CHINA INITIATIVE:The firm expects to benefit from growing automation demand in China. It said its medical robots have gained approval in China, Taiwan and the EU

Taipei Times
Date: May 18, 2016
By: Aileen Chuang / Staff reporter

Leading machinery maker Hiwin Technologies Co (上銀科技) yesterday said its industrial robot segment might see profit contribution in the second half of this year amid growing demand for automation in China.

“The China Manufacturing 2025 initiative is driving an industrial demand for transformation and upgrading, which we can take advantage of,” Hiwin chairman Eric Chuo (卓永財) said at an investors’ conference in Taipei.

While the firm’s robot business has not yet reached the scale of economy it needs to become profitable, with revenue contributing only 6 percent to the company’s total revenue in the first quarter, and the introduction of Hiwin robotic products to Chinese companies took more time than he had expected, Chuo said the company could see further progress in the robot business over the next two quarters, due to help from local system integrators and its own production allocation.

Hiwin’s medical robots have earned regulatory approval in China, Taiwan and Europe, Chuo said, adding that the firm has sold 10 units of lower limb rehabilitation machines to China and is hoping to ship 20 more units this year.     [FULL  STORY]