MASTERS OF CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY Hidromek Inc is Turkey’s leading producer of construction machinery. Julia Snow looked at the company’s double strategy of investments and expansion.
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ith its portfolio of excavators that are designed, manufactured and exported all around the world, Hidromek has achieved an enviable reputation for machines that combine high performance, comfort and durability with low maintenance costs. Hidromek has a total annual production capacity of 10,000 backhoe loaders and excavators, according to marketing director, Levent Karaagac: “Our backhoe loaders and excavators are used everywhere, in infrastructure works, municipalities works, major construction projects and mining – and 124 Industry Europe
especially the construction and mining sectors are growing day by day in Turkey and in the markets that we are operating.”
Rapid growth in 35 years The company started as a small workshop in Ankara in 1978, mounting backhoe and loader attachments onto farm tractors. Over the years it continued to improve the technology and facilities, and today Hidromek has four manufacturing plants: Fabrication Plant I and II in Ankara, the Excavator Assembly Plant, the Backhoe Loader Assembly Plant in İzmir and
a Training and After Sales Service Center in Ankara. Including the latest extensions the current total land area of the premises is 175.887 m2 and the total closed area totals 75.000m2. “We have completely modern production technologies,” says Mr Karaagac, “including computer controlled cutting tables, welding robots, special purpose process tables, and ergonomic machines with world class performances.” To improve business processes and service levels Hidromek has also implemented a cutting-edge IT infrastructure and ERP software SAP.
