Taipei AMPA 2008 Honors Innovative Auto Parts Makers

The Taipei International Auto Parts & Accessories Show (Taipei AMPA) has over the years successfully built itself into one of the most important trade fairs of its kind worldwide, serving also as a stage to showcase innovative auto parts that underline the endless R&D potential held by Taiwan-based suppliers.

This year's Taipei AMPA rounded off on April 12 at the newly constructed Nangan Exhibition Hall, which offers an even bigger venue for a sector that holds considerable promise especially considering that China is expected to evolve into the world's biggest car market in the foreseeable future. Overcoming the minor inconvenience of distance, the show organizer offered dedicated shuttle buses, as well as business meetings, market information and resources, which helped to draw more foreign buyers and earn ample praise from visitors for enhanced convenience, organization, and wide ranging product offerings.

Rewarding Innovativeness

Suppliers who have been investing in R&D saw their efforts given deserved attention: Taipei AMPA this year also held the Innovation Awards. Five winners were cited for developing cutting-edge products: Gbu International Corp. (Roots Type Supercharger), Jye Chuang Electronics Co., Ltd. (iWap 2-in-1 Intelligent Multi-Universal Speedy Car Charger), Red Heart Enterprise Co., Ltd. (Car Seat for Mobility-challenged), Three-In-One Ent. Co., Ltd. (Video Image Guide Scope) and Yt Stable Tech. Corp. (Vacuum Brake Backup), whose hard work not only caught visitors' attention at the show, but also proved that Taiwan suppliers are capable of creative work in auto parts.

The following summarizes the five Innovation Award winners and the auto parts that garnered sufficient attention to warrant the receipt of such honor.

Roots Type Supercharger

Gbu International Corp., founded in 2003 in Taiwan's northern county of Taipei, has been developing automotive superchargers and was awarded at the Taipei AMPA 2008 an Innovation Award for its improved Roots Type Supercharger.

A typical roots type supercharger is driven by a belt linked to the crankshaft. The supercharger simply pulls air through a pair of meshing lobes to force air trapped in pockets surrounding such lobes from the intake side to the exhaust. Modern, revised roots type superchargers feature better fuel efficiency. Since being driven by the crankshaft, roots type superchargers can help boost power even at low engine RPMs. However, roots type superchargers are relatively heavier and bulkier than turbochargers, as well as being less efficient in power-boosting at higher RPMs.

To improve typical roots type supercharger's structure and durability, Gbu adopts aircraft-grade aluminum alloy and high-grade steel, hence realizing weight reduction and improved durability than comparable superchargers. Gbu's supercharger, built with self-developed, patented linear rotor, can raise engine torque and horsepower by between 40% and 80%.

Besides, its linear rotor is specially coated for good heat insulation and wear resistance to achieve more efficient operation and longer life. With anodized surfaces and electrolytic-coating, the supercharger is available in two colors: gold or silver, as well as being suitable for any internal combustion engine.

iWap 2-in-1 Intelligent Multi-Universal Speedy Car Charger

Backed by 17 years of experience in developing power stations, boosters, chargers and related accessories, Jye Chuang also won an Innovation Award for its newly developed iWap 2-in-1 Intelligent Multi-Universal Speedy Car Charger.

Tapping the increasing popularity and technology in consumer electronics, including mobile phones, PDAs, MP3 players and digital cameras, Jye Chuang created the iWap Charger, which is designed with an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) module that automatically identifies the polarity of a battery to, if necessary, link both positive and negative poles correctly for foolproof charging. Furthermore, the AI module also, upon completed battery charging, shuts down the iWap Charger automatically to avoid overcharging.

Being virtually universally adaptable, the iWap Charger works on 97% of typically available lithium batteries rated 3.6V or 3.7V for consumer electronics. With an integrated AC/DC converter, the iWap charger spares users from having to prepare many chargers in their cars for various portable devices. What's more, the iWap Charger features a Turbo function for a quick charge that shortens three to four folds the usual charging time. Its series of innovative and multipurpose functions made the iWap Charger a hot topic at Taipei AMPA 2008.

