Bagging High-end Markets with High-tech Products

With over four decades of manufacturing experience, Taiwan's plastic bag-making machinery industry has been elevating production technology to crack into high-end markets. The industry is also stepping up production of conventional models to meet growing demand from emerging markets, such as Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

Many claim they can export whole-plant equipment for producing plastic bags, from production facility planning, design, production equipment installation, inspection process through the rollout of finished products.

With the support of strong research and development technicians, most domestic manufacturers in this line are capable of designing innovative machines, including printing machines, to meet the specific demands of customers from around the world.

Though many local producers turn out self-designed models, they also welcome OEM (original equipment manufacturer) orders. Over the past several years, some have also developed their design capability to win ODM (original design manufacturer) orders.

Taiwan's plastic-bag making machinery sector encountered stagnant sales last year due to a downturn in the global plastic industry. Some domestic manufacturers in this line have responded by mapping out new operating and marketing strategies for this year's operations. Many are making all-out efforts to develop large-sized models to boost the added value of their products.

Several domestic manufacturers will debut large-sized plastic bag making machines at the 2006 Taipei International Plastics & Rubber Industry Show (TaipeiPlas), slated for March 23-27 at the Taipei World Trade Center. TaipeiPlas is co-organized by the semi-official Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and the nation's largest machinery industry association--Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI).

Penetrating Emerging Markets

Founded three decades ago, For Dah Industry Co., Ltd., is one of the leading manufacturers of whole-plant equipment for the production of PP/HDPE (polypropylene/ high-density polyethylene) woven bag, onion bag, cement bag, and HD/LDPE (high-density/low-density PE) blowing-type bag.

For Dah began operations with the development of woven-bag making machines. After decades of development, the company currently is capable of offering a variety of whole-plant equipment for the plastic processing industry. Based on its successful experience in developing plastic processing machines, the company will soon add printing machines to enrich product lines.

The company boasts all the components and parts used on its products are made by precision CNC (computerized numerically controlled) lathes. The company offers a one-year guarantee for all its machines.

The ISO-9001 certified company boasts it has adopted computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems to make drawings on its products. In addition, the company uses standardized parts and components to ensure the quality of its products.

Thanks to its long-term research and development work plus advanced manufacturing capability, and strong commitment to customer services, For Dah has firmly established itself as a reliable supplier of plastic whole-plant equipment in the international marketplace.

Over the past decades, the company has steadily boosted its high-quality production capability, production quality, and system-control measures for various kinds of plastic whole-plant equipment. Such efforts have earned the company a global reputation for the production of single-unit and whole-plant equipment.

For Dah is committed to upgrading its technological capacity to produce high-productivity machines and turnkey solutions.

In addition to supplying high-quality machinery, For Dah also offers sophisticated manufacturing know-how to help customers cut production costs. The company says it provides customers complete technical, production flow planning, production analysis and operation training support.

Although most domestic manufacturers in this line still focus on Southeast Asia for exports, For Dah has made inroads into the emerging markets of West Asia and Eastern Europe over the past six years. To boost sales to the East European market, the company established a representative office in Moscow, Russia five years ago.

"Since our establishment, we have been making all-out efforts to provide prompt after-sales services," says Vivian Lee, export manager of For Dah. "The representative office has really helped us boost sales to the emerging markets in Eastern Europe and West Asia. For instance, we have a 90% market share of such emerging markets as Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia, and even Mauritius."

Lee says her company can offer prompt after-sale services to customers even in remote areas. "We have close ties with some overseas specialists and sales agents to offer prompt after-sales to end users," Lee notes.

For Dah boasts it imports high-quality key parts and components, including electronic control systems and motors, from Germany and Japan to ensure the quality of its products. The company says its products have to pass strict inspection and trial run before they are shipped.

Over the past several years, the company has been striving to develop new models to meet customer needs. One of the company's most innovative products is a gusseting and rotating machine suitable for the production of PP/HDPE woven bags and laminated bags. The company boasts the machine is unique in Taiwan because it can print letters in the middle of the gusset of the woven bag.

Price-Competitive Models

Another leading manufacturer of plastic-bag making machines is the Taipei- headquartered Summit Plastic Machinery Co., Ltd., which has been in business for over a quarter century.

Since its inception, the company has been dedicated to developing high-quality products, giving it a highly competitive edge in the international arena.

With the backup of a strong research and development unit, Summit is capable of offering price-competitive, high-quality plastic bags making machines meeting the changing needs of the global plastics processing sector.

Summit says it can develop special machinery according to customers' original designs. In recent years, the company has provided specially designed machines that have helped customers boost output capacity. For instance, the company has adopted servo-driven system on its products to ratchet up operating speed.

Currently the company's major product lines include fully automatic and high-efficiency 'T-shirt bag' making machines, bottom bag making machines, synchronized perforating and sealing machine, high-efficiency fully automatic servo-drive systems, and slide-weld bag-making machines.

At present the company exports 70% of its overall output, with the remainder going to the domestic market.

Sophisticated Components

Kang Chyau Industry Co., founded in 1988, is one of the most respected professional manufacturers of industrial machines in Taiwan. The company has accumulated much expertise in the development of innovative products to meet the special requirements of the plastics industry.

With continuous efforts in research and development, the company today is capable of offering a wide variety of machine models, including plastic bag-making machines, plastic inflation machines, printing machines, cutting machines, and sealing machines.

To ensure the best in product quality, Kang Chyau purchases key components and parts for its machines from industrially advanced nations. For instance, the solenoid switches used in its machines are purchased from Telemecanique, a renowned company in France; and all of the shaft bearings used in the company's machines are imported from Japan's SKF.

