The Position of TÜRKİYE in the Industry
- A WORLD EXPORTER — among the top 5 countries (competing with China, Italy and India)
- RESERVES — roughly 40% of the world reserves are in Türkiye
- VARIETY OF STONE — 350+ different types of natural stone
- BLOCK EXPORTS — predominantly raw block (the traditional route)
- PROCESSED EXPORTS — rising rapidly in recent years (added value)
- EMPLOYMENT — 100,000+ people work in the industry (quarry plus workshop plus site)
Regional Distribution
| Region | Prominent Stones | Industry Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Marmara (Bursa, Bilecik) | Marble (white, cream) | Dense quarry and workshop activity |
| Aegean (İzmir, Muğla, Denizli) | Marble, travertine, onyx | Export focused, large plants |
| Central Anatolia (Afyon, Eskişehir) | Marble (black, grey), basalt | Predominantly quarrying |
| Mediterranean (Antalya, Burdur) | Marble, travertine | Hotel and decoration domestic market |
| Black Sea (Trabzon, Rize) | Granite, basalt | Predominantly building materials |
| Eastern Anatolia (Erzurum) | Granite, basalt | A mix of local and export |
Structural Characteristics of the Industry
- SME DOMINATED — 80% of workshops have fewer than 50 employees
- FAMILY BUSINESSES — a business structure passed between generations is widespread
- GEOGRAPHIC CONCENTRATION — the Bursa-Bilecik-Eskişehir corridor, and the Afyon and Denizli clusters
- QUARRY AND PROCESSING INTEGRATION — large firms manage both ends
- SUPPORTING INDUSTRY — domestic production of diamond blades, polishing systems and waterjet machines is growing
- STANDARDISATION — the use of TSE, ISO and CE has become widespread over the past 10 years
Export Markets
- USA — premium white marble, the kitchen countertop market
- EU — Italy, Germany, France (architectural plus decorative)
- MIDDLE EAST — Saudi Arabia, UAE (luxury hotels plus projects)
- ASIA — China, India (closing their own reserve gap)
- AFRICA — Algeria, Egypt (the construction sector)
- RUSSIA AND CIS — construction plus decoration
- Regular exports to 50+ countries — a global customer base
Technology Trends
1. CNC Automation
- The move from the manual saw to the CNC bridge saw (over the past 15 years)
- The investment trend from 4 axes to 5 axes (particularly over the past 5 years)
- 3D machining centres — for sculpture and decorative work
- ATC (automatic tool changer) — standard in a modern workshop
- The number of domestic CNC manufacturers is rising — brands made in Türkiye such as USEL
2. The Spread of Waterjet
- The preferred choice for workshops handling mixed materials
- Standard in workshops doing mosaic and decorative work
- Composite panel cutting — demand rising with growth in the architectural sector
- Hybrid metal and stone decorative work
3. Engineered Stone
- Quartz surface products (Caesarstone, Silestone, and domestic brands)
- 20% of the kitchen countertop market in Türkiye, and growing
- Competition with natural stone → workshop competence has to be added
- Manufacturer authorisation programmes (Caesarstone Trade Partner and others)
4. Digitalisation
- CAD/CAM — becoming widespread in workshops
- CNC data collection — beginning in the larger workshops
- Online sales — marble sold direct to the end consumer
- Production tracking software (ERP) — medium and large plants
- AR/VR — virtual marble selection for the customer in the showroom
5. Sustainability
- Water reclamation — a legal requirement for quarries and workshops
- Slurry and garnet disposal — legal oversight has tightened
- Renewable energy — solar panels on workshop roofs
- ISO 14001 — demand for the certificate is rising among exporters
- Carbon footprint reporting — driven by large customers
Challenges Facing the Industry
- A TRAINED WORKFORCE — the supply of qualified operators is limited (5 axis and CAM above all)
- INVESTMENT CAPITAL — investing in a modern CNC or waterjet is demanding for an SME
- GLOBAL COMPETITION — cost pressure from low-cost production in China and India
- CURRENCY VOLATILITY — uncertainty in the cost of imported machines and spare parts
- ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION — tightening rules put pressure on workshops that are not compliant
- THE COST OF RETURNS — price pressure across the industry (in the export segment above all)
Trends Looking Ahead
- THE PREMIUM SEGMENT — low volume, high added value (sculpture, bespoke architectural work)
- GLOBAL BRANDS — workshops in Türkiye are on the way to becoming global names
- THE SMART WORKSHOP — IoT plus AI plus predictive maintenance become widespread
- DOMESTIC MACHINES — manufacturers in Türkiye such as USEL as an alternative to imports
- INVESTMENT IN TRAINING — sector academies (USEL Academy among them)
- ENGINEERED STONE — its market share is forecast to reach 30%+
The Position of USEL in the Industry
USEL Makina manufactures CNC bridge saws, waterjets and blasting machines in Türkiye. What it offers the industry:
- Manufacture in Türkiye → reduces currency risk plus service is close at hand
- CE marked plus ISO standards → suited to exporting workshops
- USEL Academy → closes the operator training gap
- USEL Care → maintenance documentation plus service infrastructure
- Configurations suited to the needs of the industry in Türkiye
- Spare parts and service 24/7 — faster access than from the global brands