Taipei Automat show renamed to solicit more exhibitors

Taipei, Sept. 26, 2003 (CENS)--Thanks to the recovery of the machine tool industry, Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI), Taiwan's largest machinery industry association, recently resolved to rename Taipei International Automation & Precision Machinery Show (Taipei Automat) as Taipei International Manufacturing Technology Show starting from 2004.

TAMI's move was concluded at a meeting convened by its machine tool committee held in Taichung, central Taiwan, on Sept. 24. The move is designed to solicit more exhibitors and buyers from around the world.

The biennial Taipei Automat show has been jointly organized by the semi-official China External Trade Development Council (CETRA), TAMI, and Chinese Society of Automation. Last year, the show attracted more than 300 exhibitors occupying 1,000-some booths.

The renamed show will be held May 14-18 at the Taipei World Trade Center. Beginning Sept. 29, the organizers will begin accepting applications of exhibitors to book stands at the show.

Citing statistics compiled by the Directorate General of Customs under the Ministry of Finance, TAMI vice president C.C. Wang said at the meeting that Taiwan exported US$751 million worth of machine tools in the first half of this year, up 14.7% from the corresponding period of last year. Of the exports, metal-cutting machine tools accounted for US$546 million with an annual growth of 14%, and metal-forming machine tools commanded US$205 million with an annual increase of 17%.

In terms of the outlets for locally made machine tools, Hong Kong and mainland China ranked first by absorbing US$366 million worth of the products in the first half of this year, accounting for 48.8% of the total exports. The U.S. ranked second with US$59 million, accounting for 7.9%, following by Thailand with US$34 million or 4.6%.

Customs statistics also show Taiwan imported US$333 million worth of machine tools in the first half of this year, up 10% from the same period of last year. Of this, metal-cutting machine tools accounted for US$294 million, up 9%, and metal-forming machine tools commanded US$38 million, up 24%.

Wang attributed the increase of imports to the booming demand from conventional industries for imported advanced machine tools. In view of the economic recovery, many domestic manufacturers of conventional industries have begun importing such processing machinery as machining centers, milling machines, grinding machines, gear-hobbing machines, etc.

Wang said domestic manufacturers of machine tools have scored increased orders, especially from mainland China, since the beginning of this year. "Many foreign buyers have asked domestic suppliers to shorten delivery time, which is a vivid sign that the economy is back on the right track," Wang said. "As the economy is on the recovery track, domestic manufacturers should aggressively speed up developing innovative and value-added products to expand their market shares."