In the right place at the right time: New subsidiary opens in Ankara

True to its pledge „Close to our customers“, the Wirtgen Group has moved a little closer to its customers in Turkey, too. Since early 2008, a team of 28 sales and service specialists has been based in new premises in the country. During the Komatek exhibition in Ankara, the second most important local trade fair after Ankomak in Istanbul, the Wirtgen Group invited its customers to the official inauguration ceremony in Gölbasi on 6 May.

Proven continuity in sales and service

The time was ripe: as Managing Director Ugur Girginkaya delightedly explains, „We are in the right place at exactly the right time!“. Few German manufacturers of construction machinery have directly set up their own sales and service company – the majority are still cooperating with dealers. Which explains Turkish customers‘ enthusiasm for the Wirtgen Group‘s clear commitment and readiness to invest.

Above all, the customers can rely on the team‘s long-standing experience. Since 1982 the Wirtgen Group has been operating successfully on the Turkish market: The Wirtgen milling technology was introduced in 1986. At this time, the first two road milling machines of type 2000 VC were sold to the municipal administration in Ankara.

A market with a long tradition and future prospects

The Wirtgen Group‘s market relations have hence grown slowly over a prolonged period and now enjoy a long tradition. The Turkish market generally still holds great potential for all the Wirtgen Group brands.

Jürgen Wirtgen, President of the Wirtgen Group, explains: „We are proud of this long-standing tradition. More than 2,000 machines built by Wirtgen, Vögele and Hamm are operating here today. Turkey is a huge country, more than twice the size of Germany, with an area of more than 780,000 km² criss-crossed by 65,000 km of paved roads. Demand for infrastructure and roads is correspondingly high.“

For the customer service team, such dimensions require a stronger and more flexible presence in the country. Dieter Majer, Wirtgen GmbH‘s Area Sales Manager for Turkey, helped to build the new subsidiary and takes care of sales and service for Wirtgen products: „Wirtgen Ankara provides local customer service through mobile service technicians and local service bases in all the 15 Turkish provinces.“

Kleemann to come to Turkey in 2010

For regular customers as well as the subsidiary‘s new customers, new opportunities will arise when the Kleemann brand is introduced in the next financial year as planned. That considerable market demand exists in this sector was revealed by the exhibitors present at Komatek: in addition to a few brand manufacturers with worldwide operations, the exhibition was also attended by local manufacturers with their own crushing and screening technology.

Choice of location: focus on proximity to the customer

Economic centre and metropolis: Ankara is not only the capital of Turkey, but also the gateway to its market. Improving the infrastructure is one of the country‘s most important development goals. Around 414,000 km of roads of every category link regions, towns and people in Turkey. With a population of more than 5 million people, Ankara is the second largest city in the country. In economic terms, Ankara is one of Turkey‘s main centres of business: this is where traditional lines of business meet global enterprises. Several major customers of the Wirtgen Group are also located in the region. „The proximity to our customers was one of the most decisive reasons for choosing this location,“ explains Dieter Majer from Wirtgen GmbH. „Besides which, Ankara is also the administrative centre of Turkey: all the most important public authorities responsible for traffic, transport and road construction are located in this area“. The subsidiary itself is located directly alongside Ankara‘s ring road.