THE MANUFACTURING INTERVIEW
“RESILIENCE HAS BECOME AS IMPORTANT A STRATEGIC VARIABLE AS EFFICIENCY”
Can Dinçer CEO Beko
operations without sacrificing efficiency is something the whole industry is working through.”
Cost pressure is another pressing challenge, particularly for European manufacturers. Energy costs remain roughly 30 to 50 % higher than before the energy crisis that began in 2021, according to the European Commission. This pressure, alongside costs for raw materials and logistics, is squeezing margins.“ In industries like ours, where steel and aluminium are central to production, the impact is direct and material,” he explains. Sustainability presents another concern, particularly with new and ever-changing regulations. Can says that regulations like emissions trading systems and the EU’ s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism are adding to pressure on margins. Getting ahead of them, he says, is the way forward:“ The ones that wait for regulation to force their hand will always be playing catch-up.” When Beko entered the South African market in 2011, the average refrigerator had an energy efficiency rating of E. Instead of waiting for regulations, the company decided to improve its market offering“ because we believed that was the right standard to set,” Can explains.
26 August 2026