center markets. The firm has a total of 114,000 employees and reaped 18.3 billion euros in revenues last year.

The company has more than 1,000 employees, three production centers and some 200 business partners in Turkey.