Machinery Sector in Taiwan See Exports Rise 7.9% in First 10 Months of 2008

The plastic extrusion machinery sector in Taiwan goes back some four decades, with most manufacturers in this line having accumulated more than three decades of development and manufacturing experience that enable their products to be marketed globally. Over the past few years, many major makers have successfully developed a wide variety of high-value-added machinery to meet special requirements, specifically machines featuring high operating speed and production efficiency. Delivering machinery with such enhanced functionality has allowed Taiwan's makers to make inroads into industrialized nations.

The government-backed Plastics Industry Development Center (PIDC) says the number of domestic plastic and rubber processing machinery makers reaches over 250, and those making plastic injection-molding machinery is the biggest segment, generating three-fourths of the output in Taiwan, followed by extrusion machines with an approximate 25% share.

The Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI) notes that domestically made plastics and rubber processing machines are mainly exported to mainland China and Hong Kong, the United States, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Germany, South Korea, and Canada.

C.C. Wang, vice president of TAMI, says that exports of Taiwan-made machinery showed slowing growth last year because of the sharp rise in material prices and the appreciation of domestic currency against the greenback.

The customs-cleared statistics compiled by the TAMI show that Taiwan exported US$1.014 billion of plastics and rubber processing machinery in the first 11 months of 2008, for an annualized 6.9% growth. Wang says that the export figure had further contracted in December 2008 and will continue to do so even in the first few months of 2009 due to the devastating global financial tsunami.

Stretched Net Making Machine

Ming Yi Plastic Machinery Co., Ltd., established in January 1990, is a specialized maker of plastic processing machines in Taiwan, focusing on plastic net making machines, polypropylene (PP)/ polyethylene (PE)/ nylon monofilament extrusion machines etc. The company runs a 54,000 square feet plant in Chiayi County, southern Taiwan.

At present, the company's major product lines include machines that make nets for packing fruits, seal bottoms of net bags, kitchen net filters, multipurpose diamond-patterned nets, nylon monofilament extrusions, and plastic woven-bags, all of which range in quoted per-unit prices from US$8,000 to US$100,000.

"Although the world demand for plastic net-making machines is not as enviable as other kinds of plastic processing machines, our products sell very well in specific markets worldwide. Also we never stop developing innovative, high-performance machines to help customers improve production efficiency," says R.R. Huang, president of the company.

About one and a half years ago, Ming Yi introduced a new product line-the square-net making machine which is developed to meet special need.

Ming Yi says its PE-net making machines are especially designed to meet requirements for high production and efficiency, as well as turning out exceptionally fine surface on the nets. The screws used in the machine are precision machined from high-quality alloy steel SACM-1 that is nitrogen treated for high performance and durability, ensuring high extruding capacity, automatic temperature control; while mechanical motion is controlled by high-performance controller for the most convenient operation.

Multifunctional Stretched Nets

The stretched nets made by Ming Yi's machines are widely used to pack fruits, vegetables, flowers, toys, seafood, and can also be used in drains to catch leftovers from washing dishes.

The company's machines can also turn out flat nets that are typically used as insect netting for fruit growers, fish farms, livestock fencing, construction hoarding etc.

Mainly PE, ethylenevinyl acetate (EVA), nylon, PP, PU (polyurethane) and even maize are used to make the various netting, with the product available in a range of specifications to meet dedicated needs. The per-hour output ranges from 3kgs to 200kgs.

Turnkey and Individual Packaging Machine

Poly Machinery Works Co., Ltd., established in 1969, is a leading manufacturer of laminators and EPS/EPE-product manufacturing equipment, able to offer turnkey equipment and solutions.

With almost 40 years of experience in mechanical design and manufacturing, the company has successfully developed a variety of packaging equipment with enhanced functionality and efficiency. Its consistent R&D has helped the firm to build a leading position in the global high-end packaging machinery segment.

J.C. Chang, president of the company, says his company is dedicated to developing multi-functional machinery and turnkey equipment to meet various demands.

The company's major product lines include expanded PS (polystyrene)/LDPE (low density polyethylene) sheet extrusion line, expanded PE tube/rod making equipment, expanded PE-foamed net making equipment, laminating machine for food packing materials, laminating machine for cement bags, and heavy-duty laminator.

Poly Machinery claims it is Taiwan's first manufacturer and exporter of laminators.

To improve the production capacity of flat yarn for woven bags, the company employs advanced European technologies and has invested considerably in R&D to turn out expanded PS/LDPE sheet and expanded PE foam net.

Poly Machinery currently runs three factories, one each in Sanchung and Panchiao of Taipei County, and Taoyuan County, with the first two focusing on machinery manufacturing and the third concentrating on development and test-runs.

The company takes pride in its strict quality-control, inspection, trial runs, as well as prompt after-sale service.

Poly Machinery has exported to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and mainland China, saying that it would continue to offer top-quality machinery and technical solutions to better serve the commodity-packaging industry worldwide.

Plastic Extrusion Systems

Founded in the early 1980s, Jenn Chong Plastics Machinery Works Co., Ltd. is a globally recognized manufacturer of extrusion systems.

Jenn Chong offers a wide range of plastic extrusion machines to meet specific needs , including turnkey blown-film extrusion systems for single- or multi-layer film, monofilament extrusion system, flat-yarn making machines, fibrillated yarn making machine, extruded net making machine, strapping band making machine, and turnkey plastic and woven bag making plants.

The company obtained ISO9002 certification in 1998, ISO9001 in 2000, and the CE mark in 2004, which reflects on the high quality and reliability of its products.

