TIMTOS, which in 2019 became the world’s third largest machine tool exhibition, was held in Taipei in March of 2023. The 6,200 booths attracted more than 6,000 overseas buyers, approaching pre-pandemic levels, and more than US$2 billion worth of orders were placed.
Taiwan-based Fair Friend Group, the world’s third-largest manufacturer of machine tools, demonstrated rotary transfer machines that can be expanded to have more than 12 workstations, and emphasized that three such machines can operated by one machinist. One of the machines on display can turn out parts for electric vehicles at a rate of one every 8.8 seconds, and has been dubbed a “license to print money” by people in the industry.
TTGroup, focusing on technological transformation in the areas of both digitization and carbon reduction, showcased “digital twin” simulation technology that can achieve true integration of virtual and physical resources covering everything from discrete machining operations to individual machines to entire production lines, thus demonstrating the potential of integrating machinery, electronics, and software.
Meanwhile, Quaser Machine Tools displayed a carbon emissions calculating system for machining operations, which will become standard equipment on machine tools. The system uses various operating parameters gathered during machining to calculate the volume of carbon emissions. It caters to potential future demand from customers for calculating the carbon emissions of each part produced, which can help them learn the carbon footprint of their products and pursue low-carbon production.
Jywe Wen-yuh, a distinguished professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Taiwan University, opines that these remarkable product designs are evidence that Taiwan’s machine tool sector has the ability to thoroughly remold itself and provide value-added services including smart manufacturing, digital transformation, and low-carbon sustainability.