German pneumatic equipment giant to set up R&D center in Taiwan

Taipei, Dec. 12, 2003 (CENS)--FESTO Co., Germany's largest manufacturer of pneumatic equipment, has decided to set up a research and development center in Taiwan after it signed a memorandum on cooperation with the Mechanical Industry Research Laboratories (MIRL) under the government-backed Industrial Technology Research Institute.

According to the memorandum, the Germany automation company will send well-experienced engineers to train MIRL technicians for the automation and pneumatic technical fields.

FESTO's move is designed to provide automation and pneumatic equipment and fast services to domestic customers specializing in semiconductor and flat-panel display (FPD) devices.

FESTO has long assessed the feasibility of setting up an R&D center to develop automation components for semiconductor and FPD industries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Thanks to the assistance of the Precision Machinery Promotion Committee under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, FESTO recognized Taiwan as the most ideal place in the Asia-Pacific region for developing automation components for the semiconductor and FPD sectors.

Realizing the MIRL boasts large R&D capability of developing precision machinery, the Germany company is now asking MIRL to help it seek an appropriate site to house the proposed R&D center.

FESTO said it would closely cooperate with MIRL to jointly upgrade Taiwan's technical level in the pneumatic and automation fields.

According to MIRL general director Bill S.Y. Tsai, FESTO, with over 10,000 workers worldwide, is Germany's No.1 manufacturer of pneumatic and automation components with annual sales reaching NT$45 billion.

Tsai said MIRL will cooperate with FESTO to develop brand-new products in Taiwan. Both sides will soon begin close cooperation in personnel interchange and developing pneumatic and automation-related equipment.