Hiwin Reaps Harvests in Europe

Taipei, Sept. 28, 2011 (CENS)--Hiwin Technologies Corp., Taiwan's leading manufacturer of linear-motion devices and ball screws, has made big breakthrough by launching strategic partnership with Europe's leading manufacturers of pneumatic devices and machine tools.

Hiwin said it has become a major supplier for Europe's leading manufacturers of various sectors, including FESTO, Europe's largest manufacturer of pneumatic devices; DMG, Europe's largest manufacturer of machine tools; and Heller, Germany's largest manufacturer of double-column machining centers. The three European firms see combined annual sales amount to over NT$100 billion.

The company cemented the partnership with the above-mentioned leading manufacturers at the 2011 EMO Hannover through its subsidiary in Germany.

Hiwin chairman Eric Y.T. Chuo said FESTO mainly procured key components form Japan in the past. With 13 years of efforts, Hiwin has become one of FESTO's two major suppliers worldwide. Hiwin will develop and roll out specialized linear guideways for FESTO and begin shipments sometime in the second half of 2012.

In addition, Hiwin will also begin supplying custom-made ball screws and linear guideways to DMG and Heller in the second half of next year.

To meet the increased orders from Europe, Hiwin is speeding up production expansion in Taiwan. The company has procured a land lot to set up a new plant in Dapumei of Chiayi County, southern Taiwan. Construction of the firm's operating headquarters and a modern factory at Taichung Precision Machinery Park will be completed in the foreseeable future. Sometime in October, the company is expected to obtain a construction license to build a third plant of 16,000 pings (one ping equals to 36 square feet) in the Yunlin Technology Park, southern Taiwan.

Hiwin registered NT$1.335 billion in August sales, up 77.17% year-on-year and hitting a historic high record. The company scored NT$8.985 billion in cumulative sales for the first eight months of this year, up a whopping 88.75% from NT$4.76 billion year-on-year.

Chuo said his company has become the No. 2 brand in Europe, only behind STAR. It has a 50% market share in each of Spain and United Kingdom and a market share of over 30% share in Germany.