TMTS 2016: New products, new breakthroughs

The three day event was packed with back-to-back factory visits. Each of the 10 factories introduced their company history coupled with a tour of their production site and presentation of their various machines. 

The pre-show conference gave us a plethora of news and announcements on some of Taiwan’s movers and shakers in the machine tools and accessories industry. With so many announcements to keep track of to prepare you on your visit this November, check out IMNA’s roundup of all the companies below.

Machine enclosure systems fabricator

Machine components manufacturer KEYARROW (Taiwan) Co. Ltd is known for its bellows, bellows with lamella, telescopic covers, chip conveyors and machine guards systems. For years the company has been dedicated in new product development, and is actively developing technologies such as CSPM. Now Keyarrow has more than 80 patents over 17 countries and has authorised NABELL Japan for its patent, technique, and production system in 2004.

In March 2007, Keyarrow implemented KAPS (Keyarrow Production System). Based on “5S+TPM”, following TPS (Toyota Production System). The company aims to deliver high quality product to customer’s production lines on time, improve towards 0 defects and 0 customer inventories.

The company has received an award for Excellence in Consistent TMP Commitment in 2016. It is claimed to be the first among the world’s professional design/manufacture factories for “Complete machine protection solution”, who’s product range covering bellows, telescopic covers, chip conveyor and machine guards system. Providing complete integration services of a full-service resource; from start to accomplish, and beyond.

Five-axis machining center specialist

HARTFORD will unveil its latest 5-axis machining center 5A & 5BC series in TMTS 2016. The unique development technology equipped with Hartford’s 5-axis machining centers, presents high quality and high efficiency. AS9100-certified the company is the first to obtain this certification in Taiwan machining center industry.

It offers both 5-axis and 4+1 axis machining centers. The unique design of 3 axes thermal growth control system on 5-axis means thermal deformation problem is not an issue and making axis accuracy stable. Hartford’s i-Tech 24,000rpm built-in intelligent spindle has several intelligent functions for integration spindle protection increasing cutting accuracy and reducing down time.

The 5-axis 240° high rigidity fork swivel head structure developed and manufactured by Hartford. The design of 4 linear guideway on Z axis strengthens and provides rigidity for stability. For high precision large aerospace components and difficult machine materials, the company delivers a solution with the 5-axis double column machining center. Bringing the power and versatility to machine complex multi axis components whilst maintaining high precision and excellent removal efficiency.

Intelligent spindle maker

Posa Machinery Co. Ltd produces a complete range of spindles with the idea of “intelligent spindles” in mind. The company’s built-in spindles detect inner temperature and vibration which may affect the spindle accuracy via various built-in sensors. The efficiency and lifetime of the spindles are improved with the detect sensors. In addition, due to the increasing requirements for energy savings, POSA developed built-in spindle for CNC lathes, LMS-S20. The product’s integrated design allows smaller spindle with low vibration and noise and easy maintenance.

POSA promotes servitization. The ultimate goal is to satisfy clients’ demands and offer a complete range of service, and to add more product value than before. In order to provide clients with total solutions, Posa Machinery expands its R&D personnel which accounts for 10% of the total employees. When contacting with clients, we fully understand clients’ actual demand and provide them with professional solutions.

The company recently developed a remote spindle noise and vibration analysis system, which utilizes acoustic features of working spindles as the means conveying physical information of spindle bodies

Intelligent automation by robots

HIWIN Technologies Corp. is engaged in the research, development, design, manufacturing and distribution of ball screws, linear guides, cross roller bearing, and industrial robots. It supplies precision critical components to many hi-tech industries for machine tools, medical equipment, material handling, automotive, and energy saving industry, and is now one of the largest motion control and system technology manufacturers in the world.

The philosophy of HIWIN founder, Dr. Eric Y. T. Chuo is always to pursue the largest well-beings of Human. He says: “Manufacturing itself is not the goal, but a service to fulfil human needs. This higher purpose leads to innovations that improve our society”. With the broad vision, HIWIN has opened a new page of intelligent automation by Robots, which generates HIWIN a new era.

