Due to competitive underselling by rivals in emerging nations, Taiwan`s manufacturers of machining centers are turning their focus on larger models, which involve relatively complex technology and fabrication skills, effectively raising the threshold of entry. Some say makers in emerging nations lack the expertise and facilities to turn out bigger machining centers.

An industry insider says large-sized, double-column machining centers will replace traditional C-type machining centers as the bread and butter for Taiwan`s machining center sector in the foreseeable future. At present, the makers in Taiwan focus on producing double-column machining centers with six meters of Y-axis travel.

Taiwan makers of large-sized machining centers are now tapping their long-term design and machining experience to turn out price-competitive, state-of-the-art models, some of which can compete qualitatively against so-called superior products from advanced suppliers in Japan, Germany, and the United States.

Machining center is one of the most sophisticated product categories for metalworking that is designed and manufactured in Taiwan. Over the past year, some manufacturers claim they have been successful in upgrading manufacturing skills to gradually divert from making only CNC (computerized numerically controlled) milling machines and CNC lathes.

The production capital of Taiwan`s machining center sector is in the central region because of the all-round support from key peripheral industries, including metal sheets, key components, and surface treatment services. Taiwan manufacturers in this line are capable of turning out both vertical and horizontal models, with some makers beginning to diversify into developing water-jet cutters to meet foreign demand.

Taiwan manufacturers of machining centers prefer to adopt industry-recognized CNC controllers with reliable names as Fanuc, Mitsubishi, and Siemens for their high-performance capability. Only a few use PC (personal computer)-based CNC controllers. Some veteran manufacturers admit that PC-based controllers have not yet matured for use in sophisticated machining centers. In Taiwan, the fixed-price, PC-based controllers are used in plastic injection molding machines, woodworking machines, and some textile machines because such machinery equipment doesn`t need machining accuracy as demanded by metalworking machines.

Teaming Up to Set Up Own Shop
Backed by years of hands-on experience in large-sized plants, some seasoned mechanical technicians and designers who share common ambitions and entrepreneurial vision have teamed up to start their own outfits over the past two years. One newcomer says at least eight new manufacturers have set up machining-center operations over the past two years.

According to Customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF), Taiwan exported US$225.56 million worth of machining centers in the first quarter of this year, up 14.7% from US$196.73 million the year earlier. The foundation predicts the sector will continue to see double-digit growth in sales in 2007, although such growth will be relatively slower due to the high precedence set in the preceding year.



Based on its long-term development of CNC lathes about three decades ago, Charles Machine Industrial Co., Ltd., one of Taiwan`s manufacturers capable of making huge machine tools, began developing vertical machining centers featuring boxways about six years ago. Recently, the company introduced two new models of vertical machining centers featuring linear guideways. The company says it is speeding up the pace of upgrading manufacturing skill to roll out higher-end machining centers to meet the requirements of customers from the industrialized nations.

Charles Machine`s general manager P.H. Hsieh noted the newly introduced vertical machining centers are suitable for processing metal parts, making molds and automotive parts. The company is a CE mark and ISO9002-certified manufacturer of machining centers and CNC lathes.

The company says it has exported engine lathes, or traditional manual-operated models, to the European market for over two decades. The company boasts that it is the No.1 brand in Thailand for the engine lathes.

At present, the company can export products to mainland China directly. Other major export outlets include Latin America, the U.S., Canada and Africa.

With a 100% owned foundry, Charles Machine is capable of integrated production, allowing it to fully control the quality of its products in-house.

Taiwan Edges Out Rivals
Hsieh says Taiwan has a qualitative advantage in machining centers over rival producers from neighboring nations. "Taiwan can supply top-tier key components such as precision spindles to meet the need of the manufacturers of machining centers," says Hsieh. The company`s machining centers exported to China are mainly employed by the automotive industry there.

He says almost all key components adopted in machining centers can be fully developed in Taiwan, except for CNC controllers which are dominated by such world-renowned brands as Mitsubishi, Fanuc, Fagor and Siemens.

In addition to CNC machine tools, Charles Machine also supplies "Meehanite"-certified cast iron. The company`s cast iron is mainly supplied to the U.S. and Japan. "We have found exports of cast iron and machinery frames can help us achieve higher profit margin than fully-assembled machine tools," Hsieh states.

Thanks to its long-term dedication to developing sophisticated machine tools, CNC-Takang Co., Ltd. recently announced it has introduced heavy-duty, ultra-low-speed CNC (computerized numerically controlled) lathes and vertical machining centers.



CNC-Takang, founded in 1994, is one of Taiwan`s premier manufacturers of CNC lathes and machining centers. At present, CNC lathes account for approximately 80% of its total output. The company claims that it has achieved outstanding performance in production and sales over the past several years.

The company boasts it uses self-developed technology to turn out high-value-added machine tools. Concentrating on state-of-the-art machine tools has helped the company build a solid reputation in domestic and foreign markets.

With more than a decade of manufacturing experience in developing CNC lathes, CNC-Takang is dedicated to developing a wide range of machine tools that can help boost users` productivity. The company boasts it is capable of designing and developing specialized machine tools based on customers` special request so as to create a win-win situation.

