Turkey becomes the 8th country producing 5-axis CNC control technology

While the domestic 5-axis CNC control unit has the potential to meet the local market needs and reduce the foreign dependency of the Turkish manufacturing sector, its work has come to an end. The company, established with the support of the Presidency of Defense Industries and TÜBİTAK, will launch CNC control units produced in cooperation with the private sector and universities in the first quarter of 2024.

The project to develop CNC control technologies with domestic resources, the foundations of which were laid in 2019, has come to an end. In addition to the hardware including industrial computers, servomotors and drivers, the testing of 5-axis CNC control units, whose software was developed entirely by local engineers, started in the past months. The CNC control units produced within the scope of the project carried out with the participation of 9 companies and universities under the leadership of MİLTEKSAN A.Ş., which was established with the support of the Presidency of Defense Industries and TÜBİTAK, are expected to be launched in the first quarter of 2024, following successful tests.

Sharing his evaluations on the subject, MİLTEKSAN Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. Uğur Şimşir said, “The testing phase of the domestic CNC control unit project, which started with a workshop held in 2019 and gained momentum with the establishment of MİLTEKSAN A.Ş. in 2020, was started and success was achieved. Tests of 3, 4 and 5 axis CNC control systems continue successfully on commercial products. “Our products, which will be released in 2024, will increase the production capacity of our domestic industry,” he said.

Türkiye will be the 8th country to produce this technology

Following a workshop held by the Defense and Aviation Cluster (SAHA Istanbul) by the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) in 2019, MİLTEKSAN, with the support of the Presidency of Defense Industries and TÜBİTAK, encouraged the production of 5-axis CNC control systems, which are among the critical technologies for Turkey, in 2020. It was established under the roof of Teknopark Istanbul for the purpose of In the project started with the partnership of Akım Metal, Usel Makina, Melina Aero, BC Teknik, Pavotek, CNC System, Mobilgi, Koç Holding subsidiary WAT Motor and BİTES, which was recently completely acquired by ASELSAN, Prof. Dr. Yusuf Altıntaş, Ömer Şahin Ganiyusufoğlu, Prof. Dr. Erhan Budak, Dr. Yavuz Mürtezaoğlu, Prof.Dr. Engin Kılıç, Prof. Dr. Scientists such as İsmail Lazoğlu also took part as consultants.

Dr. noted that the project, which brings together well-known Turkish scientists in their fields and Turkey’s leading companies, will strengthen Turkey’s leading position in both military and civilian industry. Uğur Şimşir said, “5 axis CNC control units are produced by 7 countries, including the USA, Germany, Spain and Italy. With MİLTEKSAN products, Turkey will be the 8th country to produce this technology.”

“Import of CNC control units is subject to ministry permission”

Sharing that the import of CNC control units is subject to the permission of the Ministries of Defense of the producing countries, Dr. Uğur Şimşir said, “In periods when geopolitical balances shape economic relations and the protectionist approach in global trade increases, producing countries can use this situation to impose covert embargoes. Licenses have been awaited from foreign manufacturers for more than 1.5 years for the import of 5-axis CNC control units, which are very critical especially for the defense industry, to Turkey. Even if a license is granted, producing countries deliver these technologies under special conditions that restrict their areas of use. “When considered from this perspective, it can be seen how important the domestic production of 5-axis CNC control systems is for the independence of our country’s industry,” he said.

“We will transfer our success in the defense industry to the civilian industry”

Reminding that the defense and aerospace sector exported 4.3 billion dollars in the first 10 months of the year, Dr. Uğur Şimşir concluded his evaluations with the following statements: “The breakthrough our country has made in the defense industry in recent years is known all over the world. Turkey uses all its resources to stand out with its civilian industry as well as its defense industry and military power. In this sense, I consider the domestic CNC control unit technology as the transfer of our success in the defense industry to the civilian industry. The collaboration and cooperation of all industrial stakeholders and academia in such technology projects supports our country’s power in machine technology and contributes to the production freedom of our manufacturing industry. “The partnerships of our universities, entrepreneurs, scientists and industry should increase with such projects and domestic production, which is a prerequisite for our independence, should be supported.”