Car Seat for Mobility-challenged

Diversifying from developing its usually range of racing seats, sport car seats and related seats and chairs for different purposes, Red Heart unveiled its Care Seat for Mobility-challenged, which has been designed to help seniors and handicapped exit easily from cars, which is relevant considering the increasing graying population and rising awareness for better accessibility for the mobility-challenged. This car seat for mobility challenged features ergonomic design and practical functions that caught ample attention at Taipei AMPA.

Equipped with a swivel mechanism, the Car Seat for Mobility-challenged enables the seat to turn 110 degrees to a car door to enable easy transfer of disabled passengers to wheelchairs. Its sliding tracks on the bottom also make to and fro adjustment of the seat easy for maximized comfort.

Being multifunctional, this car seat also doubles as a wheelchair to further enhance mobility and convenience of seniors and invalids. Also, the seat is noted for featuring ergonomic design and firm support that help to reduce stress on spines, a key attribute for users who are chair-bound for long periods.

Easily accommodated inside vans and large-sized vehicles, the seat, already patent protected in the U.S., Taiwan, China and Japan, this car seat also fits inside most sedans. Developed with an eye on improved, humane care of elderly and mobility-challenged, this car seat has been well received in Japan, the U.S., Canada, Germany and Southeast Asia since its debut in 2007, according to Red Heart.

Video Image Guide Scope

Three-In-One Ent., a veteran maker of auto parts and repair tools since its establishment in 1976, showcased its newly developed Video Image Guide Scope (VIGS) at Taipei AMPA 2008, proving its considerable talent for developing auto repair parts.

Unlike conventional industrial borescopes mainly using optical fibers to transmit images, the VIGS adopts FFCs (flat flexible cables) with integrated LED (light emitting diode) lamp, IC (integrated circuit) and micro camera to enhance its utility. Its maker says that the flexible material used enables the VIGS cable, with an outer diameter of only 10mm, bends easily to reach virtually any tight space, making for a very practical inspection tool that outrivals optical-fiber borescopes.

Especially of interest to buyers is that the VIGS uses PCB (printed circuit board) and FCC to transmit images instead of optical fibers, which helps to reduce production costs as well as maximizing durable and quality. Besides, it features a 400,000 pixel camera capable of auto focus, white balance and is totally compatible with personal computers and notebooks, allowing users to easily record and process images. This versatile inspection tool is perfect for law enforcement agents, locksmiths, electricians, carpenters, automotive engineers, plumbers, mechanics and welders.

Vacuum Brake Backup

After years of work on improving automotive brake systems, YT Stable Tech unveiled the world's first Vacuum Brake Backup (VBB) system, which has become a mandatory component of automotive courses at Taiwan's vocational high schools and junior colleges.

Typically engine stalls would also cause vacuum brake boosters in cars to stop working, which can lead to accidents, especially on downhill roads. To overcome such weakness, YT Stable Tech developed the VBB, which has been proven effective in a series of tests by Taiwan's ARTC (Automotive Research & Testing Center), with the VBB keeping brake systems working fully by pumping extra brake pressure during stalls.

The ARTC tests show that a car traveling at 60km/hr can be completely stopped by a VBB-aided brake system within 18.61 meters on average when its engine stalls, which is far superior to the 198.19m for a car without the VBB assist. Such amazing results have attracted quite a few automakers to negotiate business partnerships.

What's more, the VBB improves fuel economy of an engine by 10% at least, as well as enhancing horsepower through increasing vacuum infusion in the intake manifolds to achieve optimal air-fuel ratio. This safety device can be installed in nearly all kinds of automobiles, especially heavy-duty vehicles like buses and trucks. In addition to multinational patents, the product is also covered by NT$20 million liability insurance.