Realizing that using advanced technologies is the only way to upgrade product standards, so over the past several years Jenn Chong has been making all-out efforts to develop cutting-edge manufacturing techniques.

500 Overseas Buyers

"Thanks to our in-house R&D unit, we are very proud of our ability to supply high-quality extruding systems, which has enabled us to win the confidence of our customers," says James Huang, the company's export manager, who serves more than 500 customers in over 70 nations.

In recent years, Jenn Chong has been striving to develop and improve monofilament and heavy-duty PET strapping-band making machines. The monofilament extruders are suitable for making PP/PE, PVC, nylon (PA6, 66, 6/66 copolymer) bands and PET for various industrial applications. The company has also developed a PET extruder line for making heavy-duty PET band from recycled PET bottles.

Jenn Chong offers a complete range of PP and HDPE flat yarn extrusion lines, all featuring the most advanced technological solutions to make flat yarn and fibrillated yarn.

The company boasts that its JC-FY series flat yarn making machine comes with 85mm to 100mm screw extruder, is equipped with gear-driven precision cross winder for making general-purpose flat yarn, hence an ideal model for starting an extrusion plant.

Woven-Bag Making Machines

Founded in 1980 in Taichung County, central Taiwan, Hao Yu Precision Machinery Industry Co., Ltd. is a veteran maker of turnkey plants for producing PP (polypropylene) woven bags in Taiwan.

An ISO9001-certified manufacturer that also carries the CE mark, Hao Yu also specializes in offering machines compatible with natural textile and wood/plastics composites, adding that it is capable of rolling out a variety of machines to produce low-denier food-storage bags and high-denier woven bags.

The company's major product lines include twelve-shuttle jumbo circular looms, PP woven inner linear-inside lamination machines, flat-yarn high-speed extrusion machines, and wood/plastics composite extruding machines.

Hao Yu says that it has exported turnkey equipment to over 50 nations, with the major export outlets being the Middle East, Africa, and Thailand. Recently the company received a substantial order for turnkey PP woven-bag equipment from Africa.

Superior Tensile Strength

The company currently concentrates on the production of high-end products and innovative high-added-value machines. "Our PP woven-bag machine produces bags with tension-resistance five times higher than those made by rival domestic producers," says Hao Yu president H.T. Chi. "Our consistent delivery of high-quality products has enabled us over the past several years to win many government bids in Taiwan."

Besides featuring an in-house R&D team to develop innovative machines, the company says: "In addition to developing brand-new models featuring sophisticated functions, we also pay much attention to every detail of product quality. For instance, we insist on adopting imported, expensive bearings."

The company is now focused on developing environment-friendly machines that turn out woven-plastic used to stop landslides on slopes.

Hao Yu's wood/plastic composite extruding machine is one of the company's best-sellers. The machine extrudes wood/plastic composite decorative trims for the home furnishing industry. "These decorative trims are moisture- and fire-resistant," says Chi. "And we have dedicated a part of our facilities to turning out the promising product."

Hao Yu claims its wood/plastic composite extruding machinery is expected to be one of the most eye-catching items at the 11th Taipei International Plastics & Rubber Industry Show to be staged in March 2009 at the Taipei World Trade Center.

Chi says the wood/plastic composites are broadly used in interior furnishings and architectural fittings, with such composites resembling natural wood but featuring resistance to water, insects, corrosion and mildew that exceed that of wood, as well as being lightweight, durable, dimensionally stable and recyclable.

Hao Yu's HY-WP70 series wood/plastic composite profile extrusion line consists of a main extruder, a water-cooling station, a take-off unit, a cutter and a stacker. The company also offers a pelletizer extrusion line fed with wood/plastic composite resin that has a high-speed mixer and vertical cooling blender.

The company boasts that the woven-plastic materials produced with its machines have passed stringent inspections and tests done by local schools, including the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, and Chung Yuan Christian University.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machinery (Jan.-Oct. 2008) by Products Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-Oct. 2007	Jan.-Oct. 2008	Annual Change (%)
1	Machine Tools	2,829,935	3,230,959	14.2
2	Special-purpose Machinery	999,489	1,095,524	9.6
3	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	852,126	934,651	9.7
4	Valves & Parts	786,666	817,208	3.9
5	Pumps, compressors, Fans	705,053	782,249	10.9
6	Bearings, Gears, Ball Screws	506,271	610,990	20.7
7	Machine-tool Parts & Components	553,021	603,418	9.1
8	Woodworking Machinery	560,471	533,545	-4.8
9	Molds & Dies	415,707	441,221	6.1
10	Textile Machinery	544,028	417,154	-23.3
11	Sewing Machines	325,797	307,591	-5.6
12	Paper Making, Printing Machinery	221,226	214,869	-2.9
13	Leather & Shoes Making Machines	65,326	74,161	13.5
	Others	3,862,140	4,215,053	9.1
	Total	13,227,256	14,278,593	7.9
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry

Imports of Machinery Into Taiwan (Jan.-Oct. 2008) by Products Unit: US$1,000
Rank	Product Category	Jan.-Oct. 2007	Jan.-Oct. 2008	Annual Change (%)
1	Special-purpose Machinery	4,448,905	4,505,522	1.3
2	Machine Tools	2,172,133	1,400,562	-35.5
3	Pumps, Compressors, Fans	809,331	907,563	12.1
4	Engines & Parts	762,775	698,899	-8.4
5	Valves & Parts	513,182	532,428	3.8
6	Plastics & Rubber Machinery	273,345	285,652	4.5
7	Textile Machinery	324,742	279,076	-14.1
	Others	5,954,600	7,547,872	26.8
	Total	15,259,013	16,157,574	5.9
Source: Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry