Buyers Line Up for Linear Models

Machining center manufacturers in Taiwan are rolling out new models with linear motors and guideways to meet the growing demand for high-speed metalworking capability. Many models with linear motors were first debuted in March this year at the Taipei International Machine Tools Show (TIMTOS) held at the Taipei World Trade Center.

The success in making linear motor-based machining centers can be attributed to the collaboration between the manufacturers and the Mechanical Industry Research Laboratories (MIRL) under the government-backed Industrial Technology Research Institute. After years of intensive research, MIRL has developed and transferred to nine domestic manufacturers key technology for linear motor production.

The new linear motor-based machining centers have earned high praise from foreign buyers who visited the 2005 TIMTOS. Many exhibitors of the machines expect sales to continue to grow through the second half of this year and even into the next year because of the positive response from foreign buyers.

According to customs statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF), exports of Taiwan-made machining centers amounted to US$307.5 million in the first five months of this year, up 37% from the corresponding period of last year.

Hong Kong and mainland China together were the largest export outlet for Taiwan-made made machining centers in the first five months of this year, followed by the U.S., Turkey, Thailand, the Netherlands, South Korea, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Italy, Malaysia, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Brazil, and Canada.

With orders rushing in, the outlook for Taiwan's machining center sector is very promising. TMTF CEO Wang Cheng-ching says domestic manufacturers of machining centers can expect orders to keep piling up from customers in Taiwan and in mainland China, Southeast Asia, Southwestern Asia, the U.S. and East Europe in the months to come.

Chipmaking Equipment

Kao Fong Machinery Co., Ltd., one of Taiwan's leading manufacturers of computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools, recently announced its decision to produce semiconductor manufacturing equipment at its new plant in Taichung Science-based Industrial Park, which is slated to begin operation by the end of this year.

Company chairman Chuang Kuo-hui announced the news at a shareholder meeting in May at the company's headquarters in Taya of Taichung County, central Taiwan. The company expects to see substantial sales growth in the U.S. this year.

At the annual meeting, Kao Fong's board of directors resolved to issue a cash dividend of NT$0.5 (US$0.015 at US$1:NT$31.3) this year. Shareholders participating in the meeting also passed a proposal authoring the company's board of directors to increase investments in mainland China.

Kao Fong is rumored to be considering setting up a joint venture company in mainland China with a Japanese manufacturer of machine tools, with each side anteing up US$1 million. Kao Fong already has a production facility in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, mainland China for the manufacture of small-sized machine tools, including machining centers.

Kao Fong president Chan Chih-cheng says his company encountered a sharp decline in earnings last year due to foreign exchange fluctuations and a sharp rise in raw material prices. But he believes things will get better in the second half of this year as his company expands into new markets and continues to add new foreign orders.

Kao Fong's parent in Taiwan has a three-month backlog of orders, including a big-ticket order for 142 machine tools. Kao Fong's order surge comes on the back of the booming world machine tool market, Chan says.

The company expects revenue to benefit from the debut of several new machine models later this year, including the V3300 linear motor double-column machining center and HMC630 horizontal machining center, both of which are slated to hit the market in the third quarter of this year.

With an annual production capacity of 10 machine tools, Kao Fong's Kunshan plant in the mainland is expected to begin turning profitable in the second half of this year. The company's U.S. subsidiary is also rapidly expanding, with first-quarter output surpassing the total for all of last year. The company claims its combined output capacity will reach 600 machine tools this year, up 25% from last year.

Breaking the Mold

Another leading manufacturer in this line is Frank Phoenix International Corp., which was established in 1990. The company is one of Taiwan's specialist manufacturers of mold-making related machine tools, including CNC milling machines, lathes, grinding machines, conventional machine tools and their accessories.

At present the company's major product lines are CNC lathes, CNC milling machines, machining centers, conventional lathes, conventional milling machines, and accessories/parts for various types of machine tools. The company sells its products under the "Phoenix" brand for exports.

