Fornax
Fornax is a Turkish manufacturer of PVC and aluminum door and window hardware accessories (espingolettes, locks, hinges, sliding systems), serving window/door manufacturers, construction firms, and individual buyers via B2B direct sales, e-commerce, and international export.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersEsenyurt
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Fornax does
Fornax is a Turkish manufacturer of PVC and aluminum door and window hardware accessories, operating as a brand under Yelken Group from its headquarters and production facility in Esenyurt, Istanbul. The company's product portfolio is organized into four main categories: Door Systems (locked espagnolettes, mortise locks, cylinders, hinges, handles, corner welding wedges), Window Systems (single/double opening systems, aluminum double opening systems, double wing systems, window handles), Sliding Systems (simple, parallel, Hebeschiebe lift-and-slide, Pavo Slide, and folding sliding systems), and Other Products (double glazing accessories, transom accessories, mounting accessories, fly screen accessories, center link connection wedges, espagnolette counterparts, and facade trusses). Notable proprietary technology includes the YelkenCoat 480-hour corrosion resistance coating and folding sliding systems rated for 100 kg load capacity and 25,000 opening/closing cycles per DIN EN 13126-15.
The company's business model is anchored in B2B sales to window and door manufacturers, construction companies, and assembly operations, complemented by direct-to-customer transactions through an owned e-commerce platform (yelken.oduyo.com.tr) and international export distribution to numerous countries. Fornax operates under ISO 9001:2000 quality management certification (obtained 2007) and positions its product compatibility across multiple PVC window profile systems. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; enterprise transactions are quote-based while consumer purchases flow through the e-commerce cart. The company has no institutional investors, no external funding rounds, and no disclosed revenue figures.
Founded in 1969 by Mr. Süleyman Yelken, Fornax began as a sheet metal parts supplier before pivoting to PVC door and window accessories in the early 1990s. The company was formally incorporated as YELKEN MADENİ EŞYA SAN.TİC.LTD. in 1990, restructured as YELKEN KALIP A.Ş. in 2006, and operates today as YELKEN KALIP PENCERE KAPI AKS. ve METAL SAN. TİC. A.Ş. The historical Bosch Profilo supplier relationship during the 1980s enabled early scale before the strategic shift to the current fenestration hardware focus.
Fornax firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fornax
- Legal name
- YELKEN KALIP PENCERE KAPI AKS. ve METAL SAN. TİC. A.Ş.
- Website
- https://fornax.com.tr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Fornax is a Turkish manufacturer of PVC and aluminum door and window hardware accessories (espingolettes, locks, hinges, sliding systems), serving window/door manufacturers, construction firms, and individual buyers via B2B direct sales, e-commerce, and international export.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fornax industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Window and Door Hardware
- NAICS
- Hardware Manufacturing (332510)
- SIC
- Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Hardware & Door Controls (Hinges, Locks, Closers, Panic Devices) (IMADAIAI)
Keywords
Where Fornax is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Esenyurt
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fornax business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: Direct sales of PVC door and window accessories including espagnolettes, locks, cylinders, hinges, sliding systems, and related hardware components. The company operates an e-commerce platform and exports internationally to numerous countries.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Fornax product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fornax manufactures and sells physical hardware components for PVC, aluminum, and wooden door and window systems, including espagnolettes, mortise locks, cylinders, hinges, handles, single/double opening mechanisms, and simple/parallel/lift-and-slide/folding sliding systems. The company supplies these components to window and door manufacturers, construction firms, and end consumers through B2B direct sales, e-commerce, and international export channels.
Product overview
Fornax is a manufacturer of PVC door and window hardware accessories, operating as a brand under Yelken Group. The product portfolio consists of physical hardware components organized into four main categories: Door Systems (locked espagnolettes, mortise locks, cylinders, hinges, arms, corner welding wedges), Window Systems (double/single opening systems, aluminum double opening systems, double wing systems, window handles), Sliding Systems (simple, parallel, Hebeschiebe lift-and-slide, Pavo Slide, and folding sliding systems with associated handles), and Other Products (double glazing accessories, transom accessories, mounting accessories, fly screen accessories, center link wedges, facade trusses). The company was founded in 1969 and specializes in precision metal hardware for the fenestration industry, exporting to multiple countries worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Door Systems (Kapı Sistemleri) Comprehensive range of PVC door hardware components including locked espagnolettes, mortise locks, cylinders, hinges, arms, and corner welding wedges for door applications, sold to window and door manufacturers and individual consumers.
