Feature article: PIM International, Vol.5 No.2 June 2011, pages 29-35, 2079 words

Authors: Prof. Kuen-Shyang Hwang, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University

National Taiwan University, 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, 106, Taipei, Taiwan

  

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In the following exclusive report for PIM International, Prof. Kuen-Shyang Hwang, from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at National Taiwan University, reviews the development and current status of MIM technology in Taiwan. In addition to commenting on markets, suppliers to the Taiwanese MIM industry, R&D and technology promotion, Prof. Hwang also profiles three leading part producers. 

Introduction

The MIM industry in Taiwan dates back to 1988, when it was started by Witec Taiwan, a licensee of Witec Japan. In that same year, local research on MIM also started at the National Taiwan University (NTU) and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). Both institutes later transferred the technology to several private companies, including those who had contracted the research. By 1995, there were five MIM companies. That number continued to increase, climbing to 14 by 2005. Today, Taiwan boasts 35 MIM companies (Fig. 1), 25 of which are in commercial high volume production and ten of which are in pilot production.  Of the 25 companies in commercial production, five have manufacturing plants in China.

The size distribution of the companies in the PIM industry in Taiwan is similar to the particle size distribution of atomised powders - a few large companies with more than 100 employees, and a few small companies with fewer than 10 employees. Among the 35 MIM companies, about 80% are defined by the government as small or medium enterprises (SME’s), those with either capital of less than US$ 2.7 million or fewer than 200 employees. Five years ago, almost all of the MIM companies belonged to this category.

However, a trend of developing in-house MIM production lines started in 2006, when some local information technology (IT) industries realised that by outsourcing the production of all the small components of cellular phones and notebook computers, they could not meet demand or the requirements for delivery, quality, and cost. The Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn International (part of the Hon Hai group), the largest assembler of cellular phones and notebook computers in the world, then decided to establish MIM production lines in Guangdong, China. This manufacturing model was soon followed by Catcher, which also supplies IT and notebook subassembly products, and Shin Zu Shing (SZS), which is currently the largest manufacturer of hinges worldwide. The in-house MIM lines, along with die casting, plastic injection moulding, plating, stamping, forging, and other manufacturing processes, provide their customers with a total solution for the finished products. There are now six in-house MIM facilities in production.......

Further sections of this article include:

• Markets
• Process and materials
• Equipment suppliers
• MIM parts producers
• Taiwan Powder Technologies (TPT)
• Shin Zu Shing (SZS)
• Amulaire
• Promotional activities
• R&D activities in academia
• Looking ahead

Figures and Tables:

Fig. 1  Locations of MIM companies in Taiwan
Fig. 2  Examples of IT components produced by TPT
Fig. 3  An example of assembled hinge parts containing housings and rotating cams manufactured by SZS for cameras
Fig. 4  A view of the moulding area at TPT
Fig. 5  A view of the sintering area at TPT
Fig. 6 Examples of components in cellular phones produced by TPT. (left) Hanger produced using an ultra-high strength (>1500MPa) patented sinter-hardened material, and (right) audio jack ring, 0.30mm thick for the ring wall and 0.40mm thick for other sections (Designed by HTC)
Fig. 7 A selection of decorative parts produced using MIM by TPT. A 10cm tall Lion Guardian (left), 3cm tall kitty (centre), and 3cm tall chihuahua (right)
Fig. 8 A view of the injection moulding area at SZS
Fig. 9 A view of the sintering area at SZS
Fig. 10  Large cold plates (165mm x 152mm) with cooling pins produced by Amulaire
Fig. 11  A view of the PIM IX symposium held on April 15, 2011

 

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