Taiwan's Makers of Valves and Pumps Speed Up Product Upgrading, Innovation

Taiwan's manufacturers of pneumatic/hydraulic systems and parts continue to operate mostly on a small to medium scale, and hence still cannot generate significant profits to afford higher R&D expenditures nor build branding globally. But they have spared no efforts upgrading their products to stay competitive in international trade arena.

One of the latest advances made in Taiwan among the makers is the development of products that comply with eco-protection requirements, at least allowing the makers to not only set foot in segments with stricter green regulations, but also enabling them to compete with rivals in the U.S., Japan and European Union.

Foreign Partnership Essential

Industry insiders said that domestic manufacturers should find opportunities to work with foreign manufacturers in advanced nations to upgrade products and technologies. Besides, they can also use own manufacturing skills to diversify product range and create new market demand. The reason is relatively simple: as long as Taiwan's makers turn out OEM items, such process will not likely motivate them, nor offer opportunities as technology transfers, to improve products and technologies.

Other encouraging achievements in this line include the development of many new-generation solenoid valves, specialized filters, energy-saving controllers, automated water-drainage devices and specialized rubber parts for tech industry clean rooms to reduce pollution.

Strategic Alliance

A notable maker of valves in Taiwan is WYECO Auto Valves Co., Ltd., which has developed innovative products as the ANSI600# and multi-hole stage to cut noise in valves to expand services to petrochemical makers; while the company has been increasingly turning out clean-room equipment for the tech industry.

Allying strategically with Siemens AG of Germany two years ago, the maker markets Siemens' intelligent ‘SIPART PS2' electropneumatic positioners by installing such products on its valves. The partnership with the world-renowned Siemens aims to boost market share.

Founded three decades ago, WYECO makes wide-ranging valves for a variety of applications.

Siemens notes that the SIPART PS2 is an industry leader with many advantages, including simple installation and automatic commissioning, simple operation via three input keys and user-friendly two-line LCD (liquid crystal display), negligible air consumption in stationary operation, ensuring maximum positioning pressure on the valve seat, extensive diagnostic functions for valve and actuator, and external non-contacting position sensor as option for extreme ambient conditions.

The SIPART PS2 positioner is widely used in chemical/petrochemical, power stations, paper and glass, water/waste water, food and pharmaceuticals, and offshore plants. It is available with stainless steel housing for particularly aggressive environments, such as offshore operation and chlorine plants.

With ample expertise in the valve field, WYECO offers assorted items, including diaphragm actuated control valve, cylinder actuated control valve, cylinder actuated Y-type control valve, heat medium three-way control valve, manual valve for hyper-cryogenics, hyper-cryogenics emergency shut-off valve etc.

Besides having innovated technically and products over the past few years, M.L. Wu, the president, says partnering with Siemens will also help the WYECO to offer new solutions.

4-nation Patented

Established in 1975 by the couple S.H. Chiu and M.L. Wu, WYECO introduced the first-generation Y-type control valve in 1985 and obtained patents from four nations. In 1988, the company installed a computerized CV valve tester at its Taoyuan plant and successfully developed the second-generation Y-type control valve.

A significant milestone had been achieved during 1992-1995, when WYECO successfully penetrated the dyeing and finishing equipment sector after landing OEM orders from a Japanese firm, as well as major orders for steam-control valves from Hisaka Co.

With headquarters in Taipei City, this maker also runs two factories, one in Taoyuan of northern Taiwan and the other in Kaohsiung of southern Taiwan.

Targeting four segments, WYECO focuses on the domestic market, the mainland Chinese market, the overseas market, and domestic repair and maintenance market, enabling the maker to stay organized in sales and marketing efforts.

Besides adopting the CRM (customer relationship management) to strengthen interactions with clients, WYECO also claims to supply products that are essential to daily life.

Industrial Valves

Jun Enterprises Corporation, founded in June 1997, claims to offer one-stop shopping to global buyers, and is a leading maker and exporter in Taiwan of industrial valves, pipe fittings, OEM (original equipment manufacturer) products for oil, gas, water and chemical industries.

Running a modern factory in Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, mainland China has helped this maker to better fill the influx of export orders over the past few years.

Besides mainly offering gate, globe, check ball and other types of valves, as well as fittings for oil, chemical, natural gas and electricity generating systems, the maker also has an in-house R&D team to develop custom industrial valves.

Not only an ISO9001-, CE, and API-certified company, Jun Enterprises says it has seen consistent sales growth over the past several years due to dedication to developing innovative products with advanced manufacturing skills.

Proving that made-in-China is not necessarily inferior, this maker closely checks quality before shipment in its China factory, where a strict quality-control system is in place, one that has helped to garner good reputation at home and abroad. Also the company makes sure on-time delivery is always part of the order.

Exporting under its own “Jun” brand to some 27 nations but mainly the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, South America, India, and Asia, the maker employs 120 workers who are all thoroughly trained.

Jun Enterprises over the past several years has turned out industrial valves as an OEM by partnering with foreign buyers, as well as being confident of landing more OEM orders backed by its strong reputation globally.

Double-diaphragm pumps

Dyi Sheng Industry Co., Ltd., founded in 1987, is a specialized maker in Taiwan of pneumatic double-diaphragm pumps. Having begun as a designer and manufacturer of mechanical sprayer equipment, the maker then moved into the pump field.

Backed by mechanical and technical know-how, the company since 1998 has been engaged in R&D and manufacture of pneumatic double-diaphragm pumps. Besides being able to manufacture pumps in all kinds of materials and in any size, the company can offer accessories and consultancy.

Prioritizing quality, service, technological innovation and integrity has enabled the company to win the CE Mark in 1999 and the ISO9001 certification in 2007.

The company's pumps are widely used in civil engineering; chemical and oil sectors; electrical and electronics; fiber, paper and leather making; and mechanical equipment industry, to convey cement, paint, sewage, chemicals, latex, resin, ceramics, adhesives, sludge, waste water, hydraulic oil, gasoline etc.

Dyi Sheng claims its wet-body pneumatic double-diaphragm pumps can be of aluminum alloy, stainless steel 316 and polypropylene, which will not be damaged even if running idle for long durations, can be safely used in hazardous environments, and can pump paints, resins, dyes, adhesives, abrasive/corrosive chemicals and greasy dirt, glazes and powders for ceramics processing, sludge from sewage treatment etc.

Exporting mainly to Europe, North America and Asia, Dyi Sheng says that offering high-quality products and satisfactory customers are key reasons for having built solid global reputation.