User manual services
As your Chinese product reaches Turkish shelves, one delivery covers everything from the manual to the warranty certificate
White goods, electronics and machinery sold in Türkiye are generally expected to come with a Turkish user manual, and some products also need a warranty certificate and Turkish labels. Yeni İpekyolu (New Silk Road) combines translation, technical writing, layout and print-ready files in a single project; with one person in charge, your product’s market-launch documents are ready faster.
Product documents before shipping to Türkiye
Without a Turkish manual, the product can’t go on the shelf
Türkiye’s consumer protection and product safety regulations generally require products sold to consumers to come with a Turkish introduction and user manual, and for some product groups also a warranty certificate and after-sales service information. Which products are covered and what the content must include vary by product group and may be updated; rely on the current requirements of relevant authorities such as the Ministry of Trade. For Chinese exporters, the safest route is to clarify the document list with the Turkish importer before shipment.
In practice, importers and retail channels often raise requirements before the legislation does: chain stores and e-commerce platforms look at manuals and warranty certificates, and product documents may also be examined during customs checks or market surveillance inspections. Missing documents affect more than listing; they can lead to relabelling an entire batch or preparing additional documents. A manual should therefore be seen not as a post-shipment detail but as part of the market-launch plan.
A multi-model series with one project manager and translation memory
A complete manual project usually includes these steps: compiling the document list, assessing the Chinese text, rewriting if necessary, translating into Turkish, layout, proofing and delivering print files. If these steps are split among different suppliers, files go back and forth between parties, and version mix-ups or lost characters in layout happen easily. A single project manager runs the whole process; you deal with only one person.
For companies with a wide product range, we build a term base and translation memory and translate the content shared across models only once. When a new model or version arrives, previously translated sections are recognised and only new and changed parts are processed. This saves time and keeps Turkish wording consistent across the entire product group.
ş, ğ and ı showing up as boxes, and a manual with outdated images
The most common problem is machine-translating an English manual into Turkish; the result is stilted text with muddled terminology that Turkish consumers cannot understand, and the importer asks for it to be redone. The second is using a font in layout that does not support Turkish letters; in print, ı, ş and ğ turn into boxes or question marks. Another is a manual that does not match the product: the product has changed, but the manual still shows old images and values.
In addition, the importer’s name, address and service contact details on the warranty certificate and manual must be real, valid Turkish details, which the importer usually provides. These are commercial and compliance decisions that we cannot make on your behalf. To avoid major changes after layout is finished, we recommend requesting this information from your importer at the start of the project.
Request importer details at the start of the project
Yeni İpekyolu handles the writing, translation, layout and print preparation of manuals and product documents, and can also communicate with your Turkish importer about document requirements. We do not issue certifications such as CE or TSE, do not test products and do not decide whether a product complies with regulations; conformity assessment should be carried out by a certification body or compliance consultant. We can facilitate communication by translating the technical files needed for certification.
Before starting, prepare the manual source files, the model list and description of differences, product photos or a sample, and importer and service details. If the printer has technical specifications, share those too. The more complete the information, the more we get the work right first time and reduce rework.
Manufacturers shipping products to Turkish retail
Brands entering Turkish retail
Large chains and e-commerce platforms usually check Turkish manuals and warranty certificates before listing. If documents are missing, the product may be delisted or its listing postponed. Preparing the document set in advance makes channel negotiations easier.
Factories producing for Turkish importers
Importers ask the factory for complete Turkish product documentation for customs and sales. In Türkiye, the importer is generally held responsible to a certain extent for the products it places on the market, so it is meticulous about documentation. We can contact your importer directly to clarify the list of required documents.
Exporters with a wide product range
When several models share common content, terminology and version management reduce repeated work. We flag the sections that differ between models so that Model A’s values never end up in Model B’s manual. When a new model is added, only the differing parts are processed.
Manual, warranty certificate and labels: one delivery
Manual translation
Turkish versions of user manuals, quick start guides, and installation and maintenance instructions. The text is aimed at ordinary consumers, so plain, clear language is used and word-for-word translation is avoided. Safety warnings are given in consistent, attention-grabbing wording.
Technical writing and rewriting
If the source text is disorganised, the structure is first reorganised and safety warnings are added, then it is translated. In many factories, engineers write the Chinese manual, and steps may be missing or out of order. Fixing the Chinese text first safeguards the quality of the Turkish version.