In addition, all of Kang Chyau's membrane-blowing machines incorporate the most sophisticated meters and accumulation timers available on the market. To ensure smooth operations, the gears of each main ejector units have to pass stringent grinding processes.

Numerous accessory choices are available for the company's many machine models. The company also welcomes OEM orders.

Marketing diversification, prompt delivery, and efficient after-sales service have kept Kang Chyau internationally competitive in the plastic injection-molding market. The company claims that its machines have been exported to over 62 countries.

Whole-Plant Equipment Exports

Sencar Machinery Co., Ltd., founded in 1985, is one of Taiwan's most respected manufactures of extrusion lines. In addition to single-knit machines, the company exports whole-plant equipment for PP/PE woven-bag production.

The company's major product lines include PP/HDPE (polypropylene/high-density polyethylene) flat-yarn making machines for woven/cement bags, circular looms (four, six, and eight shuttles), tandem-extrusion laminators, automatic woven-bag cutting/sewing/printing machines, PP/LDPE/EVA (ethylenevinyl acetate) extrusion/lamination/coating machines, two-layer and three-layer bubble-sheet-making machines, film-blowing machines, and sealing and cutting machines.

Management says the firm develops its innovative products with the backing of advanced technology and a highly experienced in-house R&D team. Strict quality-control procedures are also followed. The company has attained a solid reputation for high-quality after-sale services worldwide.

Sencar's major export outlets are mainland China, Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines), the Middle East (Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia), South Asia (Pakistan, India, Burma), Africa (Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Africa, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Algeria), the United States, Latin America (Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil), Spain, and Russia.

Certified Quality

Another manufacturer providing whole-plant equipment for the production of PP woven bags is Hao Yu Precision Machinery Industry Co., Ltd. Which was founded in 1980 in Taichung County, central Taiwan

An ISO9001-certified manufacturer that also has earned the CE mark, Hao Yu specializes in providing geo-textile and wood/plastic composite products. The company says it is capable of rolling out a variety of machines for the production of low-denier foodstuff bags and high-denier woven bags.

The company's major product lines include twelve-shuttle jumbo circular looms, PP woven inner linear-inside lamination machines, flat-yarn high-speed extrusion machines, and wood/plastic composite extruding machines.

Hao Yu says it has exported whole-plant equipment to over 50 nations. Major export outlets include the Middle East, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Thailand. Recently the company has received a big-ticket order for PP woven-bag whole-plant equipment from Africa.

The company currently concentrates on the production of high-end products and innovative high-added-value machines. "Our PP woven-bag machine produces bags with tension-resistance five times stronger than those made by rival domestic producers," says Hao Yu president H.T. Chi. "Due to our commitment to high quality, we have won many government bids in Taiwan over the past several years."

The company has a five-person in-house R&D department in charge of developing innovative machine models and manufacturing techniques. "In addition to developing brand-new models featuring sophisticated functions, we also pay much attention to the quality of our products, including the use of expensive high-end bearings from industrially advanced nations."

Hao Yu's wood/plastic composite extruding machinery is one of the company's best-selling products. The machine can extrude wood/plastic composite decorative trims for the home furnishing industry. "The decorative trims are moisture- and fire-proof," says Chi.

According to the company, the woven-plastic materials produced with the machines have passed stringent inspection and testing from academic units, including National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, and Chung Yuan Christian University.

Meeting High-tech Demand

Hci Converting Equipment Co., Ltd., founded in 1982 in Taiwan, specializes in the design and manufacture of a full range of converting equipment and slitting and cutting equipment for the semiconductor and TFT-LCD (thin film transistor-liquid crystal display) industries.

Over the past 24 years, HCI has helped customers boost production efficiency with its cost-effective converting equipment. The company claims it always provides customers with the most comprehensive technology services, from individual machines such as laminating and slitting machines to whole-plant equipment.

With paid-in capital of US$740,000, HCI currently has 50 employees and annual sales of US$5.6 million.

At present, HCI's major product lines include dry/wet laminator machines, three-side bag making machines, three-side sealing/stand-up/zipper pouch making machines, slitter/rewinder machines, center-sealing & gusset bag making machines, center-sealing & gusset machines, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) sleeve machines (glue sealing), cutting machines, rigid film flatten machines, bottom-sealing/cutting machines, and surgical glove making machines.

The company's three-side sealing/stand-up/zipper pouch making machine is designed especially for the production of three-side bags, poly bags, stand-up pouches, zipper bags, combined stand-up/zipper pouches and medical glove bags. The machine employs a special control mechanism for flexible operations, accommodating product lengths up to 2,000mm. It is capable of producing multi-sealing bags and zigzag bags. Product length setting is accurately controlled by a servomotor incorporated with a photocell sensor to greatly upgrade production speed. The patented embossing plate used for side and bottom sealing is automatically elevated when the machine is stopped.

Through its focus on high-quality service and products, HCI says it helps customers lower production costs and risks, maximize their profit margins.

To stay in the forefront of the increasingly competitive international market, HCI has introduced advanced European and American technologies for new machinery development. Since its establishment, HCI not only survived, but in fact thrived amid the turmoil of financial crises in Southeast Asia and other parts of the world, turning risks into new business opportunities.

The company says it has made several adjustments in its operational structure in order to compete in the fast-changing business world. The company will continue to provide high-quality products as it has been doing over the past two decades, as well as install state-of-the-art software, hardware and machining equipment in order to produce highly sophisticated products and services.