Over the past decade, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has been promoting industrial automation earnestly. A projection prepared by the MOEA shows that Taiwan will grow to be Asia`s No.1 supplier of integrated automation systems in the decade to come, with an annual increase of 10% in output.

The Chinese Society of Automation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping domestic firms step up automation, says that because of the MOEA`s efforts to promote industrial automation, Taiwan`s enterprises have significantly enhanced their automation capability in manufacturing processes over the past few years and they will continue to do so in the next few years.

Taiwan`s automation industry covers a vast range of applications and usually refers to automated machinery and related production equipment used in manufacturing, commercial, architecture, agriculture, and transportation industries, wherein automated machinery plays a vital role to upgrade, speed and systemize production processes.

The development of Taiwan`s automated machinery industry dates back to the 1980s. Labor shortage and wage hikes at that time became major problems that hindered labor-intensive manufacturing industries. Domestic manufacturers realized then that traditional machines and machines requiring high degrees of manual input no longer have an edge. Since that time, manufacturers here have been actively introducing new computer-based techniques and used automated machinery to boost production efficiency.

Domestically made CNC (computerized numerically controlled) lathes and machining centers were the largest product categories for Taiwan`s automated machinery industry. Over the past few years, many manufacturers have largely adopted automation technologies to develop all sorts of automated machinery, including plastic injection machinery, woodworking machinery, textile machinery, and packaging machinery.

Automated machinery and relevant production equipment are generally used in automation production, including material feeding, processing, assembling, inspection, packaging, and storage. It is also classified by function and divided into single machine automation, production line automation, and computer integrated manufacturing systems (CIMS).

At present, many domestic manufacturers are already capable of producing general automated production equipment and single-unit machinery automation. Some domestic research & development institutions have been involved in developing production automation equipment combining integrated systems; however, this type of high-tech product still relies on imported parts.

Major categories of machine tools made in Taiwan include the machining centers, NC (numerically controlled) lathes, and NC milling machinery. In response to the need of the rapidly growing information-technology market, development of the PC-based machine tools should be domestic machinery firms` priority in the next few years to come.

Taiwan`s automated machinery industry has formed a solid basis over the past decade and enjoyed government assistance, including tax reductions and the support of research institutes. It has progressed through the single machine automation process in the 1980s, and moved ahead into the development of systematic automation in the 1990s. In the new millennium, booming high-tech industries like information, communications, and the Internet have realized many uncertainties for the global market. In addition to enhancing the R&D of turnkey parts and components for automatic controllers, the priority in the future will be fully tapping the potential offered by the Internet and introducing advanced systems of integrated technology; all the while Internet technology continues to significantly influence the industrial automation process.

Through the recently launched "Manufacturing Automation and Computerization Program" and other related government programs, the automated machinery industry stands as the backbone to maintain a competitive edge and uphold economic growth in Taiwan.

Human/Machine Interfaces

Maxthermo-Gitta Group Corp., established in 1978, is one of Taiwan’s most professional developers and manufacturers of factory-automation instrument. With almost three decades of operations, the company has seen its market share grow domestically over the past few years.



In the initial stage of its inception, the company focused on the development of temperature controllers and thermo-couplers. In 2001, the company set up a research and development department to tap manufacturing PID (proportional, integral, derivative) temperature controllers, programmable logic controllers, and human machine interfaces.

At present, the company`s major product lines include automation appliances, control instruments, heaters, meters, sensor transmitters, refrigeration air conditioning parts and tools, electronic components, temperature controllers, timers, proximity switches and photo sensors.

Stone Tsai, president of the company, notes that his company has the expertise to offer total solutions for customers to tackle factory-automation problems. The company claims it has established a solid reputation in the domestic market. Its products have been exported to more than 100 nations worldwide, mainly to South America, the Middle East and some industrialized European nations.

Based on the three-pronged business principle of high quality, good service and reasonable price, Maxthermo-Gitta is capable of developing suitable products to meet customers` special requirements in the factory-automation arena.

The company notes that it is developing a new series of innovative products that meet market trends. In addition to developing high-end products, the company has been paying attention to providing effective after-sale services.

Automated Welding and Heating

Welder Top Electric Machinery Co., Ltd., established in 2000, is one of Taiwan`s most professional manufacturers of automated welding and heating machines. The company boasts it is capable of developing a wide range of welding machines because of the strong backup from an in-house research and development team.



At present, the company`s welding machine product lines include air pressure type spot welder, straightening burning weld auto table, three-axis CNC (computerized numerically controlled) welding automation table, air pressure type seam welder, wire-basket-door multi-spot welder, double roller type bending machine, air pressure precision type battery direct-current spot welder, vertical type burning weld auto rotating table, and cut-welding machine.

