The Future of Light Steel Construction in Türkiye

The first question people ask about light steel is usually this: “Is it solid?” I have been in this industry since 2010 and I still hear it. I don't blame anyone for asking. As long as some sellers market this work as a cheap, temporary fix, people will keep asking.

The issue is not the material

Properly engineered steel is a permanent building material. It is light, and the lighter a building is, the less load it carries in an earthquake. Because production happens in a factory, measurement errors don't travel to the site. These are not marketing lines; they are the nature of the system.

The problem is that work of very different quality is sold under the same name. Thinned profiles, missing insulation, installation without a proper design. When customers can't tell these apart, price becomes the only measure. And when price is the only measure, the industry drags down its own reputation.

What will change in the coming years?

I think three things will push this industry.

• Earthquake awareness. Since 6 February 2023, people no longer ask only “how many square metres”; they also ask “what am I living inside?” That question opens the way for light systems and makes life harder for poor-quality producers. As it should.
• Labour and time. Skilled workers are harder to find, and every week on site is a cost. Manufacturing in a factory and assembling on site is no longer just about speed; it is about predictability.
• Exports. Producing in Türkiye and selling abroad makes you face your own standards. A customer in Qatar and a customer in Slovakia don't expect the same things. But both expect the delivery to match the drawing.

What falls to the producer

I believe the industry's biggest rival is not reinforced concrete but its own bad examples. So three things should never be up for negotiation:

• Showing in writing what you sell: profile thickness, insulation detail, delivery scope.
• Seeing certification as an investment, not an expense.
• Standing behind the building you deliver.

The future of light steel will be decided not by our speed, but by whether we keep our word.

The industry will grow, I am sure of that. What I am curious about is who will grow with it.