Taiwan Takes Aim at High-end Markets

Machining center suppliers in Taiwan are tapping their extensive design and machining experiences to roll out price-competitive state-of-the-art models, some of which are poised to go head-to-head on quality and functionality with advanced models produced by industry leaders Japan, Germany, and the United States.

Machining centers are among the most sophisticated metalworking machines designed and manufactured in Taiwan. Over the past year, some manufacturers have upgraded their skills and retooled facilities to roll out such products.

The production hub for machining centers is located in central Taiwan, where manufacturers enjoy the strong support of peripheral industries, including sheet metal, key components, and surface treatment suppliers. Domestic manufacturers are able to produce both vertical and horizontal machining centers, and some are even entering the water-jet cutting machine line.

Domestic manufacturers of machining centers prefer to adopt high-performance computer numerically controlled (CNC) controllers from Fanuc, Mitsubishi, and Siemens, though a few rely on PC (personal computer)-based CNC controllers. Some veteran manufacturers admit PC-based controllers are not quite mature enough for use in sophisticated machining centers. In Taiwan, the flat-price PC-based controllers are used in plastic injection molding machines, woodworking machines, and various types of textile machines that do not require the same high level of machining accuracy as metalworking machines.

Many of the new machines are coming off the lines of start-ups launched by veteran mechanical technicians and designers over the past two years. One of the newcomers says at least five or six new manufacturers stepped into the machining-center industry last year.

Thanks to the efforts made by domestic manufacturers in this line to expand production capacity over the past few years, Taiwan's production and exports of machining centers have been on a rising trend. According to statistics compiled by the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI), Taiwan exported over US$699 million worth of machining centers in the first 11 months of last year, up 27.1% year-on-year from about US$550 million in the year-earlier period.

Making the Cut

Asia Machine Group (Taiwan), established a decade ago, specializes in the production of large-sized CNC cutting and drilling equipment for the metalworking industry.

The company adopts British technology along with its own cutting-edge automation technology to produce its ultra-high-pressure FSWJ-series water-jet cutting machines.

Robin Fu, managing director of the company, says Asia Machine is committed to developing trustworthy products that deliver consistently high-efficient results.

Fu claims that his company is Taiwan's sole developer of software for CNC cutting control systems. The company incorporates such software in its plate-cutting machines.

The company's research and development department in charge of developing new machine models to meet the special demands of customers. Innovation and creativity have earned the company a good reputation at home and abroad.

At present, the company's major product lines include CNC flame/plasma cutting machines (large, medium, and small), CNC plate drilling machines (large and medium), CNC pipe cutting machines, tracing systems, and CNC cutting controllers.

The CNC flame/plasma cutting machine features a servo control system and heat-treated heavy-duty drive rack. The machine also incorporates high-end imported key components.

The CNC plate-drilling machine has a rigid structure to ensure stable drilling operation. The machine reduces the need for drill head changes, enabling rapid and high-efficient operation.

The CNC pipe-cutting machine is suitable for use in the steel-pipe, steel structure, and petrochemical industries. The machine can be fitted with normal or 3D software systems, or joined with a flame/plasma plate cutting machine to handle multifunctional tasks.

The cutting machine has an 800 x 1100mm tracing system featuring a CNC cutting controller with color Chinese/English graphical display. The system is designed for use in flame/plasma cutting machines and pipe cutting machines.

Speedy Machines

Arix Cnc Machines Co., Ltd., founded in 1995 in Tainan County, southern Taiwan, is one of Taiwan's most professional manufacturers of CNC machine tools, especially high-speed machining centers.

The company prides itself on providing price-competitive CNC machine tools that deliver high performance results. Arix Yang, general manager of the company, says the company's R&D team has expertise in mechanical design, computer hardware and software, machining techniques, and international marketing.

The company uses the "Arix" brand on products for exports. With a work force of 25, the company currently is capable of rolling out 20 CNC machining centers per month.