Wide-ranging Product Line
With years of development, CNC-Takang has successfully developed a spate of machine tools ranging from conventional and CNC lathes (flat and slant bed), double-spindle and double-turret CNC lathes, CNC vertical lathes, special drilling machines for flanges in the oil industry, vertical machining centers, to high-speed vertical machining centers (bridge type).

CNC-Takang president Wilson Leou says his company has invested heavily in setting up high-grade instruments for testing and inspection, research and development to ensure high quality of all the products turned out by its plant located in Taichung Industrial Park of Taichung City, central Taiwan.

Leou says Taiwan`s machining center sector has an edge in producing huge models, such as double-column machining centers. He predicts that double-column machining centers will replace traditional C-type machining centers in the foreseeable future.

More recently CNC-Takang just launched new products, including high-speed horizontal machine tool, and CNC gantry-type machine tool driven by linear motor.

A majority of CNC-Takang`s products are exported, with some going to domestic market. The company`s major export outlets include mainland China, Southeast Asian nations, the U.S., Canada, and the European Union.

The company says it achieved a double-digit sales growth last year. With influx of orders from at home and abroad, the company sees promising outlook in the world machine-tool market in 2007.

CNC-Takang claims it is now capable of shipping eight units of double-column machining centers a month, compared to only three last year. The company boasts it has received orders to fully book its production lines till the end of this year.

Frank Phoenix International Corp., established in 1990, is one of Taiwan`s specialist manufacturers of mold-making machine tools, including CNC (computerized numerically controlled) milling machines, lathes, grinding machines, conventional machine tools and their accessories.

At present, the company`s major product lines are vertical machining center, CNC lathe, CNC milling machine, conventional lathe, conventional milling machine, accessories and parts for different kinds of machine tools. The company exports under the "Phoenix" brand.

The company`s production is supported by a wholly owned subsidiary TOPFIT Machinery Co., Ltd., which is capable of rolling out various kinds of machine tools in small and large sizes.

IPC-based CNC-controlled Machine Tools
A decade ago Frank Phoenix began producing CNC machines, including milling machines and lathes, which can be equipped with locally developed and foreign-made IPC (industrial personal computer)-based CNC controllers.



Since its debut of CNC models, Frank Phoenix has been paying more attention to developing practical and reliable IPC-based controllers aimed at enhancing product performance.

To that end, in 1997 the company launched a technical cooperation project with the Mechanical Industry Research Laboratories (MIRL) under the government-backed Industrial Technology Research Institute to develop more powerful IPC-based CNC controllers.

In addition to the self-developed IPC-based controllers, the company also adopts some internationally renowned CNC controllers, including Fagor, Anilam, Fanuc, etc., to meet the specific demand of customers from around the world.

"My company is supported by a well-established in-house R&D unit which has accumulated much experience in developing sophisticated automated machine tools," says Frank Lin, president of the company. "For instance, we are Taiwan`s first manufacturer in this line to develop Windows-based high-speed CNC controllers used in high-performance machine tools, which we showcased at the Taipei International Machine Tool Show held at the Taipei World Trade Center in March 2003."

In the first quarter of last year, Frank Phoenix introduced a series of flat-bed CNC lathes with rigid and strong construction. The machines feature auto gear shifting and full enclosure guard, ensuring high performance, safe and easy operations. Suitable for processing bars up to 2,000mm in length, the machines feature 450mm to 1,100mm in swing-over-bed, and 1,000mm to 6,000mm in inter-center distance.

Economic Milling Machine is Upgradable
The company`s FM-395ATC CNC milling machines feature vector-type inverter featuring variable spindle speed to ensure accurate and stable running. The machine can be upgraded to a CNC machining center when set up in a tool room and equipped with full enclosure. "The introduction of our economic CNC milling machines is to meet the special demand of some foreign customers who don`t need the higher-priced machining center for simple metalworking," says Lin. "The machine can be upgraded to carry out the same functions as machining center should they need to do sophisticated metalworking."

Arix CNC Machines Co., Ltd., founded in 1995 in Tainan County, southern Taiwan, is one of Taiwan`s most professional manufacturers of CNC machine tools, especially high-speed machining centers.



With an in-house, well-experienced R&D department, the company boasts it is capable of providing price-competitive, high-performance CNC machine tools. Arix Yang, general manager of the company, says his company`s R&D engineers have expertise in the fields of mechanical design, computer hardware and software, machining techniques, and international marketing.

The company exports under the "Arix" brand. With a work force of 25, the company currently is capable of turning out 20 CNC machining centers per month.

Yang states his company is pursuing advanced technologies to manufacture high-speed machining centers. "We can also offer compact machining center featuring high-speed machining job," says Yang. "For instance, our most compact high-speed machining center occupies a land space of only three square meters. But the machine is equipped with a high-speed spindle featuring over 20,000rpm in spindle speed, allowing cutting HRC60-class hardened steel."

At present the unit export price of the company`s products ranges from US$25,000 up to US$50,000 each. Over the past three years, the company has seen substantial annual growth of 30% in sales.

Thanks to the dedication of its R&D team, the company has never stopped developing innovative machine tools to meet the ever-changing demand of global customers. Currently the company is speeding up the pace of developing a double-column high-speed machining center.

Seeing the influx of foreign orders over the past three years, Arix is busy expanding production capacity with the opening of a new four-story plant of 1,768 square meters built on 5,606 square meters in the Tainan Technology Industry Park, southern Taiwan.

(by Ben Shen)