Drilling Machines Taiwan-Made CNC Drills Bore Into High-End Markets

With the demand for automated machinery on the rise globally, manufacturers of drilling machines in Taiwan have spared no efforts to develop computerized numerically controlled (CNC) models over the past several years.

Most of the large-sized CNC drilling machines and other sophisticated models made in Taiwan are exported to industrially advanced nations such as the U.S., Germany, France, and Japan. Manufacturers of smaller models, on the other hand, concentrate on Southeast Asian nations and mainland China. Some industry insiders say Vietnam is the most promising market for the next few years due to rapid economic growth there.

In addition to incorporating CNC functions in their drilling machines, producers in Taiwan are studying other ways to improve the automation level of their products. For example, some of them see much potential in upgrading their machines with automated transmission systems.

Taiwan is capable of turning out many kinds of drilling machines to meet the diverse demands of customers around the world. The major types of such products made on the island are vertical and horizontal drilling machines, bench-type drilling machines, radial drilling machines, multi-spindle drilling machines, drilling/milling machines, drilling/tapping machines, and turret-center drilling machines.

One domestic manufacturer claims that his company has recently developed a high-speed turret-center drilling machine featuring 0.2-second tool-changing speed, which is faster than that of general machining centers.

Other manufacturers have been developing CNC drilling machines with price-competitive operating systems, such as Windows CE and Linux.

Windows-Based CNC Drills
One of these companies is Shang Nong Industry Co., a specialist producer of multifunctional drilling machines that has recently introduced a Windows-based operating system for its drilling and tapping machines.

"Taiwan's machine-tool manufacturers have relied heavily on CNC control systems made by Japanese makers such as Fanuc and Mitsubishi, " says Peter Y.H. Wang, managing director of Shang Nong. "Our efforts to develop localized PC-based control systems will help us meet the demands of our U.S. customers for easy-operation machines."

Wang says Taiwan has the strong computer and information-technology industries needed to support the development of personal computer (PC)-based CNC control devices. "Thanks to the efforts of both our government and private sectors over the past several years, now is the right time to develop home-made CNC control systems, " he states.

Shang Nong's desire to utilize a domestically developed PC-based CNC control system is being encouraged by Tong Tai Machine & Tool Co., which has adopted a PC-based control system on its high-speed drilling machines for the 3C (communication, computer, consumer electronics) industry.

Tong Tai uses domestically made servomotors and drive systems on its CNC machines. The servomotor was developed by Teco Electric & Machinery Co. based on Japanese technology, and the drive system was co-developed by Micro Trend Automation and Pou Yuen Technology Corp.

Though the company has sold its products under the "Shang Nong" brand for four decades, it adopted the "SNICO" brand at the beginning of last year to build its image in the upmarket segment of the automated machinery market.

"Over the past several years, we have been working hard to reduce our reliance on Japanese CNC systems, " says Wang; the chosen solution has been to cooperate with a local university to develop a Windows-based alternative.

The Windows system adopted by Shang Nong can be programmed with Virtual Basic software. "Taiwan has the ability to produce machinery with integrated CNC systems, " notes Wang. "But only through the adoption of domestically made CNC mechanisms can domestic firms really make their mark in the machine-automation industry."

Among Shang Nong's current export markets are the U.S., mainland China, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and India. Wang believes India is a very promising market for metal-cutting machine tools such as CNC lathes and CNC drilling and tapping machines, since India is the No.1 producer of motorcycles.

In May last year, the company delivered five CNC drilling & tapping machines to India, to be used in the assembly of Hero-Honda motorcycles. Wang says India's three most important manufacturing centers--Delhi, Bombay, and Bangalore--are enticing markets for Taiwan-made CNC machine tools.

At present, Shang Nong's exports to the U.S. are mainly contracted on an original design manufacturer (ODM) basis, while machines destined for Japan are produced on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) basis.

The company is now working with the semi- official Industrial Technology Research Institute and National Chung Cheng University on the development of a hybrid CNC drilling and tapping machine. It expects to have a prototype ready in the immediate future.

Shang Nong says its machines are suitable for such applications as hydraulic and pneumatic pressing, painting equipment, and automobile and motorcycle parts.

In addition to its operations in Taiwan, Shang Nong is seeking business partners to invest in mainland China. "We are also seeking cooperation with mainland control-system software developers to help us develop automated-drilling machines suited to the market there, " Wang says.

The company will soon apply for ISO9002 certification from the semi-official Corporate Synergy Development Center.

One-Stop Shop
Chan Yow Machinery Co., Ltd., established in 1984, specializes in multifunctional and special- purpose machines for the hydraulic and pneumatic processing industries.

The company boasts that its machines are made with sophisticated manufacturing technologies that few other producers can match. Its major product lines are custom-made machines for drilling, tapping, boring, reaming, milling, and broaching (with or without automatic loading devices); heavy-duty cutting and milling machines for automobile and motorcycle parts; whole-plant equipment for chain wheels, bicycle cranks, and hubs; rotary-table drilling, tapping, milling, reaming, and cutting machines; custom-made NC deep-hole automated drilling machines; universal hydraulic-broaching machines, and rubber cutting, cooling, and slitting machines.

Although Chan Yow has traditionally concentrated on domestic sales, it has made efforts in recent years to expand its overseas sales. Last year exports accounted for half of its revenue, with the U.S., Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and India as its major export outlets.

Chan Yow claims it has produced a thousand machines since its establishment. Because of the high quality and reliability of the machines, the company has earned a good reputation both in Taiwan and abroad.

High-Precision Machines
Founded in 1964, Chen Fwa Industrial Co., Ltd. Is a leading manufacturer of high-precision automatic drilling and tapping machinery and multiple-spindle heads.

In addition to its own R&D team, the company has technology cooperation ties with the Mechanical Industry Research Laboratories (MIRL) under the semi-official Industrial Technology Research Institute to help it develop sophisticated new machine models.

Thanks to the technology transfer from the MIRL, Chen Fwa is able to make various kinds of drilling and tapping machines on both mass-production and small-batch bases. The company has a well- known ability to develop special-purpose machines to meet the unique needs of its customers.

Chen Fwa president Wang Wu-hsiung says his company will be conservative in its development initiatives until the global economy shows clear signs of recovery. "After more than three decades of development, we can now offer a full series of drilling and tapping machines for various manufacturing industries, " he says. "We take a very cautious attitude in developing new kinds of machines due to past problems with copycat rivals."

Wang says most of his customers have close ties with his company. "Many of our customers have been doing business with us for almost two decades, which underscores the reliability of our machines and multi-spindle drilling and tapping heads, " Wang says.

Currently most of Chen Fwa's output is sold to domestic processors and Taiwanese firms in mainland China. It has also sold some equipment to Malaysia and Thailand.

In recent years, the company has been developing machines that can simplify processing procedures, elevate operational efficiency, and reduce production costs. Despite its capability in developing special-purpose machines, the company only develops a small number of such models due to the limited demand and profits compared to that for standard-type machines.Chen Fwa's machines are equipped with multiple- spindle heads, which can increase the machine's operational efficiency five to 10 times that of general-type drilling and tapping machines, the company claims.

The company sells its machines under the "Chen Fwa" brand. Currently its major product lines are conventional drilling machines, drilling/tapping machines, presses, multiple-spindle drilling and tapping heads (adjustable and fixed types), automatic-drilling units with air/hydraulic tool feed, precision automatic-tapping machines, lead- screw automatic tapping machines, rotary index- table boring and tapping machines, and various types of special-purpose machines.

Chen Fwa keeps a large inventory of spare parts and components so that customers can get fast repair and maintenance service.