Yang says his company is pursuing advanced technologies to manufacture high-speed machining centers. "We can also offer compact machining centers for high-speed machining jobs, " says Yang. "For instance, our most compact high-speed machining center occupies only three square meters. But the machine is equipped with a high-speed spindle featuring a 20, 000-plus rpm spindle speed, suitable for cutting HRC60-class hardened steel."

Unit prices for the company's products range from US$25, 000 to US$50, 000. Over the past three years, the company has increased revenue by 30% annually.

Thanks to the dedication of its R&D team, the company regularly turns out new machine tool models to meet the changing demand of the world marketplace. Currently the company is developing a double-column high-speed machining center.

To meet an influx of foreign orders over the past three years, Arix inaugurated a new 1, 768-square-meter plant at the Southern Taiwan Science Park last June.

Vertical Ascent

Goushin Machinery Tools Co., Ltd., established in April 1996, has specialized in vertical machining centers and automatic tool changers (ATCs), though in recent years it has been branching out into new markets.

The company relies on self-developed manufacturing technologies, as well as advanced manufacturing technologies acquired from a long-term business partner.

At present the company's major product lines include vertical machining centers, gear-type spindle heads, and ATCs. The company's BT50 spindle head is a 10, 000rpm BT40 type model with 12, 000rpm to 15, 000rpm machining speed.

"We focus on gear-type spindle heads because they offer high machining accuracy, " says Chen Yi-chen, president of the company. "In addition, the gear-type spindle head has more durability than conventional pulley-type ones. Our gear-type spindle heads are suitable for use in machining centers and milling machines."

The company's products are mainly exported to mainland China, Southeast Asian nations, the U.S., and Europe. Currently the company supplies most of its products on an OEM (original equipment manufacturing) basis, though some of its business is conducted on ODM and OBM (original design/brand manufacturer) terms.

"Half of our products are sold to mainland China, " says Chen. "We enjoyed booming sales in the mainland in the first half of last year, but sales have been shrinking since the middle of last year because of the imposition of the strict macroeconomic-control policy by the mainland government two years ago."

The company is capable of rolling out 15 vertical machining centers per month from its 10, 800-square-foot factory. "With the support of satellite factories nearby our headquarters in Taichung City, we can turn out more sophisticated machines to meet rush orders, " says Chen.

The company recently bought a new plant near its headquarters. The new plant will make several new products, including double-column and horizontal machining centers. Chen says the double-column model is now in the final inspection stage and will be introduced within the next few months. The horizontal machining center is slated to come off the lines at a later date.

Well Controlled

C-Tek Technology Corporation, founded in 1991, manufactures CNC machine tools and sophisticated CNC controllers.

Over the past decade, the ISO-9001:2000-certified company has developed CNC milling machines, machining centers, electric discharge machines (EDMs), wire-cut EDMs, and drilling EDMs.

Sparker Chang, president of the company, says his company is capable of rolling out state-of-the-art machine tools equipped with self-developed CNC controllers able to handle accurate and high-speed machining. Chang notes his company constantly develops new machines to meet global market trends, including a recently debuted a large-sized double-column CNC milling machine.

Chang claims his company is the only machine tool manufacturer in Taiwan able to provide a comprehensive package of software, PC-based CNC controllers, servomotors and drivers for its machine tools.

C-Tek's CNC milling machines have an extremely rigid casting construction. The main casting bed, column, saddle, table of the machines are made of high-quality Meehanite. The machines also feature hardened three-axis slideway, heat-treated table surfaces, and precision-ground T-slots.

"We focus on advanced machine tools that are easy to operate and repair, " says Chang. "This has earned us a good reputation at home and abroad. All of our products are CE-approved."

C-Tek says its machines are highly price competitive with rival products. "We have thoroughly rationalized our production processes to keep our costs down, " Chang says.

The company exports most of its products, mainly to Africa, the Middle East, Western Europe, mainland China, and North America.