Cable harnesses are commonly used in automobiles as well as construction machinery, providing clear advantages over loose wires in assembly speed, safety and durability.
In spite of increasing automation, cable harnesses continue to be manufactured largely by hand, because the work involves many different processes:
- Routing wires through sleeves
- Taping with fabric tape, particularly on branch-outs from wire strands
- Crimping terminals onto wires, especially multiple crimps
- Inserting one sleeve into another
- Fastening strands with tape, clamps or cable ties
Turkey’s position
Because of its labour-intensive nature, wire harness production is a natural fit for Turkey, where labour cost and logistical proximity to Europe come together. The sector hosts both plants of large international manufacturers and domestic firms working for OEMs.