Metal-forming Machine Makers in Taiwan Evolve to Meet Changing Demands

One firm claims world-only m

As demands change in end markets, so are makers of metal processing machine tools obliged to evolve. Such has been happening in Taiwan, with makers of machine tools steadily upgrading technologies to turn out a variety of products, with the emphasis on minimizing secondary machining to maximize cost-efficiencies

Taiwan's makers have been turning out popular machine tools to fabricate metallic netting, mesh, expanded metal, perforated metals, metal conveyor belt, chain-link fence, razor-barbed wires, and hexagonal-wire netting etc.

Makers in Taiwan mainly turn out machine tools to cut or form metals, with the size of the latter category being only an eighth of the former.

The Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation's (TMTF) figures show Taiwan exported US$375.84 million of metal-forming machines in the first 11 months of 2009, down 47.1% from a year earlier, with its CEO C.C. Wang attributing the sharp annual decline to the global downturn, and says that many makers have been raising investments to develop advanced technologies to enhance added value, which will help to compete in upper market segments when the economy fully recovers.

Metal Stretch-Net Making Machines

Founded in 1977, Hwang Jyue Enterprise Co., Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of metal-forming machines in Taiwan who has diversified product line by upgrading technologies.

The maker's five major product lines are metal stretch net-making machines, cotton bud making plants, fully automatic printing and packing machines, incense-making machines, turnkey plant for bamboo and wood item production.

A renowned maker in the line who offers quality machine tools and turnkey plants, Hwang Jyue concentrates on exporting to Southeast Asia, America, Europe and the Middle East.

The company has an in-house R&D team capable of developing made-to-order steel-forming machines, as well as having won patents in Taiwan.

Two very popular metal stretch-net making machines are the LWD and SWD models, which have processing capacity to a maximum width of 600mm and 0.3mm-1mm in thickness. The LWD model turns out mesh measuring 6-20mm and 4-10mm for the SWD model, with the weight being 1,000kgs.

The company has expanded its product line over the past few years to include pizza oven mesh and magnifying make-up mirror, in addition to automatic packing machines for toothpicks, straws and chopsticks.

Chrome-finished with wall-mount scissor-arm, the 3X magnification make-up mirror come in 15cm and 17cm diameters and are ideal for personal grooming; while the pizza oven mesh, available in 6-20-inch diameters, is of Teflon-coated expanded aluminum for easy non-stick baking and grilling.

Metal-mesh Making Machinery

Jun-En Enterprise Corp. is a specialized maker of metal mesh-making machinery, one with automated production and systematic management that delivers quality products.

Founded in 1987, this maker has one machinery manufacturing and six metal-mesh production facilities in Taiwan, providing comprehensive service to global customers. The company's long-term program in upgrading product quality and management has enabled its acquisition of ISO9001:2008 certification.

Initially this maker focused on production of metal mesh but diversified into metal-mesh machinery after three years.

New Operating HQ

In the beginning of 2007, the company inaugurated its operating headquarters in Jenwu, Kaohsiung County, southern Taiwan, as well as having earlier expanded its factory to 5,000 square meters to meet growing demand.

Jun-En supplies wide-ranging machines to turn out expanded metal, perforated metal, metal conveyor belt, chain-link fence, razor barbed wire, hexagonal wire-net etc., as well as supplying wire conveyor belts, perforated metals, expanded metal mesh, razor barbed wire, chain link fencing and barbed wire.

Besides tapping long-term development experience in both machinery design and manufacturing to ensure high quality in products, Jun-En in recent years have been able to sell machinery to Japan, North America and Europe.

Jun-En says that its machinery can help customers improve product quality and slash production costs. “We are the only one globally to offer production equipment for both metal wire and plates. Most others have only machinery to produce either metal wire or plates. This proves we have superior R&D skills,” says H.Y. Chiu, sales manager.

Consultancy Offered

Chiu notes his company has not only expertise to develop customized machinery and related products, but can also help customers learn production skills and boost production efficiency.

Capable of supplying the world's fastest machine to make expanded metal ranging from 610mm to 3,100mm in width and up to 10mm in thickness, this maker says all the operating interfaces, maintenance-free servomotors and the most advanced clip- feeding systems used are the most reliable and efficient in the industry.

“Customers from the industrialized nations have urging demand for high-speed machines, hence driving us to develop more sophisticated manufacturing skills to meet such trend,” Chiu says.

Expansion into China

Tapping its successful experience in Taiwan, Jun-En has expanded to China by cooperating with Kansai Wire Netting Co. of Japan to build a joint-venture plant for metal mesh and conveyor belt in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, of which June-En holds a 40% stake and the remainder belonging to the Japanese firm. Jun-En says the partnership enables its acquisition of advanced manufacturing and management skills.

Also Jun-En built a wholly-owned plant to supply expanded metal plate mesh and perforated mesh in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, China about two years ago, its third finished-product facilities there.

With products especially popular in China, Southeast Asia, North America, Latin America, and East Europe, the company, with a sales agent in France, has also exported to over 40 nations, including Africa and Latin America.

“We have built a solid reputation in industrialized nations for offering top-notch products at prices only two-thirds of those from Germany,” asserts Chiu.

For instance, the company recently received orders for four metal mesh-making machines from a Belgium-based multinational with approximately 30,000 employees. Chiu says the Belgium customer has promised to place steady orders after proving the high quality and reliability of Jun-En products.

Currently the maker generates a third of total sales in the Middle East, saying the region has ample business opportunities for the stream of major public works projects.

Steel-tube Making Machines

Jang Wuel Steel Machinery Co., Ltd., established in 1982, is a specialist maker of turnkey mild-steel and stainless-steel tube making machines in Taiwan.

Offering a wide-ranging line, the company supplies machines to turn out stainless steel tubes, mild steel tubes; machines to polish, straighten, size and cut various steel tubing; hydrostatic test machines, forming rollers, profile forming machines, angle shaping machines, flat bar shaping machines, steel coil slitting machines, and steel tube drawing machines.

Having begun to engage in R&D and production of forming rollers in 1986 by setting up a computerized, in-house design center, this maker over the past few years has raised paid-in capital several times to develop design ability for innovative machines.

The company's mild steel tube mill is specially designed to mass form and high-frequency weld mild steel tubing, able to raise production capacity, product quality, reduce material consumption, and save labor, as well as being easy to control, efficient and very safe.

Export-oriented

Over the past two years, the company posted annual sales between US$6 million and US$8 million. Besides selling in Taiwan, the company exports 70% of output, mainly to China, Iran, United Arab Emirate, North Africa, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Jang Wuel mainly turns out stainless steel tubes and pipes in China, with its Taiwan plant focusing on manufacture of assembled machines.

Part of the company's promotional program includes frequently participating in internationally renowned machinery and tube/wire exhibitions, including ones held in D?sseldorf, Bangkok, Shanghai, and Rio De Janeiro.