Hiwin Technologies Corp (上銀) yesterday signed an agreement with Nexcom International Co Ltd (新漢) and Fuburg Industrial Co Ltd (富堡) to supply robotic arms for Fuburg’s face-mask manufacturing, as the Taichung-based company sought to expand its presence in the robot market.
The nation’s biggest machine tool maker is to supply about 40 robotic arms to Fuburg this year and the number is expected to increase to as many as 300 next year.
Nexcom is to supply controllers and related software used in the robots and automation systems, according to the companies’ joint statement.
Hiwin’s robotic arms can help Fuburg reduce its personnel needs for its face-mask production lines in China by one-third, the statement said.
Fuburg said the introduction of robots and automation systems would help solve its labor shortage problem in China.
Hiwin’s expansion into the industrial robot business is bearing fruit, with chairman Eric Chuo (卓永財) saying that he expects robust demand for its robots to help offset weakness in its core machine tool business later this year.
“The demand for robots looks quite good. We received new orders to supply electromechanical robots used in smartphone assembly lines from companies making Android phones,” Chuo said. “The gain will help compensate for the decline in our machine tool business.”
Hiwin currently ships more than 100 robots a month, Chuo said at the company’s booth at the annual Automation Intelligence and Robots Show in Taipei.
Among the latest Hiwin robotic devices on display is a robotic arm that makes pancakes.
Chuo said the company is focusing on supplying customized and value-added robots for the industrial sector, rather than standard models.
Medical robots will be the next step in expanding the company’s product line, he said.
Hiwin expects to receive a license and start shipping in September its first product in the rehabilitation robotics field in China, which should boost its revenue next quarter, he added.
Supported by the new demand for robots, Hiwin expects revenue in the second half to grow from NT$7.96 billion (US$254.2 million) in the first half, he said.
However, growth will be slower than in past years, Chuo said.
Over the past three years, Hiwin’s revenue in the second half of the year was 26 percent higher than that of the first half, company data showed.
Hiwin is working with a German chip designer as well as Taiwanese colleges to produce industrial sensors, Chuo said.
Most local chipmakers are focusing on making sensors used in consumer electronics, he said.
Expanding into the field of semiconductors will greatly reduce costs for Hiwin’s robot business, Chuo said.
The company plans to use sensors it developed with National Chung Cheng University in next-generation ballscrews for its robotic arms to monitor key factors affecting production, including temperature and lubricating oil consumption, which should reduce personnel and production costs.
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