Taiwan Machine Tool Makers Lead Discussion at U.S. Conference

CHICAGO, Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 90 machine tool and accessory builders from Taiwan – the world's fourth largest exporter of machine tools – exhibited their latest products at last week's International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago. Executives from select companies also discussed their latest innovations and insights on industry trends at "Taiwan Machine Tools Shaping the Future," an in-show event organized by the Bureau of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan and implemented by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Calvin Ho, the new Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago (TECO), observed that the U.S. is the #2 export market for Taiwan's machine tool industry. In 2013, U.S. companies bought more than $4.5 billion worth of Taiwan-built machine tools and components, including lathes, turning machines and machine centers. Overall, bilateral trade between the two countries reached $63 billion in 2012 with over 600 Taiwan companies setting up operations in the U.S. and more than 100 U.S. and multinational companies establishing R&D centers in Taiwan.

The event then featured panel discussions covering:

• Taiwan's Top Machine Tool Innovators - Alan K. Lu, Chairman of Kent Industrial Co., Ltd., and the Machine Tools Committee of the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry, presented the Industry Award Winners for Excellence in Research and Innovation 2013, including a multi-milling-turning machining center from WELE Mechatronic Co., Ltd.; a 5-axis vertical machining center from Fair Friend Enterprise Co. Ltd.; a CNC vertical lathe from Far East Machinery Co.; a gantry type linear motor drive wire-cut EDM from Ching Hung Machinery & Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.; and a horizontal tool magazine with high speed large tool plate from Bei Jyu Precision Machine Co., Ltd.
• Taiwan for Next-Generation Aerospace Development – Brian Arcari, President, YCM Americas Inc., highlighted the latest developments in Taiwan-made precision machine tools ranging from high speed spindles to rotary/tilting tables and universal milling heads to meet the exacting requirements of aerospace producers.
• Taiwan for the Automotive Industry – Sunny Yang, Manager of Overseas Sales, TONGTAI Machine & Tool Co., Ltd., discussed machinery advances taking place in Taiwan for producing automatic brake plates, brake brackets and master cylinders, transmission pump covers, wheels and other components critical to automotive manufacturers.
• Taiwan for State-of-the-Art Machinery – Randy Ragnini, Director of Products, North America, WELE Mechatronics, explained how a new breed of hydrostatic bearings developed in Taiwan is making it possible for machines to handle heavier table loads for larger workpieces, achieve better surface finishes and provide other manufacturing improvements.

Taiwan's machine tool industry is helping solar energy plants, major semiconductor manufacturers, panel industries, multinational car makers and many other companies around the world innovate and increase their competiveness through advanced machine tool products. The industry's growth is being driven in part by world-class industry clusters in the country's Golden Valley, which is home to more than 1,000 precision machinery manufacturers and upwards of 10,000 downstream suppliers that employ more than 300,000 people. With an annual output of $3 billion, the Golden Valley has the highest output value per unit area and the highest density of any machine tool industry cluster in the world.

About Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council was founded in 1970 to promote Taiwan's foreign trade and competitiveness in world markets. Over the past 40 years, TAITRA has played a key role in the development of the Taiwan economy. TAITRA is jointly sponsored by the government and commercial associations and is viewed by all as the business gateway to Taiwan for the international business community. Please visit http://www.taiwantrade.com.tw/ for more information.

SOURCE Taiwan External Trade Development Council