W-Team Formed to Boost Global Profile of Taiwan's Woodworking Machinery Industry

Taipei, April 11, 2012 (CENS)--Officially supported by the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, a couple of Taiwanese woodworking machinery manufacturers have formed the W-Team, which is designed to help Taiwan become one of the world's top two exporters of such products by 2016.

IDB officials pointed out that the W-Team is now composed of Taiwan's three mainstay woodworking machinery manufacturers, namely Shen Ko Machine Co., Ltd., Pro Sam Machine Industrial Co., Ltd. and Hipoint Inc., and will later invite downstream manufacturers of tables, chairs and cabinets to expand its membership.

Taiwan Woodworking Machinery Association chairman L.C. Tu said at the W-Team's inauguration ceremony that the industry's output value exceeded NT$20 billion in 2010, making Taiwan outpace China as the world's third-largest exporter of this kind.

Presently, the industry is composed of about 300 manufacturers and related subcontractors, with over 90% of their output exported. Of them, over 80% are clustering in central Taiwan, a distinct competitive advantage of the industry that grants makers an easy and rapid access to supply of needed parts and components.

Inspired by the fact that German and Italian woodworking machinery suppliers have switched their focus onto developing automated woodworking lines that feature higher production efficiency and better eco-friendly appeals and designs, Precision Machinery Research & Development Center emphasized that Taiwanese makers, although having competed well globally with high-quality, budget-priced single machine units for years, have to step up upgrading their products to follow the growing market trend.

To assist the industry in boosting its global profile in line with the trend, IDB urged the formation of the W-Team to provide Taiwanese manufacturers with a platform to hone their capabilities of supplying automated lines and turn-key solutions to better explore overseas markets.

In the near future, IDB will take advantage of the team to help the industry develop and promote quality certification marks for Taiwan-made woodworking machinery, virtual production line simulation systems, smart automation technologies, ICT service platforms and industrial designs capability.