Hiwin's Apr. Revenue up 33.9% YoY

In April alone, Hiwin Technologies Corp. had consolidated revenue of NT$1.1 billion (US$37.6 million), increasing 4.3% from the previous month and 33.9% year on year, thanks to increased demand for industrial robots and intelligent automation.

The April result helped swell the company's consolidated revenue for Jan.-Apr. to NT$4.2 billion (US$140 million), surging 28.75% YoY.

In the first quarter alone, the maker of key components for precision machinery made NT$2.1 per share in after-tax net income on combined revenue of NT$3 billion (US$100.4 million), with the revenue rising 26.9% YoY.

Company chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), Eric Chuo, feels both of the company's earnings and revenue will continue to grow in the second and third quarters mostly thanks to persistent growth in demand for industrial robots and intelligent automation, not to mention semiconductor equipment.

He added that the company would have generated more revenue in the first quarter than reported but for labor shortage caused by departure of contract-expired foreign labor, which will ease in June when new arrivals fill  job vacancies.

As incumbent chairman of the Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association, Chuo stressed that his industry should not be regarded as a traditional industry since it has adopted ever more new technologies after moving towards developing industrial robots and intelligent automation.

Industry executives note that the island's machine-tool industry has received strong orders particularly from China's automakers and electronics manufacturers. Also, the thriving market for semiconductor-manufacturing equipment worldwide and the recovering aerospace and car-making industries in Europe are helping boost Taiwan's machine-tool exports.

They estimate average revenue growth for the island's machine-tool makers at 15-25% year on year this year. (KL)