The company's production is supported by a wholly owned subsidiary TOPFIT Machinery Co., Ltd. Which is capable of rolling out various kinds of small and large machine tools.

A decade ago Frank Phoenix began producing CNC machines, including milling machines and lathes that can be equipped with locally developed and foreign-made IPC (industrial personal computer)-based CNC controllers.

Since entering the CNC market, Frank Phoenix has been paying more attention to developing practical and reliable IPC-based controllers aimed at enhancing the performance of its products. In 1997, the company teamed up with the MIRL to develop powerful IPC-based CNC controllers.

In addition to its self-developed IPC-based controllers, the company also adopts CNC controllers from such leading brands as Fagor, Anilam, and Fanuc.

"My company is supported by a well-established in-house R&D unit which has accumulated over two decades of experiences in developing sophisticated automated machine tools, " says Frank Lin, president of the company. "For instance, in 2003 we became Taiwan's first manufacturer to develop Windows-based high-speed CNC controllers for use in high-performance machine tools."

In the first quarter of this year, Frank Phoenix introduced a series of flat-bed CNC lathes with rigid and strong construction. The machines feature auto gear shifting and full enclosure guards, ensuring high performance, safe and easy operation. Suitable for processing bars up to 2, 000mm in length, the machines feature 450mm up to 1, 100mm in swing over bed, 1, 000mm up to 6, 000mm in distance between centers.

The company's FM-395ATC CNC milling machines are equipped with vector-type inverters featuring variable spindle speeds to ensure accurate and stable running. The machine can be upgraded as a CNC machining center with the addition of tool room and full enclosure guard. "We introduced this CNC milling machine to meet the demand as a low-cost solution for metalworking jobs, " says Lin. "The machine can be upgraded to the same functionality as machining centers for sophisticated metalworking jobs."

Small but Powerful

While many local producers are rushing to develop large-sized machining centers, some are focusing on smaller models to avoid intense competition. Millseiki Machinery Industry Co., Ltd. Founded in 1999, is one such company specializing in the manufacturer of advanced small-sized CNC machine tools.

Since debuting its first CNC milling machine, a model with 400mm in X-axis travel, the company has expanded its offerings to include models with 450mm in X-axis travel and BT40 spindle taper. The company also produces small vertical machining centers and CNC engraving machines.

Recently the company introduced its MSH-40 horizontal machining center, featuring 550 x 550 x 500mm in X, Y, Z axis. Equipped with built-in spindle, the new machine features 15, 000 rpm in spindle speed with rapid traverse reaching 36 meters per minute.

While Millseiki is a relatively young company, its management team draws on over two decades of experience in developing sophisticated machine tools, says Daniel Wu, company president. "Our technicians are experienced in the designing of practical machines that can meet the particular needs of customers around the world."

The company says its compact series of CNC milling machines are designed with precision, smoothness, high speed and high efficiency in mind. "Our CNC milling machines are the best choice for small mold and precision machining, says Wu. "We offer built-in-type or belt-drive-type spindles to meet high-speed machining requirement. And the X, Y and Z-axes of the machine are equipped with precision linear guideways for high-speed travel. The entire machine is rigidly constructed to provide maximum stability during high-speed machining."

To ensure high quality of its products, the company employs state-of-the-art inspection instruments that can handle ball-bar testing and laser inspection. The sophisticated ball-bar tester is applied for inspecting servo accuracy, static and dynamic geometric errors.

At present the company exports 90% of its total output with the remainder going to the domestic market. Most products are sold on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) basis, with a smaller portion shipped under its own "Millseiki" brand.

"Our branded products are mainly sold to mainland China while those sold to other markets are completed on the OEM basis, " Wu says. "Many mainland customers appreciate our machines for their competitive price and the rapid after-sale service support what we provide."

The company's major export outlets include Europe (France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Spain), America (the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina), Asia (Indonesia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam), New Zealand, Australia and India.

