TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taichung-based Hiwin Technologies expects revenue to rise this year on growing machine tool orders, breaking three years of stagnant revenue in the segment.
Hiwin Chair Cho Wen-heng (卓文恒) said the reduction in US-Taiwan tariffs from 20% to 15% would help the local machine tool sector boost exports to the US and put it on an equal footing with competitors from Japan and South Korea. He is optimistic about the sector’s growth this year, per CNA.
The company reported January revenue of NT$2.15 billion (US$68 million), up 13.1% year-on-year. Cho said orders have increased significantly since January, adding the firm will participate in the Taipei International Machine Tool Show in March to further boost orders.
Orders for Hiwin’s core machine components — ball screws and linear guideways — are fully booked through May. To meet demand from the semiconductor sector for faster delivery, the company said part of its factories will operate overtime during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Last year, the company’s robotics business accounted for 10% of total revenue, and it expects the share to exceed 10% this year. In its joint development with US robotics startup Dexterity for Mech robotic arms used in the logistics sector, the company plans small-scale shipments in the first quarter and expanded performance testing.
Hiwin is also optimistic about the potential of its robotics business in the US. The company has an assembly plant in Chicago for its logistics robots, welding robots, and single-axis robots.
Cho said the company’s performance in Japan grew significantly last year. He added it is expected to benefit from TSMC’s facility expansion plan in Japan and related equipment upgrades.
TSMC Chair and CEO C.C. Wei (魏哲家) met Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae on Thursday. Wei said TSMC is assessing whether to introduce 3 nm technology at its second Kumamoto wafer fab to meet rising demand driven by AI, with production expected to begin in 2028.
In addition to continued growth in Taiwan and Japan’s semiconductor industries, developments in China’s AI, semiconductor, and electric vehicle sectors are also expected to boost the company’s machine tool and robotics businesses, Cho said.
