Hiwin Technologies Opens an R&D Center at Tsing Hua University

Hiwin Technologies Corp., the world's No. 2 supplier of ballscrews for precision machines, has opened another R&D laboratory, at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in northern Taiwan, with the aim of training high-level precision-machinery engineers in cooperation with the prestigious tech-oriented school.

Hiwin Chairman and CEO Eric Chuo explained that the new laboratory is part of his company's plan to spend NT$200 million (US$6.6 million at NT$30:US$1) over 10 years to cultivate high-level R&D engineers.

According to NTHU President H. Hocheng, the laboratory represents Taiwan's most important cooperative arrangement between business and academia in terms of time and capital involved. He said the deal will help Taiwan and Hiwin secure global leadership in the field of precision components.

This is Hiwin's third laboratory, following others in Moscow and at National Taiwan University (NTU), and the company plans to open a similar facility in Lithuania by the end of this year. His company, Chuo said, is using these laboratories to access the world's latest technology.

Chuo said Hiwin will offer incentives to NTHU faculty members and students to become involved in the laboratory's R&D projects, and will provide R&D engineer positions to outstanding graduate students after they complete their studies. Doctoral candidates selected by Hiwin to participate in the projects will receive NT$60,000 (US$2,000) a month during their four-year academic program; following graduation, they will be offered R&D engineer positions at an initial salary of NT$1.5 million (US$50,000) a year.

Hiwin has already set up corporate apprenticeship programs with the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) and National Taichung Industrial High School (NTIHS), offering interns NT$30,000 (US$1,000) a month. NTIHS students involved in the apprenticeship project will be chosen for post-internship study at NTUST. After graduating from the university, they will be offered jobs in the company with the possibility of being promoted to supervisor's positions with an annual salary of NT$1 million (US$33,333) in four years.

Hiwin has set itself the goal of becoming the world's No.1 supplier of shaft-driven control systems in three years; two years ago, it unseated NSK of Japan as the world's No. 2 player. The world's current No. 1 is THK, also of Japan, which earns revenues of US$1.6-1.8 billion a year from its  ballscrews, linear motion rails, and precision positioning systems.

Chuo claimed that no other company in the world can match Hiwin in the comprehensive range of components it manufacturers, which encompasses linear motion rails and linear servo motors as well as ballscrews not just for CNC machine tools but also for the aerospace, medical, biotech, automotive, wind-power, and railway industries. (KL)