Hiwin Technologies Corp (上銀), which produces linear guideways and ball screws, sold more than 100 industrial robots last month and expects to sell more than 100 units every month, chairman Eric Chuo (卓永財) said on Friday.
Speaking at the Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robot Show at the Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall, Chuo said that the company is unable to keep up with demand and needs to expand its production.
He estimated that robots could account for 10 percent of the company’s total sales this year.
Last year, the company posted NT$12.49 billion (US$416 million) in consolidated sales.
Hiwin’s robots are used to augment the automation of production for manufacturers.
By the end of this year, the firm also plans to diversify into providing robots for the medical industry, Chuo said.
Within two years, Hiwin could produce a robot to assist the rehabilitation of people with hand injuries and it is already working with a medical institution to develop a robot that can aid leg rehabilitation, he said.
A robot that can help disabled people to take a shower or a bath is expected to be shipped by the end of the year, and is estimated to be on the market at half the price of rival products, Chuo said.
He added that the prices of robots have dropped by as much as 40 percent, which could be a boost to the robot industry.
On July 21, Hiwin signed a strategic alliance with industrial computer maker Advantech Co (研華) to develop the nation’s own industrial robot supply chain.
Analysts said both companies could see the benefits of integrating their products through the alliance.
Hiwin is proficient at producing mechanical parts, drivers and linear motors, while Advantech is expert in the making of controllers and machine vision systems for robots.
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