TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese ceramics manufacturer Hocheng Corp. (HCG) is expanding beyond bathroom fixtures into the defense sector with composite materials for drones and autonomous surface vessels.
The materials combine the hardness of ceramics with the lightweight properties of carbon fiber. HCG said its products have been verified for defense applications by the Ministry of National Defense, according to UDN Money and Anue.
Its defense business currently centers on external armor for armored vehicles and materials for drone and unmanned surface vessel shells. The company is also collaborating with customers, including Aerospace Industrial Development Corp and Thunder Tiger, on unmanned vehicle designs.
Thunder Tiger said the partnership centers on carbon fiber composite materials for the airframes of small and medium-sized drones. It said HCG has developed materials that meet the industry's strength and weight requirements, and production has already begun.
The two companies are also collaborating on unmanned surface vessels, with components currently undergoing testing. HCG's high-purity alumina and silicon carbide ceramics are being incorporated into engine components designed to reduce radar detection and suppress thermal signatures.
The company said its core bathroom fixture business and defense products will remain the main growth drivers this year. It expects defense-related shipments to increase in the second half, supporting an improvement in overall performance from last year.
HCG said weaker demand in Taiwan's property market affected its core business, with shipments in the first five months falling 6-7% year-over-year due to lengthy delivery cycles. However, new orders during the same period increased by more than 10%, supporting its confidence in future growth.
Institutional investors said HCG's expertise in ceramics and composite materials positions the company well to expand into defense manufacturing. They noted that lightweight, high-strength materials can extend the range of unmanned vehicles while maintaining durability.
