Taipei AMPA 2008 Honors Innovation in Auto-parts and Accessories Sectors

At the 2008 Taipei Int'l Auto Parts & Accessories Show (Taipei AMPA 2008), the largest annual auto parts and accessories fair in Asia and a top-three in the field globally, co-organizers Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA) jointly held the second 2008 Taipei AMPA Innovation Award.

TAITRA says that holding the contest to honor innovation at Taipei AMPA 2008 would help to fuel the spirit of creativity, R&D in not only the automotive parts but also electronic sectors, which would gradually reinforce core advantages and global competitiveness wielded by local suppliers and exporters.

All the winners of the Taipei AMPA Innovation Award were announced at the opening ceremony of the two-in-one show, with the actual products displayed in special zones at the Taipei AMPA 2008, held at the recently opened Nankang Exhibition Center.

Winning Criteria

TAITRA says that the entries in the 2008 Taipei AMPA Innovation Award were judged on several criteria, including innovative styling, processing, material, marketability to create demand and competitiveness in the real-world, eco-friendliness with integrated green concepts, safety features that are reliable, functionality with easy operation and featuring innovation, and a bonus-point category allowing a contestant to win extra points: by proving global recognition with prizes won in major industrial-design contests as the iF of Germany, Good Design Award (G-mark) of Japan, etc.

TAITRA and TEEMA invited a panel of experts as judges, including representatives from the Automotive Research & Testing Center (ARTC), Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), industrial design colleges, and leading manufacturers from the private sector.

Five winners of the 2008 AMPA Innovation Award were selected from the 13 finalists after about one hundred entries had been eliminated.

Innovation Winners

One winner is the video image guide scope (VIGS) developed by Three-In-One Enterprise Co., Ltd. This advanced repair tool has a list of features:

1. Not integrated with conventional optic fiber, but LED lamp and micro camera technology.

2. Works with desktop or notebook PC by USB connector and runs on specially developed software.

3. Turns into a portable device when connected to a notebook PC.

4. Integrated micro-camera enables auto-focus in the scope.

5. Interlock cable is available in 18 and 36-inch lengths, with the outer diameter (OD) being only 10mm. The supplier is working to offer a cable with 8mm OD.

6. Compatible with both USB 1.1 and 2.0 formats.

7. Adjustable light-tuning knob at the end of the handgrip enables sharper viewing.

8. Features 400,000-pixel resolution imaging, with the supplier developing a new model with one million-pixel resolution.

9. Enlarged viewing is easy via desktop or notebook PC monitor, as well as enabling optional image storage (both still and video images) to set up individualized database for clients and other applications.

Another winner is a roots-type supercharger developed by GBU International Corp. Such device operates by pulling air through a pair of meshing lobes not unlike a set of stretched gears. Air is trapped in pockets surrounding the lobes and carried from the intake side to the exhaust, with the supercharger driven directly by a belt run off the engine's crankshaft.

GBU claims that its supercharger can boost the torque of a car engine by 40%, and horsepower by 80%. Made of aerospace-grade aluminum alloy and high-strength steel, this supercharger is both lightweight and strong.

The heart of a supercharger is its rotor. GBU's patented linear rotor is designed for excellent durability and high-efficiency for the specially-formulated coating, which enables superb heat insulation and anti-friction characteristics.

A third winner is the VBS (Vacuum-Assisted Braking System) developed by YT Stable Tech. Corp., which features several advantages:

1. Boosts insufficient vacuum to the standard value with braking, hence raising air-fuel ratio to save fuel consumption.

2. Improves vacuum braking force and horsepower output.

3. Vacuum is produced by an electric pump to steadily back up the brake booster; so even when an engine malfunctions, the vacuum brake system still keeps working.

4. The VBS automatically senses insufficient vacuum in the booster to replenish it to its standard value, with the system continually backing up the brake pedal to achieve 100% braking efficiency.

5. Works off a stock engine without needing any modification.

One more winner is the iWap 2-in-1 Intelligent Universal Speedy Charger developed by Jye Chuang Electronic Co., Ltd., a compact multifunctional battery charger that works on many handheld devices.

The intelligent charger features various advantages:

1. Charges lithium batteries (3.6V/3.7V) used in all branded cell phones, digital cameras, camcorders, PDAs, GPS, MP3, iPod, Bluetooth earphones and video games.

2. Replaces AC/DC transformer to eliminate the need for different portable device chargers, hence minimizing clutter inside vehicles.

3. Unique, patented auto-polarity-detection design.

4. Intelligent polarity-independent quick charge.

5. Automatic power-off upon full charge.

6. Simultaneously charges a battery and one or two USB portable devices.

7. "TURBO" quick charge for emergencies-three to four times faster charge than OEM charger to save time and money.

A fifth winner is the Welfare Car Seat by Red Heart Enterprise Co., Ltd., a multifunctional car seat designed to make life easier for the mobility-impaired.

Red Heart Welfare Car Seat's design is inspired by the goal to enhance mobility for the disabled, seniors, etc. With the patented swivel mechanism, this seat easily rotates 110 degrees toward a vehicle door to enable easier boarding and exits by passengers.

The seat also features a sliding mechanism to allow forward and backward adjustment as necessary to further enhance sitting comfort during travel. Made for universal installation so as to fit most vehicles, the Red Heart Welfare Car Seat, says its designer, is created based on the concept love, care, respect and easy mobility.