- Window Systems (Pencere Sistemleri) Complete window hardware solutions including double opening systems, aluminum double opening systems, double wing systems, single opening systems, and window handles for window and door manufacturers.
- Sliding Systems (Sürme Sistemler) Sliding window and door hardware systems including simple sliding, parallel sliding, Hebeschiebe lift-and-slide, Pavo Slide, and folding sliding systems with associated handles and accessories for window/door manufacturers and construction projects.
- Other Products (Diğer Ürünler) Supplementary window and door hardware including double glazing accessories, transom accessories, mounting accessories, fly screen accessories, center link connection wedges, espagnolette counterparts, and facade trusses for window and door manufacturers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 480-hour corrosion resistance with YelkenCoat coating technology
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Fornax
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fornax technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Fornax partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Bosch ProfilocoreHistorical supplier relationship during the 1980s. Fornax supplied sheet metal parts including washing machine components, refrigerator sheet metal and wire parts, oven sheet metal and wire parts to Bosch Profilo. This partnership enabled rapid company growth and established the foundation for continued expansion.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Fornax competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Winkhaus: German hardware manufacturer offering espagnolettes, multi-point locks, cylinders and door hardware. Highly comparable to Fornax in product scope, B2B GTM and target customer (window/door OEMs) with deep European export presence.
- Gretsch-Unitas (GU): German group manufacturing window and door hardware, including espagnolette systems, hinges and lift-slide solutions. Overlapping product and customer base with Fornax in Europe and global export markets.
- Dr. Hahn: German manufacturer specializing in hinges for PVC and aluminum doors, including 3D-adjustable models. Directly comparable to Fornax's hinge product line serving window/door OEMs globally.
- VBH: European hardware distributor and brand selling espagnolettes, locks, cylinders, hinges and sliding hardware to window/door manufacturers. Directly comparable supply-side role to Fornax in the OEM channel.
- Hoppe: European manufacturer of window and door handles (aluminum, stainless steel and resin). Directly comparable to Fornax's window and door handle/arm sub-categories serving PVC and aluminum systems manufacturers.
- Roto Frank: German-founded global leader in window and door hardware, including espagnolettes, multi-point locking systems, hinges and sliding hardware. Directly comparable product portfolio and customer base to Fornax in the PVC fenestration OEM channel.
- MACO: Austrian manufacturer of window and door hardware including espagnolettes, locks, hinges and sliding systems. Direct competitor with overlapping B2B customer base of PVC systems manufacturers and similar product scope.
- Savio: Italian hardware manufacturer specializing in window and door hardware, including cremone bolts, hinges and sliding systems. Competes with Fornax's Pavo Slide and folding sliding offerings in Mediterranean and adjacent export markets.
- Siegenia: German manufacturer of hardware for windows and doors (tilt-and-turn, parallel sliding, lift-and-slide). Competes with Fornax across the same PVC hardware categories supplied to window and door OEMs in Europe and export markets.
Broad incumbents
- ASSA ABLOY: Swedish global leader in access solutions with broad lock, door hardware and security product portfolio. Larger incumbent that competes with Fornax on locks and cylinders but operates across a much wider security and access footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fornax social profiles
Digital presenceFornax compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Fornax financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fornax leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Fornax funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fornax M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fornax
What does Fornax do?
Fornax manufactures and sells physical hardware components for PVC, aluminum, and wooden door and window systems, including espagnolettes, mortise locks, cylinders, hinges, handles, single/double opening mechanisms, and simple/parallel/lift-and-slide/folding sliding systems. The company supplies these components to window and door manufacturers, construction firms, and end consumers through B2B direct sales, e-commerce, and international export channels.
Is Fornax a public or private company?
Fornax is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Fornax founded?
Fornax was founded in 1969. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Fornax based?
Fornax is headquartered in Esenyurt.
How does Fornax make money?
One revenue line is on record: hardware Product Sales.
Who are Fornax's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Winkhaus, Gretsch-Unitas (GU), Dr. Hahn, VBH, Hoppe, Roto Frank, MACO, Savio and Siegenia. ASSA ABLOY is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Fornax have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fornax.
What industry is Fornax in?
Fornax's product category is Window and Door Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAIAI, Architectural Hardware & Door Controls (Hinges, Locks, Closers, Panic Devices). Its NAICS code is 332510 and its SIC code is 3442.