Platformder president opens IPAF Summit in Istanbul

Saruhan Günaydın, president of Turkish aerial platform association Platformder, opened the 2026 IPAF Summit and IAPA awards in Istanbul with a call for international OEMs, rental companies and investors to view Turkey not just as a sales market but as a much wider regional business opportunity.

“Consider Turkey as a centre for joint production, regional distribution, after-sales service, training, software, telematics and long-term collaboration”, said Günaydın in his opening address at the Marriott hotel in Sisli, Istanbul.

“Here, you will find a large domestic market, a developing rental ecosystem, strong contractors, skilled technical professionals and entrepreneurial companies seeking to expand internationally.”

Saruhan Günaydın, president of Turkish aerial platform association Platformder, opens the 2026 IPAF Summit in Istanbul. (Photo: KHL Group)

Günaydın, who is also a board member at rental company Toro Makina A.Ş, said a company investing in Turkey was not just entering a market of more than 85 million people; “It is also connecting to a manufacturing, distribution and service network that provides access to surrounding regions.”

He said businesses in Turkey can reach 1.3 billion people across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, with Istanbul being “a natural hub for the regional growth of our industry.”

MEWP growth in Turkey

Although highlighting the wider regional business opportunities, Günaydın also described the rapid growth of Turkey’s construction and MEWP industry.

The construction sector grew by 10.8% in 2025 while investment in machinery and equipment increased by 5%. The MEWP fleet has expanded from around 14,000 units in 2018 to approximately 35,000 now.

“Scissor lifts still account for a significant share of the fleet, but demand for boom lifts, high-reach equipment, hybrid machines and more specialised solutions is increasing”, he told delegates.

“This progress is about more than the number of machines. Our rental companies are scaling up. Our manufacturers are developing new products. Our distributors are building stronger after-sales service capabilities.” Platformders’ members represent approximately 80% of the Turkish market.

Günaydın also thanked IPAF and KHL Group for bringing the event to Turkey; “It is a great honour to welcome approximately 500 industry professionals—most of whom have travelled from overseas—to Istanbul for the opening of the IPAF Summit and the International Awards for Powered Access.”