News Center
JIMTOF (Japan International Machine Tool Fair) opened grandly yesterday (the 26th). A total of 94 Taiwanese companies are exhibiting this year, including major manufacturers such as HIWIN (2049) and Tongtai (4526). Driven by the recovery in industry sentiment and demand from semiconductors, AI and other sectors, Taiwan's machine tool key components posted a 13.1% year-on-year increase in the first nine months of the year. Order intake at transmission component maker HIWIN remains brisk in Q4, with orders coming mainly from AI, large-scale infrastructure, automation and semiconductor industries; some orders already extend into the second half of next year. Global Transmission (4540) and Chieftek (1597) are also expected to maintain high levels of orders and shipments in Q4. According to machine tool makers, linear guide supply in the Chinese market remains quite tight — Japanese suppliers in particular are able to deliver only 15% of their originally scheduled orders — and Taiwanese manufacturers are expected to benefit from this order spillover effect.
HIWIN currently has order visibility of 4–6 months for linear guides and six months to a year for wafer robots, and continues to work overtime to catch up. Global Transmission's orders already extend into the first half of next year, and the company is planning next year's equipment capital expenditure. Chieftek, meanwhile, is benefiting from strong CPO demand and continues to recruit staff and expand capacity in the second half of the year.
In terms of humanoid robot deployment, HIWIN is mainly developing products in cooperation with a major US manufacturer and has begun shipping small ball screws and linear guides. Global Transmission is also in contact with US robot makers through its US subsidiary, and is developing products in cooperation with Chinese robot manufacturers and Taiwanese contract manufacturers. Chieftek has positioned itself in robot dogs and robot joint modules.
