Maxion İnci Wheel Group Celebrates the Inauguration of Formare Türkiye
Enhancing youth employability by strengthening the connection between industry, academia and society
Maxion İnci Wheel Group, a partnership of Maxion Wheels and İnci Holding, together with the Iochpe Foundation from Brazil, the İnci Foundation and Manisa Celal Bayar University from Türkiye, yesterday celebrated the inauguration of Formare Türkiye with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Formare Learning Center in Manisa. Created by the Iochpe Foundation in Brazil more than 30 years ago, Formare is a professional qualification program that combines theoretical learning with hands-on industrial experience and has helped transform the lives of young people from underprivileged communities.
Within Maxion’s Formare journey, Türkiye marks the first implementation of the program in Europe and the fifth country to adopt this innovative professional education model after Brazil, Mexico, India and Argentina. The launch represents an important step in strengthening youth employability, social inclusion and practical learning opportunities in Türkiye, while reinforcing Maxion İnci Wheel Group’s role in connecting industry, academia and society in the region.
Türkiye was selected for the next Maxion Formare expansion due to its strong industrial base, the six manufacturing facilities in Manisa, an established vocational education ecosystem and the shared commitment of partners to Formare’s social purpose. At its core, the launch reflects the willingness of Iochpe Foundation and İnci Foundation to join forces around a common goal: expanding opportunities for young people by strengthening the bridge between education and employment. Through this partnership, Formare Türkiye adapts the program’s proven methodology to local needs, creating value for students, industry and society.
The first cohort will comprise 16 students aged between 18 and 23 from Manisa Vocational School of Technical Sciences and the Department of Machinery and Metal Technologies, including nine young women, reflecting Formare’s commitment to expanding opportunities and employability for female talent in technical fields.
The program will run for one year and conclude with the Formare Türkiye Program Participation Certificate. The training will combine technical and socio-emotional skills, with a strong focus on preparing participants for the expectations of the corporate environment.
“Formare Türkiye reflects our belief that business success must go hand in hand with creating opportunities for our youth and the communities where they live. By bringing together the experience of the Iochpe Foundation, the local strength of Maxion İnci Wheel Group and the academic contribution of Manisa Celal Bayar University, we are helping young people gain the skills and confidence they need for the future,” said Pieter Klinkers, President and CEO of Iochpe-Maxion.
“Formare Türkiye is a meaningful example of how industry can contribute to the future by investing in youth. At Maxion İnci Wheel Group, we are proud to support a program that gives young people the opportunity to gain practical experience, build professional confidence and take stronger steps into working life. We believe this collaboration will create lasting value for our students, our region and our country,” said Mustafa Zaim, Chairman of the Board of Maxion İnci and Maxion Jantaş.
The program curriculum was developed in collaboration with Manisa Celal Bayar University and approved by the institution, while input from the Manisa Organized Industrial Park (MOSB) regarding sectoral needs was also taken into consideration. A distinctive feature of the program is the involvement of professionals from different fields as educators. Maxion Inci Wheel Group employees, external instructors, volunteers from the İnci Foundation and academic contributors from the university will support the training, strengthening the connection between industry, academia and society.
“For more than three decades, Formare has shown how education, practical experience and volunteer engagement can open new paths for young people. The launch in Türkiye brings this proven model into a new context, enriched by the partnership between Maxion İnci Wheel Group and Manisa Celal Bayar University. It is also an opportunity for us to share the experience built in Brazil while continuing to learn from each community where Formare grows,” said Claudio Anjos, President, Iochpe Foundation.
“As a foundation with 41 years of experience, we are committed to expanding opportunities for young people to become active and productive members of society through education. We believe that education is one of the most powerful tools for creating lasting social impact. Formare Türkiye is particularly meaningful to us as it gives young people the opportunity to discover their potential, gain hands-on experience, and step into working life with greater confidence. We are proud to support this collaboration and contribute to a program that creates value for young people, industry and society,” said Ece Elbirlik Ürkmez, Energy Source, İnci Foundation.
“As Manisa Celal Bayar University, we value Formare Türkiye as a strong step in bringing academic learning closer to the needs of industry. By combining classroom education with practical experience, the program will help our students develop the skills and perspective required for their professional future. We are pleased to be part of this collaboration, which also strengthens university-industry cooperation in our region,” said said Prof. Dr. Oktay Üçer, Acting Rector, Manisa Celal Bayar University.
ABOUT MAXION İNCI WHEEL GROUP
Maxion İnci Wheel Group, founded in 1968, is a strategic partnership between Maxion Wheels, one of the world’s leading wheel manufacturers, and İnci Holding. Operating through Maxion Jantaş and Maxion İnci, the Group employs approximately 1,900 people and has annual production capacity of around 13 million steel and aluminum wheels. Exporting to more than 60 countries across five continents, Maxion İnci Wheel Group is a key contributor to Maxion’s global manufacturing footprint and today offers Europe’s broadest wheel product portfolio.
With its advanced manufacturing capabilities, strong focus on quality, sustainability and innovation, and long-standing commitment to talent development and social contribution, Maxion İnci Wheel Group plays an active role in strengthening the connection between industry, education and society.
To learn more, visit www.maxionwheelsturkey.com
ABOUT IOCHPE FOUNDATION’S FORMARE PROGRAM
The Iochpe Foundation is a nonprofit organization with 37 years of history based in São Paulo, Brazil, with the mission to drive social transformation by promoting equity and creating opportunities for social growth through professional qualification and art education. The Formare program is a benchmark in Brazil for providing professional training to economically and socially vulnerable young people. In partnership with medium- and large-size companies, Formare offers initial professional training courses to young people from low-income families enrolled in public high schools. Through the work of volunteer educators, the program has trained over 28,000 young people, and according to a survey by Plano CDE, 89% of those graduates secure formal jobs in their first employment. The courses at Maxion units are certified by the Federal University of Technology – Paraná (UTFPR) in Brazil, the Technological University of San Luis Potosí (UTSLP), the Technological University of Chihuahua (UTCH) in Mexico, the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) in India, the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional (UTN) - Faculdad Regional Cordoba in Argentina and the Manisa Celal Bayar University (MCBÜ) in Türkiye. To learn more, visit www.fiochpe.org.br.