Warranty certificate and service information
Preparation of the warranty certificate and authorised service information in Turkish. A warranty certificate usually includes importer or manufacturer details, the warranty period and service contact details. Confirm current rules for required fields with the relevant authority; we prepare the document based on information provided by you or your importer.
Label and packaging texts
Translation of the text on rating plates, boxes and warning labels, adapted to the available space. Turkish words are much longer than Chinese ones; when label space is tight, the wording has to be shortened. We control the character count while preserving the meaning.
Layout and prepress
Layout in source files such as InDesign; delivery of print PDFs and open files. Turkish-specific letters (such as ğ, ş, ı, İ) require a suitable font; otherwise, corrupted characters appear in print. We check fonts and line breaks before delivery.
Service summary and requirements
| Scope | Translation · writing · layout · prepress |
|---|---|
| Delivery format | Print PDF + source file |
| Pricing | Project-based quote |
| Service languages | Chinese · Turkish · English |
| Cities served | Mainly Istanbul; also Ankara, Izmir and other cities |
The final price and timeline depend on your documents and scope; we send a clear quote within 2 hours.
What you need to provide
- Manual source file (InDesign, Word or PDF; a source file speeds up layout)
- Model list and description of differences
- Product photos or a sample (if rewriting is needed)
- Turkish importer or service details (for the warranty certificate)
- Print size and delivery format
Five steps from document list to print file
- 1
Compiling the document list
The manuals, warranty certificates and labels required for each product model are listed. If your importer or sales channel has provided a list, we use it as the basis. The approved list serves as the work plan for the whole project.
- 2
Content assessment
The quality of the source text is reviewed, and we decide whether to translate directly or rewrite first. We point out missing safety warnings, unclear steps and images that do not match the product. Any rewriting proposal is submitted for your approval first.
- 3
Translation and writing
Technical translators translate; terminology and safety warnings are standardised. Button names, interface texts and manual wording are kept consistent across the same product group. If the product display has Turkish text, it can be checked at the same time.
- 4
Layout and proof
A proof is sent after layout; image–text alignment and line breaks are checked. We recommend that your Turkish importer or local team also review the proof. Corrections are collected and applied in one go.
- 5
Delivery of print files
Print-ready PDFs and source files are delivered and reused for later versions. The term base and translation memory are also kept. The factory can place a print order directly with the PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Turkish manual mandatory for products sold in Türkiye?
Under Türkiye’s consumer protection and product safety regulations, many products generally require a Turkish user manual, and some require a warranty certificate. Requirements vary by product group. Confirm with your importer or compliance consultant; we recommend checking current rules with the relevant authority.
I only want translation, without layout. Is that possible?
Yes. You can choose just one service; for example, we can translate the text only and leave the layout to your own design team. Taking several services together saves time through single-source management and prevents Turkish character errors in layout.
What happens to the manual when the product is updated?
The term base and translation memory are kept; in a new version, only the changed parts are processed. Old and new text stay consistent, so users are not confused by changes in wording. If you mark the changes, the process moves faster.
Can you help us obtain CE or TSE certification?
We do not issue CE, TSE or any other certification, nor do we test products. We can translate the technical files, declarations and correspondence required by the certification body and interpret between you and the body or consultant. The relevant body decides whether the certificate is granted.
Is it enough to provide the manual only online or via a QR code?
That depends on the product group and applicable regulations. For many consumer products, a printed Turkish manual containing at least the safety-related information is generally still expected. Confirm with your importer or compliance consultant whether a digital-only manual is sufficient, and check current rules with the relevant authority.
How long a warranty period should the warranty certificate state?
In Türkiye, minimum warranty periods are set for some products; for the exact period and scope, refer to current regulations of relevant authorities such as the Ministry of Trade. Warranty terms are a commercial and compliance decision for you and your importer. We translate and lay out the content you decide on.
Printing will be done at the factory in China; can you arrange delivery accordingly?
Yes. We deliver PDFs and source files that meet the printer’s requirements (with bleed, colour mode and other settings), so the factory can order directly. Share the printer’s technical specifications in advance. We recommend that your local importer give final approval of the Turkish content.
Tell us what you need in Türkiye
Our Chinese-speaking consultant reviews it for free and gives you a clear price and timeline.
