Hon Hai-21Vianet Partnership Start of Group Transformation Towards AAutomation, IOT and Cloud Computing

Chairman of the Hon Hai Group, Terry Guo, said the partnership with China's 21Vianet Group, Inc. is the start of the group's transformation into a manufacturer to generate revenue from automation, Internet of Things (IOT), and cloud computing by 2020, instead of being a pure manufacturer.

Guo said that workers at many of the group's factories have been replaced by robots and robotic arms. A believer in automated production, Guo said his group targets “one million robots” this year, of which industry executives say will turn a new page for the electronics industry.

In spite of the ambitious automated production plan, Guo stressed that his group will not downsize workforce to retain one million workers in factories in China.

With crucial partners in automation including machine-tool maker Hiwin Technologies Corp. and embedded-computer maker Advantech Corp., Guo said the group began drafting the plan to use robots many years ago due to the rising trend of automation.

Backed by automation, cloud computing and IOT, the group aims to generate revenue up to US$330 billion over the next 10 years.

In the recent partnership deal, the Hon Hai Group and 21Vianet will open cloud data centers in Tianjian, Shenzhen, and Guying of  China, and Kaohsiung of Taiwan. (KL)