Hiwin is Taiwan's Most Profitable Machine-tool Firm in First 3 Quarters

Taipei, Nov. 3, 2011 (CENS)--Hiwin Technologies Corp., Taiwan's leading manufacturer of linear-motion devices and ball screws, posted NT$2.782 billion in after-tax earnings, or NT$11.86 per share, in the first three quarters, hitting a historic high, making it Taiwan's most profitable listed firm on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, beating out counterparts including Tongtai Machine & Tool Co., Awea Mechantronic Co., Goodway Machine Corp., and Falcon Machine Tools Co.

Thanks to increased capacity and influx of orders, Hiwin achieved NT$10.33 billion in cumulative sales in the first three quarters, also scoring NT$3.277 billion in pretax earnings in the first three quarters, with institutional investors believing Hiwin to see per-share net earnings exceed NT$15 in 2011.

Awea, Taiwan's leading manufacturer of large-sized machining centers, posted NT$2.194 billion in cumulative sales in the first three quarters, with NT$166 million in after-tax earnings, or NT$1.9 per share, hitting a new high in three years. Its parent Goodway, a leading manufacturer of CNC (computerized numerically controlled) lathes, expects per-share net earnings of NT$3.4 in the first three quarters, for a new record since the 2008 global financial crisis.

Falcon, a leading manufacturer of surface grinders and machining centers, has seen a turnaround in core business in the third quarter, posting NT$1.278 billion in sales in the first three quarters, hitting an all-time high, and NT$67 million in pretax earnings, up 10 times year-on-year for the second-highest record in history. The company expects consolidated sales of NT$2.5 billion in 2011.

One of Taiwan's largest machine-tool conglomerates, Tongtai saw cumulative sales reach NT$5.217 billion in the first three quarters, up 3.15% year-on-year, with NT$510 million in after-tax earnings, or NT$2.3 per share.