Taiwan Hardware Show Sets New Records in 2013

Manufacturers strive to develop innovative products that “can change life and create value”

For the first time in 13 years, the Taiwan Hardware Show (THS) was held in Taichung City in 2013, where it drew more visitors than ever and likely created more business opportunities for the island's manufacturers than any of its predecessors. The previous 12 shows were held in Taipei, northern Taiwan.

The 2013 edition of the show, co-organized by the Taichung City Government and the Taiwan Hand Tool Manufactures' Association (THTMA), was held on Oct. 21-23 at the Greater Taichung International Expo Center in central Taiwan. This venue highlighted the fact that over 70% of the island's hand-tool makers are clustered in the Taichung area, increasing the possibility of closing deals during the show.

According to THTMA Chairman Arthur Wu, the plan to hold the show in Taichung was fully supported by association members. The floor area was doubled to underscore the association's determination to boost the improvement resulting from the move to Taichung.

The 5,577-square-meter floor of the 2013 show accommodated 600 booths occupied by over 300 exhibitors (up around 10% from 2012), categorized into sections for Tools & Accessories, Locks & Fittings, Fasteners & Fittings, Building Supplies, Garden & Outdoor Equipment, Automotive Supplies & Accessories, Machines & Plant Equipment, and Safety Equipment & Products. Thirty-one exhibitors registered for the Automotive Supplies & Accessories, 72% more than in 2012, and 10% more signed up for the Tools & Accessories, Building Supplies, and Machines & Plant Equipment categories.

Making the most of Taichung's status as home to most of the island's hand-tool makers, the organizers offered tours to hand-tool factories within 30 kilometers of the venue in the hope of impressing buyers with the nimble manufacturing capability and excellent R&D of Taiwan's hardware supply chains.

Taichung Mayor Jason Hu said at the opening ceremony that the show would exploit the advantage of its location in the middle of Taiwan's hand-tool industry cluster to provide international buyers with one-stop shopping services and realize the goal of “Taiwan as the international hub of hand tools and Taichung as Taiwan's hub of hand tools.”

Hu expressed the hope that the island's hand-tool industry will grow 30-fold over the next 10 years, just as Taichung's “sun cake” industry did over the past decade, bringing its revenues to NT$1.1 billion (US$36.6 million) in 2012. He promised that in the next four years the city government will build an exhibition center even bigger than the current one, which is run by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), with the aim of attracting shows featuring industries--machine tools, bicycles, hand tools—that are concentrated in central Taiwan.

More Buyers, More Business

The 2013 event drew a record 23,847 visitors (up 10% from 2012), including around 3,300 foreign buyers (up 16.3%). The buyers created an estimated US$700 million worth of business for Taiwan's manufacturers, up from US$600 million in 2012.

On its first day alone, the show welcomed approximately 6,000 visitors. In addition to regular visitors from Europe, Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Russia, the Middle East, and Japan, the 2013 event also saw first-time buyers from Uganda, Abu Dhabi, Turkey, and Panama. In addition, the China National Hardware Electric and Chemical Products Commercial Association (CNHECPCA) and Shanghai Tools Industry Association (STIA) organized trade delegations to visit the show.

The organizers attributed the increased number of buyers partly to the show's “strategic” timing with the Autumn China Import and Export Fair 2013 (Canton Fair 2013), which drew 189,646 buyers.

The 2013 show was positioned as an “exclusive Asian boutique hardware show” to underscore the high- and mid-end quality of the tools on show. THTMA's Wu noted that Taiwan's hand-tool makers are striving to shake off mainland China's low-end competition by moving upmarket. He noted that the island's hand-tool industry tops the world in terms of per-capita output: US$3.2 billion in revenue for a total population of 23 million. Mainland China's hand-tool industry generates revenue of US$10 billion-plus for a population of over 1.3 billion, while Japan's turns out some US$4 billion for a population of 200 million or so.

The “boutique” sense was underscored by a curtained area dubbed “Boutique Section,” which was set up to show off brand-name tools that have won such awards as iF and Red Dot of Germany, Good Design Award of Japan, and Taiwan's Excellence Awards. Products on display were from the E-Make Tools Co., Honiton Industries Inc., Karat Industrial Co., Proxene Tools Co., Yih Cheng Factory Co., (owner of the “Lancer” brand), Nu Sharp Inc., Luky-Brand Industrial Co., Jaco International Corp., Pro-Iroda Industries Inc., Lih Chern Metallic Enterprise Co. (owner of the “LCM” brand), and Kai Suh Suh Enterprise Co., (owner of “KSS”).

THTMA Chairman Wu pointed out that the island's hand-tool industry is developing in the direction of product branding and refining. “Although the outlook of global economy has remained hazy since the outbreak of economic turmoil in 2008,” he stressed, “many Taiwanese tool makers have seen business set new highs this year because of the diligent development of innovative products. Innovation can change life and create value.”

A variety of industry workshops were held on the sidelines of the show. Y.P. Jou, CEO of Wispro Technology Consulting Corp. and former general counsel of the Hon Hai Group, offered his opinions on patent risk management and strategic patent analysis. LCM CEO L.C Chen, whose company is currently Taiwan's No.1 plumbing-fixture maker, spoke on how “positive energy” can be used to reinvent an enterprise. Pro-Iroda CEO Gilbert Chen talked about innovative design and sustainable development and Sales Manager Brand Hsiao of Stand Tools shared his views on integrating digital technology in torque tools.