Under the global competition, HIWIN will continue to do innovation and research and provide our service to the world. Now HIWIN is working on the intelligent ballscrew by adding the sensing technology, which will open a new page of the machinery industry, and devotes works moving forward to Industrie 4.0.

Machine tool manufacturer

GOODWAY Machine Tools Group (GMT) is a scalable machine tool group in Taiwan, which includes GOODWAY and AWEA, and the new member EXTRON since 2014. In 2014, GMT achieved the highest revenue of US$245 million in 2015, and received the second highest revenue of US$225 million. According Taiwan’s custom house, GOODWAY has taken 20% of the total amount of turning centers export. This explains that with all the intense competition, the company has received the approval of the global market.

The company has invested more than US$30 million on high advanced assembly factory. The construction of its Chiayi branch is expected to finish in 2017, which is expected to provide 100,000 m² space. GMT group has constantly developed intelligent control systems, G.Linc350 and i Console, for over 10 years. Those systems have been commercialised for years in the market, and become the remarkable technology in comparison to competitors. Especially, Industry 4.0 is the milestone for all the manufacturers, GMT group has the solid foundation on Intelligent and Automation. Among those advantages of the group, they not only provide reliable advanced equipment to the market, but also upgrade and promote the industry.

Forty years of experience in CNC rotary table

With a 15,000 square meter factory, GSA TECHNOLOGY Co. investments in superior machining equipment and inspection facilities from Germany and Japan to ensure quality, which they call the three-high: high accuracy, high performance and high reliability. According to the company, GSA+ is the benchmark of Taiwan’s CNC rotary table industry.

The General Manager Mr. Yu said that the development process of CNC Direct Drive Rotary Table went on smoothly and also achieve excellent performance. This development not only enhances their competitiveness but also strengthens their confidence. To further support its leading status and broaden product lines, GSA+ develops rotary tables from 170mm to 1000mm. 

Owning the ability to develop advanced products, GSA+ promotes positive attitudes towards its business worldwide, and including collaboration with famous manufactures globally.

5 axes machining center for aerospace sector

LITZ Hitech Corp. produces large 5 axes machining center, CH5-3000. It has an X travel of 3000m/m and built-in spindle, the highest speed can reach up to 12000RPM. The strong milling capability of the high speed spindle, combined with AB rotary axes with maximum tilting angle of ±40˚ and the robust rigidity of the machine, enables the machine to cut and remove substantial materials efficiently, which best suits the applications for aerospace industry, such as manufacturing the parts of ribs or spars of an aircraft.

Many CH5-3000 have been sold to countries that are well developed in aerospace technology, such as the United States and China. Customers, including the supply chain of Boeing, are all amazed by the high performance of the machine. With CH5-3000, Litz proves that they can also buy high-performance machines made in Taiwan, and produces high-precision aerospace parts for customers.

Automatic virtual metrology system provider

With the Industrie 4.0, FATEK, a division of Far East Machinery Group (FEMCO), has successfully developed an Automatic Virtual Metrology system (AVM) for wheel automation line. AVM is designed to provide real-time measurements for producing high-quality wheels and reducing defect rate. The measured results are collected during cutting operation. Then, the results can be uploaded to the cloud and stored in big data server for future reference, and they can be instantly sent to designated operator or clients for better monitoring on production process. Besides, tool compensation can be achieved during machining to greatly reduce cycle time while maintaining higher quality and stability in workpiece.

Over 10,000 aluminium wheels being tested with numerous positive feedback, this AVM system has proved to bring users with a greater benefit and help significantly reduce the manpower required for quality control. As emphasised by FEMCO chairman, David Chuang, the precision outcome from the AVM system even receives an almost equally high result as from the CMM. Following up, this positive performance shall encourage FEMCO’s R&D to move forward for more achievements in the Industry 4.0 era.