High-precision Machines

Founded in 2003 in central Taiwan, Campro Precision Machinery Co., Ltd. Is a young company with a highly experienced management team. The company specializes in the development and production of CNC horizontal lathes, CNC vertical machining centers and other kinds of machine tools at two factories on each side of the Taiwan Strait.

Although Campro is a newcomer in this line, it claims that all of its staff members have over 20 years of experience in machinery development and production. Committed research and relentless improvement are the driving forces behind Campro's rapid rise in the industry.

Campro currently offers four CNC horizontal lathe models and seven CNC vertical machining center models, says company president Tsai Ching-tse. The company is capable of rolling out 15 up to 20 CNC machine tools in Taiwan and another 12 in mainland China each month. Unit prices for the company's CNC machine tools go up to US$55, 000.

The machining centers supplied by Campro have an X-axis travel of 900mm to 2, 200mm. The 900mm X-axis travel model is its most popular item.

In the first quarter of this year, the company unveiled three new models: the CQV series of high-performance vertical machining center, CMV series of high-speed mold making vertical machining center, and CPL series of slant-bed type CNC precision lathe. These models offer premium performance and can give producers a competitive advantage, the company claims.

Machines in the CQV series are deliver spindle speeds up to 10, 000 rpm and feature 1, 100 x 560 x 560mm in X, Y, Z-axis travel. Distance from spindle nose to table surface ranges from 110mm to 670mm, and that from spindle center to column surface reaches 630mm.

The base of the machine is reinforced by an A-type rib framing to reduce vibration, and the unit has a box-type structure to enhance rigidity. The counter-balance system of the machine is equipped with a guide rail to increase stability and prevent vibration during high feed rate or rapid traverse, ensuring machining accuracy.

Over the past several years, the company has been focusing on domestic and mainland Chinese markets, but as its production capacity grows the company is now turning its attention to wider export markets. "Our products are warmly welcomed in Taiwan and the mainland because we offer the products at low prices and with consistently high quality, " notes Tsai.

In addition to its pricing and quality attractions, Campro backs up every machine with comprehensive after-sales services. At present, the company sells most of its machines under the "Campro" brand, but it also welcomes OEM orders.

High-quality Machining for High-tech Applications

Demand for high-quality machine tools has grown in high-tech industries as parts and components become increasingly high-precision. Equipment suppliers are therefore pushing machine manufacturers to add increasingly advanced features on their products. One company that has risen to the challenge is Pinnacle Machine Tool Co., Ltd. A supplier of heavy-duty vertical machining centers.

Established two decades ago, Pinnacle produces high-end machine tools backed by a full quality assurance. At present, the company concentrates on the development and manufacture of milling machines and vertical machining centers.

The company began production of milling machines in the early years of its establishment. Over the past few years, it has begun adding vertical machining centers to its product lines.

Under the leadership of the company's second-generation president Xie Dong-ying, Pinnacle has been committed to developing innovative products to meet the special requirement of its customers around the world.

Xie says his company has been expanding its share of the international markets in the past few years with high-end machine tools that can compete with models made by European and U.S. competitors.

Pinnacle uses wide linear guideways on three axes of machining centers to ensure high accuracy and rigidity, fast operating speed, high efficiency, and specially-designed motor to assure maximum stability.

The company says its machining centers are CE and EMC approved. The cutting feed rate of the machine reaches 12, 000mm per minute. Three-axis ball screws are pre-tensioned before assembly to avoid deformation that could affect machining accuracy.

With the introduction of the ISO-9001 international quality assurance standard, the company has earned the trust of customers around the world. Over the past few years, the company has invested in state-of-the-art equipment, such as laser detection instrument and many other types of testing instrument.

Currently Pinnacle has a monthly output of around 30 machine tools. Seeing the influx of orders from home and abroad, the company is considering expanding production capacity by the end of this year.