Istanbul to host global load engineering expo LES-EXPO in 2026

Istanbul has been selected to host LES-EXPO 2026, a pioneering international fair that will gather load engineering industry leaders from across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Scheduled for April 7-9, 2026, the event will highlight Türkiye's ascending role in the global heavy lifting and transportation market, which exceeds $600 billion annually according to the Load Engineering Association (YMB).

Türkiye's Strategic Sector Growth

The load engineering sector has become a cornerstone of Türkiye's infrastructure development, achieving an economic size of $15 billion domestically. This specialized field, which combines engineering precision with the transportation and assembly of massive structures, employs approximately 150,000 professionals across more than 5,000 Turkish companies. Four Turkish firms currently rank among the world's top 100 in heavy lifting operations.

Engineering Feats and Global Recognition

Turkish load engineering companies have been instrumental in delivering the nation's most ambitious projects, including the record-breaking 1915 Canakkale Bridge, Istanbul Airport, the Eurasia Tunnel, and the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. YMB President Ahmet Altunkum highlighted the sector's technological advancement, noting that "the lifting of a 155-ton component to 318 meters during the Canakkale Bridge construction was recorded as the world's heaviest lift to the highest point."

Exporting Engineering Excellence

The sector has evolved from basic lifting services to a high-value engineering discipline that now exports complex solutions worldwide. "Leading companies in our sector are now a hub for exporting solutions for complex assembly and transportation projects in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia," Altunkum stated. He emphasized that Turkish companies now complete projects "with the same engineering level" as global giants, demonstrating the country's rising competitiveness in this sophisticated field.