STM Sistem Teleferik
Turkish aerial-lift engineering and manufacturing company based in İzmir.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
STM Sistem Teleferik is a Turkish company that designs, manufactures, constructs, and renovates aerial-lift and ropeway systems. Based in İzmir, the company operates from a facility in the Kemalpaşa district and serves ski resorts, urban transport projects, and tourism destinations. Its product range includes ski lifts, fixed-grip and detachable chairlifts, group and detachable gondolas, and reversible ropeways. The company is identified in reference material as a specialized Turkish ropeway-system manufacturer and, as of 2013, as the only Turkish company active across this field. The company was established in 1998 by Orhan Yılmaz and Reşit Tezcan. Yılmaz had previously spent 24 years working as an operator at İzmir's Balçova Gondola, giving the company an operational and technical foundation in aerial transport systems. Yılmaz is also identified as STM Sistem Teleferik's chief executive. The business began developing its project portfolio in the early 2000s, initially working with the Italian company Graffer Seggiovie on a ski-lift installation in 2003. In 2006, it constructed a chairlift at the Mount Davraz ski resort in Isparta, after which it undertook a series of ski-lift and chairlift projects at Turkish mountain resorts. STM subsequently expanded beyond ski infrastructure into urban and recreational gondola systems. Its projects included the Keçiören Gondola in Ankara in 2007 and the Aydın Pınarbaşı–Aytepe Gondola in 2008. It also delivered or participated in projects at Muş, Kars Sarıkamış, Kars Çamurlu, Mount Ergan in Erzincan, Gevaş Abalı in Van, Ilgaz in Çankırı, and Merga Büte in Hakkari. In 2007, the company constructed the Balakən Gondola in Azerbaijan, representing an international project outside Turkey. Among the company's notable distinctions are the construction of Turkey's longest chairlift line and the first detachable gondola line in Ankara. STM also played a significant role in the renewal of the Balçova Gondola in İzmir. That line had been closed in 2007; STM carried out its renovation and extension for İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, with the work completed in 2015. The project illustrates the company's involvement not only in new-build systems but also in the modernization and expansion of existing ropeway infrastructure. Reference material describes a workforce of approximately 250 people at the company's Kemalpaşa facility. The site covers about 7,000 square metres of enclosed or facility area on a wider 25,000-square-metre plot. STM's positioning is therefore primarily technical and project-led: it supplies integrated aerial-transport solutions rather than consumer products, combining engineering, equipment manufacturing, construction, and refurbishment for municipal, tourism, and winter-sports applications.
History
STM Sistem Teleferik was founded in İzmir in 1998 by Orhan Yılmaz and Reşit Tezcan. Yılmaz brought extensive practical experience to the venture after working for 24 years as an operator at the Balçova Gondola. This background helped shape STM as a company focused on the design, construction, and operation-related requirements of ropeway systems rather than as a general industrial manufacturer. The company's early project development took place in the ski-lift market. In 2003, STM carried out its first major project with the Italian company Graffer Seggiovie, installing a ski-lift system. Three years later, it built a chairlift at the Mount Davraz ski resort in Isparta. These projects established a base for subsequent work at Turkish ski resorts and mountain recreation areas. STM later delivered systems at Muş, Kars Sarıkamış, Kars Çamurlu, Mount Ergan in Erzincan, Gevaş Abalı in Van, Ilgaz in Çankırı, and Merga Büte in Hakkari. During the second half of the 2000s, STM broadened its activities to include urban and tourism-oriented gondolas. The Keçiören Gondola in Ankara was constructed in 2007, while the Aydın Pınarbaşı–Aytepe Gondola followed in 2008. The company also completed the Balakən Gondola in Azerbaijan in 2007, an important example of its work outside Turkey. STM became associated with several notable national infrastructure achievements, including Turkey's longest chairlift line and Ankara's first detachable gondola line. A major refurbishment assignment came from İzmir Metropolitan Municipality for the Balçova Gondola. The line had been closed in 2007, and STM was responsible for its renovation and extension. The work was completed in 2015. This project demonstrated that the company could undertake modernization and expansion as well as greenfield construction. STM's product and service scope includes ski lifts, fixed-grip and detachable chairlifts, group and detachable gondolas, and reversible ropeways. Its İzmir operation is located in Kemalpaşa and is described as occupying a facility of approximately 7,000 square metres on a 25,000-square-metre site. Reference material gives employment of about 250 people. Orhan Yılmaz is identified as the company's current CEO. No information in the supplied references establishes a parent company, public listing, corporate owner, or official website. The available record presents STM as an active, privately oriented Turkish specialist in aerial-lift infrastructure, with its principal activity concentrated in Turkey and at least one documented project in Azerbaijan.
- 2015
Balçova Gondola renovation completed
[1]STM completed the renovation and extension of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality's Balçova Gondola.
- 2008
Expansion into additional gondola and ski-lift projects
[1]The company completed or participated in projects including the Aydın Pınarbaşı–Aytepe Gondola and the Muş Ski Lift.
- 2007
Keçiören and Balakən gondola projects
[1]STM constructed the Keçiören Gondola in Ankara and the Balakən Gondola in Azerbaijan.
- 2006
Mount Davraz chairlift
[1]The company constructed a chairlift system at the Mount Davraz ski resort in Isparta.
- 2003
First major ski-lift project
[1]STM completed a ski-lift system in cooperation with the Italian company Graffer Seggiovie.
- 1998
Company founded in İzmir
[1]Orhan Yılmaz and Reşit Tezcan established STM Sistem Teleferik as a Turkish ropeway-systems company.
Products and positioning
A specialist Turkish ropeway-system engineering and manufacturing company serving ski resorts, urban gondola networks, and tourism infrastructure projects.
Winter-sports ropeway · 2003
Ski lifts
STM builds ski-lift systems for mountain resorts and winter-sports facilities. Its early major work included a 2003 ski-lift project completed with Graffer Seggiovie, followed by projects at Turkish ski destinations.
Aerial lift · 2006
Chairlifts
The company supplies both fixed-grip and detachable chairlift systems. Its documented installations include the Mount Davraz chairlift and projects at Sarıkamış, Mount Ergan, Gevaş Abalı, Ilgaz, and Merga Büte.
Urban and tourism ropeway · 2007
Gondola lifts
STM constructs group and detachable gondola systems for urban transport, tourism, and recreation. Documented examples include the Keçiören Gondola, the Aydın Pınarbaşı–Aytepe Gondola, and the Balakən Gondola in Azerbaijan.
Ropeway system
Reversible ropeways
Reversible ropeways are part of STM's stated technical product range. These systems are designed around cabins traveling along a ropeway route in alternating directions and are supplied as project-specific infrastructure.
Infrastructure service · 2015
Ropeway renovation and extension
STM also undertakes modernization and expansion of existing aerial-lift installations. Its documented Balçova Gondola assignment involved renovating and extending a line that had been closed since 2007, with completion in 2015.
Brand decisions
2015
Expand from new-build systems into gondola modernizationStrategyBackground
The Balçova Gondola in İzmir had been closed in 2007 and required substantial renewal and extension.
Action taken
STM undertook the renovation and extension project for İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and completed the work in 2015.
Aftermath
The project added a prominent modernization and municipal-infrastructure reference to STM's portfolio.
Sources1 sources
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