GTEN Expands an Owned Land with Advanced Equipment

Regarded as Taiwan's most specialized manufacturer of rolled ball screws, a critical component for automation equipment, GTEN Ball Screw Technology Co., Ltd. relocated in October 2010 to an owned land in Yingge Dist. of New Taipei City, northern Taiwan.

To meet increasing demand when its old plant lacks capacity, the ISO9001-2008 certified company set up the new factory of over 10,000 square feet at a cost of US$10 million, including the land acquisition and half of new die and tolling storage, state-of-the-art production equipment, such as automated multifunctional milling/lathing machines imported from Japan.

General manager, Levite Lee, with over 20 years of experience in developing rolled ball screws, keeps a good relationship with Mazak Corp. GTEN has administered the annual budget in purchasing e-machines. “We imported the cutting-edge milling/lathing multitasking machine which is the most advanced in Taiwan,” Lee says proudly. With this new machine, the company has boosted productivity.

Global Standard
In addition, the company introduces a production management and monitoring system linked to its CAD/CAM (computer aided design/manufacturing) system, enabling its R&D department to directly access production. Lee says automation and rationalization is the main factor to keep at bay competitors from China. GETN's products meet the C5 class under the Japanese Industrial Standard and European standards such as ISO grade. Compared to peers, GTEN adopts stricter standards in production equipment and manufacturing processes. For instance, it uses more machining processes than peers to achieve higher quality and reliability.

“Being a manufacturer of precision automation components obliges us to adopt state-of-the-art production equipment and management system to compete effectively against top-end rivals worldwide,” Lee explains.

Ground ball screws are mostly made-to-order while rolled ball screws can be mass-produced quickly to fill large-volume orders. Since its founding, GTEN has tried to set up volume production of rolled ball screws, filling the relatively large void in such sector in Taiwan, where few makers exist.

The company claims to be recognized as Taiwan's most specialized manufacturer of rolled ball screws with expertise in precision products regardless of product size and accuracy, offering rolled ball screws ranging in 6mm to 80mm external diameter, as well as having delivered its longest rolled ball screws at 7.8 meters, which are installed in larger double-spindle milling machines.

Product Diversification
Setting up the new factory will enable GTEN to diversify product portfolio to meet special requirements of various applications as automation, automotive parts, solar energy, papermaking, printing, semiconductor, leather craft etc. Lee says that customized product is necessary to make rolled ball screws for the automotive parts industry because it calls for upgrading software.

With the workforce having grown rapidly after several years of steady development, the maker has to employ systematic production to cope with its current medium-sized enterprise, says Lee. “Differing from the manufacturers of ground ball screws who product to-order, we have to roll out products to meet special requirements, hence obliging us to adopt production relying on systematic management run on advanced software.”

To strengthen and streamline production, GTEN focuses on staff training. “We offer on-the-job training to sharpen workers' ability to respond to customers and in-house quality-control to satisfy demand,” says Lee.

When the 2008 global financial tsunami occurred, implementing strict quality-control enabled GTEN to lessen the impact of the year-long global downturn to under three months. Moreover, Lee estimates corporate sales to double in 2010 due to expanded production capacity and foreign orders, also predicting steady 30% growth in annual sales in the future.

Despite having been in business only six years, GTEN aims to grow into a world-class manufacturer by emulating the production and management systems established by internationally renowned counterpart as Germany-based makers.

Market Diversification
Having for years adhered to target market diversification, GTEN so far has clients from 20-odd nations, but will be better poised to widen such client base with the establishment of the constructive production management system.

Currently exporting 40% of its output to China after only having entered that segment in September 2009, GTEN aims to hedge its operating risk by reducing single-market reliance, so has begun to earnestly explore emerging markets such as India and Brazil.

Lee says GTEN still holds an advantage in developing the China market as the nation still lags Taiwan by 10 years in the production of rolled ball screws, claiming that Chinese rivals in this line must make major technical breakthroughs to catch up with Taiwan. Along the same vein, “Taiwan still trails Japan by five to 10 years in the production of rolled ball screws, which is why we have to adopt automated factory management to elevate manufacturing skills,” concedes Lee.

Feedback Sensitive
To focus on high-end rolled ball screws, GTEN pays close attention to customer feedback, with complaints from customers serving as cues to initiate production improvement, modification to meet requirements. Lee says customer complaint is an effective means for the company to improve manufacturing and upgrade product quality.

GETN is able to restructure the business to give and emphasis to customer service. Lee says that preparing to meet the new growth that the sales side of the business could be fostered.

Global Presence
While continuing to build management and production domestically, GTEN will not neglect going global. “We have to build our corporate image to tell international buyers that we focus on high-end rolled ball screws at reasonable prices. Despite having clients in over 20 nations, we have to continue building corporate profile globally,” says Lee.

GTEN has the most advanced equipment in Taiwan, an honor that other Taiwanese company has. “We believe GTEN can achieve the top quality products with innovative ball screw, moreover, we have become one of the world's top professional manufacturers in precision ball screw.”

Besides attending world-renowned exhibitions, GTEN also has a hands-on program to enhance market sensitivity. By sending technical and sales representatives to call on customers globally, the company can monitor market trends and gauge the real needs of customers to realistically respond to such requirements, which may help to develop practical, innovative products. (BS)

GTEN BALL SCREW TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

No. 361, Jianguo Rd., Yingge Dist., New Taipei City, Taiwan 239

Tel: 886-2-8677-8787

Fax: 886-2-8677-8777

E-mail: screw.gten@msa.hinet.net, sales.gten@msa.hinet.net

http:// www.gtenballscrew.com.tw