Eskişehir: A Natural Region for Aviation and Defence Companies
ESAC, Eskisehir Aviation Cluster is formed to promote aviation related parts manufacturing capacity which will attract and help creating businesses in aviation and defence market globally. ESAC collaborates with Eskişehir Chamber of Industry and two primary universities in town Anadolu University and Osmangazi University. Eskisehir is known as homeland of Aviation companies due to the establishment of the first Aircraft Plant in Turkey. The Aircraft Plant which was established in 1926, with its current name Air Supply and Maintenance Center has the capabilities and capacity that can enter in first five among its examples in the world.
ESAC, today, consist of 29 members of which two of them are outside the town. All member companies are either 100% aviation parts manufacturers or primary businesses are in aviation and defence sector. Since its establishment ESAC became a host for many organization companies. Our members are becoming more and more global Players in the market. When we look at the trend in aviation and defence market, there are quite a few new companies are entering every day to the market. Most of our member companies have over 15 years in the industry and their experience and knowledge of the requirements are very attractive for potential customers and partners. As we state in many of our gatherings and presentations, we have very complementary companies which can answer variety of different requests from customers. We have companies can do followings:
Design and Development
Electrical - Electronics
Simulation and test facilities
Composite Material
Advanced bench infrastructure
Metal engine parts
Sheet Metal forming
Structural parts
Plastics - rubber
Engine and engine components
Special processes
Cable and wiring-harness
System integration
Assembly
In recent years, we have many interactions globally and primarily with France and French companies. Several of our member companies are already working with our counterparts and customers in France. We have also made presentations and attended several meeting with Aviation and Defence companies in France. We had a teleconference meeting on February 5, 2013 in İstanbul at French Embassy with Aerospace Cluster in Rhône-Alpes and discussed potentials between the cluster companies and next steps. There are follow –ups continues from that meeting. Our interactions became more frequent after a visit by GİFAS members back in 2013.
As we see it, due to our close distance compare to other low cost regions (such as India and China), lower cost, unmatched quality, knowledge of the industry and market, our cluster members are very strong candidates to become a business partners with our counterparts globally. We have very diversified members as international joint-ventures, tier-ones, tier twos and Small and Midsize businesses. This creates a unique opportunity not for only companies here but also for foreign companies. We do believe 2014 will become a very fruitful year to increase our trading and business relationship with France.
