Turkish appliance titan Beko seals $340M deal with Italy to restructure operations

Turkish home appliances manufacturer Beko, a subsidiary of Arcelik, and Italy’s Ministry of Business and Made in Italy agreed Monday on €300 million ($340 million) investment plan to restructure the company’s manufacturing operations.

According to the ministry’s statement, all four Beko-operated factories in the country will remain operational, including the Siena facility. Previously slated for closure, the Siena site will undergo a reindustrialization process led by Invitalia, Italy’s national investment agency, in coordination with the local municipality.

The deal was formalized in Rome after receiving overwhelming support from workers—88% of Beko’s Italian employees voted in favor during a union referendum. Within the restructuring plan, the number of planned redundancies has been reduced from 1,935 to about 950, with all exits to occur on a voluntary and incentivized basis, with no forced layoffs.

‘Italian Plan’: Building a European production hub

The deal also introduces Beko’s €300 million “Italian Plan,” which will fund investments in product development, upgrades to production technologies, and modernization efforts at the company’s manufacturing facilities across Italy. An additional €40 million has been designated to cover workforce transition expenses and provide social assistance to employees affected by the restructuring.

According to the statement from Beko Europe, one-third of the total investment will be allocated to research and development. Site-specific plans include approximately €136 million for the Cassinetta plant, which will specialize in built-in cooking appliances and refrigeration. Production at this site will continue, and €8.5 million of the investment will go toward energy efficiency upgrades and solar panel installation.

The Melano plant, confirmed to remain operational, will become a European hub for gas, radiant, and induction hobs, with €62 million allocated for product and process development, including €1.5 million for energy improvements. The Comunanza site will maintain its role in producing premium washer-dryers and will also take on a new washer-dryer product line, supported by €15 million in investments, including €3 million for solar panels and energy upgrades.

The Carinaro facility is confirmed as the European center for spare parts and refurbished products, with €5 million allocated to expand storage capacity, upgrade technological processes, and maintain operations.

The Siena plant, while set to cease production by the end of the year, will undergo an industrial transformation process through 2025 as part of a reindustrialization effort. If those efforts do not progress as planned, existing lease and employment agreements will remain valid until the end of 2027. Across all sites, total investment in energy efficiency initiatives and solar panel installations will amount to nearly €13 million.

As part of the restructuring plan, 1,284 positions will be affected to align with Beko’s new operational structure in Italy, aiming to ensure long-term stability. To reduce the impact, a support and exit incentive program has been established in coordination with institutions and trade unions, the company added.

“Italy has always been a strategic pillar in our global operations,” said Fatih Ebiclioglu, President of Consumer Durables at Koc Holding and Chairman of Beko Europe. “This agreement reflects the value of open dialogue and shared responsibility.”

Founded in 1955, Beko is owned by Türkiye’s largest conglomerate, Koc Holding. The company employs around 55,000 people globally, with operations in 58 countries and 46 production facilities in 14 countries.