Turkey’s Kardemir begins producing train wheel

Turkey aims to stop imports of train wheels in short period, head of iron and steel producer firm says

By Musab Turan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish iron and steel giant Kardemir has started producing indigenous train wheels to prevent imports, the head of the company said.

"Turkey will stop imports of railway wheels in a short period, we will produce 150,000 wheels and become exporter within two years," Huseyin Soykan, the general manager of the firm, told Anadolu Agency.

Only 15 companies produce railway wheels globally, which need high technology and engineering, Kardemir became the 16th, he underlined.

Soykan said: "A train wheel, which is manufactured from half-ton special steel, weighs 370 kilograms. Before we started to produce, its cost was around €1,000 ($1,112). Currently, its costs is around €600 ($667)."

He also stressed that the firm will be able to produce 200,000 wheels annually.

Kardemir aims to manufacture imported products to boost the country's industry and economy, he noted.

*Writings by Gokhan Ergocun.

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