Hiwin Technologies Corp (上銀科技), which produces linear guideways and ball screws, yesterday inked a strategic alliance with industrial computer maker Advantech Co (研華) to set up a joint venture within a year to develop robots.
The two companies will both invest in the joint venture, with none holding more than 50 percent of the shares, Advantech chairman and chief executive Liu Keh-chen (劉克振) said.
“We welcome other companies to participate in the joint venture,” he said.
Advantech possesses the know-how to make controllers and machine vision systems for robots, while Hiwin has the technology to make robotic arms, but it still requires a new company to integrate these technologies to manufacture products that cater to customers’ needs, Liu said.
The proposed venture will make robots for the electronics industry, food industry, semiconductor industry and casing suppliers, he said, adding that the firm will be composed of different divisions, with each unit dedicated to servicing a specific industry.
The firm is eyeing a big share of the market in China, as there are no big companies making robots there, he said.
Liu suggested that the Industrial Technology Research Institute provide the personnel needed for the manufacturing division, while Hiwin and Advantech provide the manpower to form a sales team.
The global demand for robots averaged between 160,000 and 180,000 units a year, but the demand this year is expected to reach about 200,000 units, Hiwin said.
Hiwin chairman and chief executive Eric Chuo (卓永財) said the company would fully acquire a Germany-based software company making communication systems to enhance its products.
Chuo said Hiwin and the German company are long-term partners and the deal is likely to be inked by the end of the third quarter.
From January through last month, Hiwin posted revenue of NT$6.55 billion (US$218.5 million), up 26.53 percent from NT$5.18 billion the previous year.
Chuo said that revenue in the second half of the year would surpass that of the first half on the back of strong automation demand in the electronics industry and its rising sales of robots.
Hiwin will ship 100 robots this month, with the monthly figure expected to exceed 100 units in the next two months, he said.
Hiwin’s shares dropped 1.5 percent yesterday to NT$322, underperforming the TAIEX, which was up 0.43 percent.
Advantech’s shares were up 0.5 percent to NT$239 yesterday.
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