Customised-machine tool

During 2016 TMTS, TONGTAI Machine & Tool Co. will exhibit six machines including VTX-7 (CNC milling and tapping center), VP-8 (Vertical Machining center), VC-610 (Vertical Machining Center for high speed contouring), MT-2000 (CNC lathe), TD-2000Y (Multi-tasking Turning Center) and SH-4000P (Horizontal Machining center). All of the machines will be demonstrated as NC+PC structure and equipped with Tongtai Intelligent Manufacturing System, so called “TIMS”.

The TIMS conducts four main functions: manufacturing control, intelligent monitoring, instruments monitoring, and work piece monitoring. Controlled over specially developed computer program, it can successfully upgrade existing operating environment and conduct monitoring of information and production for automotive manufacturing equipment. This system makes each operation more efficient. If each machine in the production line is equipped with one PC, the production line could be connected and make a solid foundation for intelligent automation and manufacturing for the whole factory.

In the future, the company plans to continue its efforts into developing intelligent software in order to provide clients with full-functioned intelligent manufacturing system and equipped with user-friendly interface.

Taiwan’s biggest vertical lathe & floor borer maker

With over 37 years’ experience, YOU JI Machine Industrial Co. has obtained customers' support in design and quality of machine. There are many machines to meet customers' different needs. Table diameter from O200 to O8000mm. You Ji is the first machine manufacturer to have passed CE and EMC and to have begun sales in the European market, and is the biggest vertical lathe and floor borer manufacturer in Taiwan.  The cooperation between You Ji and other advanced machine manufacturers helps to upgrade the quality of You Ji products and provide customers the best and fastest service in the business.

Press conference summary

TMTS 2016 is themed under: Activating Intelligent Manufacturing, Heading towards Industry 4.0 to express the achievement of related advanced products, including sensing technology, machine-to-machine (M2M), data driven decision making, robot-controlled manufacturing, human-robot collaboration, and intelligent control of flexible (costumed) manufacturing system, which all are specialised fields of Taiwan machine tool industry.

TMBA Vice Chairman Jui-Hsiung Yen explained, “Smart Intelligent Manufacturing still focuses on machinery, which means the intelligence level of Taiwan machines must be upgraded to achieve Industry 4.0. For instance, software will be applied on the machines displayed during the show.”

TMTS will be held at the Greater Taichung International Expo Center (GTIEC) with an exhibition area of about 78,000 square meters, and an expected 4,000 booths exhibiting all types of high-precision machine tools, components, accessories, tools and automation equipment. However, a question concerning high standard exhibition halls and a more internationalised venue was raised during the press conference.

Director General of Taichung City Government Yau-JR Liu, replied, “We expect two exhibition halls to be ready by 2019 or 2020. One of them will be near the High-Speed Rail Station, and the other will be in Taichung Gateway Park. Each exhibition hall can accommodate 2,000 to 2,500 booths but if you include the temporary area, it could reach up to 4,000 booths. “

TMBA Vice Chairman Chin-Kun Yu said that they are expecting over 100 foreign exhibitors within the 300 booths in the international area, which is planned for several pavilions including Germany, Europe/USA/Japan, Swiss, Italy, China and other countries.

Following the introduction of mechanical production systems, work-sharing mass production and the automation of production processes, a fourth industrial revolution is now on the horizon. Who is Taiwan responding to this?

TMBA Vice Chairman Jui-Hsiung Yen, said, “Taiwan is impacted by the exchange rate indeed. Due to the difficulty of cost reduction, we still find some solutions to meet up the challenge, for instance, focusing on the machine model that is unfavourable for Japan manufacturers. Also, we focus more on R&D, and strengthen R&D and sales/marketing at unfavourable area in Japan.”

He added, “Everyone is talking about Industrie 4.0, which is mainly about the solution of production efficiency. 80% of Taiwan Machine tools are exported to all over the world, we try to satisfy the demand of the clients from different countries. Since PC industry is Taiwan’s characteristic industry, we plan to use NC plus PC, along with the upgrade on software, to achieve the intellectualisation of machine tools.”