Since its inception, the company has never ceased development of innovative products to meet special requirements of customers from around the world. The company also designs, manufactures and repairs special-purpose machines.

Situated in Taichung City, central Taiwan, the company has a factory of 300 pings (10,800 square feet). With a workforce of 15, the company saw annual sales reach NT$38 million (US$1.17 million at US$1:NT$32.5) last year.

Over the past few years, the company has penetrated the segment to produce spot welders, automatic argon welding and CO2 welding tables, welding molds and electrode materials.

Welder Top boasts it has paid ample attention to elevating the quality of its products since its establishment. For instance, the company says it is capable of delivering high-quality machines faster than others.

At present, the majority of the company`s total output is exported, with Southeast Asia being the company`s largest export outlet.

Automated Peripheral Equipment for Pressing

Retain Industrial Corp., founded in 1979, is one of Taiwan`s most professional manufacturers of peripheral equipment for pressing machines. In the early stage of its inception, the company began to develop precision punch formers.



With almost three decades of development, the ISO9001:2000 and CE-certified company has developed a lot of state-of-the-art peripheral equipment to meet the requirements of customers from around the world.

At present, the company mainly supplies feeders, wire straighteners, multiple spindle heads, and cradles. Major product lines are presses, roller feeders, gripper feeders, cam feeders, NC servo feeders, NC heavy-duty feeders, uncoilers and leveler combination, punching formers, NC straightener feeders, levelers, precision roll levelers, motorized scrap choppers, stock reels and rewind reels, C.C.D., other peripheral equipment, NC servo roller feeder, precision straighteners, and stock reels.

The company boasts that its feeders can be used for feeding materials with a wide range of thicknesses and widths, as well as for different feeding lengths.

One of Retain`s most popular products is the servomotor-controlled straightener- feeder, which is built with a highly-rigid structure. The compact straightener-feeder can be opened for easy cleaning and maintenance.

Since 1982, the company has exported products to the most critical Japanese market, showing that its dedication to developing sophisticated products has paid off. Over the past several years, the company has spared no effort improving the functions of its products aimed at fully satisfying the demand of customers.

To provide better services to customers, the company has established two representative offices in mainland China, with one in Dongguan of Guangdong Province and another in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province.

Precision Parts for Automation Equipment

Jiuh Ching Industries Co., Ltd., established in 1987, is one of Taiwan`s most professional manufacturers of parts and components for automation equipment used in machinery, automobile, hardware and electronics sectors.



The company says its products are developed to help customers raise the proportion of automation of their production or even manufacturing processes. Company president Tie-lung Shiu says he has accumulated over two decades of manufacturing experience in this field, capable of developing sophisticated parts and components to increase the degree of automation of any machinery and production equipment.

With a workforce of 30, the company, based in Tainan, southern Taiwan, has an annual production capacity of one million parts per month. The company says it has established an in-house research and development department responsible for designing and producing reliable products to meet customers’ special requirements.

Jiuh Ching notes that it employs an array of automatic production equipment in-house with an aim to develop quality-consistent products. “The adoption of automatic production equipment has helped us speed up production time to meet the requirements for fast delivery,” Shiu says.

"As the world market increasingly demands automation in production processes, I think my company has to keep pace with the world trend by developing innovative products," Shiu states.

Jiuh Ching has expertise in developing sophisticated parts and components for hardware, automobile and motorcycle industries. "We can help customers develop just about any parts with various degree of complexity as long as they can provide drawings or samples," Shiu says.

At present, the company`s products can be roughly divided into four categories, including auto lighting accessories, auto parts, hardware and metal products on OEM/ODM (original equipment/design manufacturer) basis, and pneumatic machinery parts. Major products for the category of auto parts include water supply fittings, lathe-processed products, lock cylinders, automobile radiator fitting refrigerant fix plates, fittings for cellular phone stations, automobile fast fittings, and electronic connectors.

Over the past few years, Jiuh Ching has achieved remarkable growth in sales at home and abroad. The company attributes the substantial sales growth to its long-term dedication to developing high-quality and advanced products for various kinds of industries. "Our efforts over the past few years have helped us build a sound reputation among our long-term clients the world over," says Shiu.

In addition to the domestic market, Jiuh Ching has exported products to the U.S., Canada, Japan, and Southeast Asia nations. Over the past one year, the company has seen substantial growth in orders from the U.S. and Japan. Shiu believes that his company will continue to realize sales growth in industrialized nations where automated manufacturing is both taken for granted and deeply rooted.
(by Ben Shen)