Fabricated metal product has been an important traditional industry in Taiwan. The industry has been subject to the multiple competitions from the developed countries, China, and South Korea in recent years, leading to an ever-harshening situation. In view of this, the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT), MOEA has commissioned the Metal Industries Research and Development Centre (MIRDC) for the execution of the “Reform Traditional Industry-Innovation-Value Added Development Project”. To help speed up transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, MIRDC held the “Innovative Value-added Conference for Fabricated Metal Products” at the Innovation Value-added Center of Traditional Industry, MOEA earlier, inviting industrial experts, scholars, and researchers from Japan and Taiwan to give comprehensive talks on the applications and technologies with respect to precision machining, rapid prototyping, and smart manufacturing of all sorts of metal parts. A laboratory tour was also arranged. The conference attracted considerable participants and keen responses.
Akamura Neji, Vice President of SODICK Co., Ltd., was specially invited from Japan to share on “electron beam polishing, the AZ275 Nano Machining Center, and aluminum injection molding”. Electron beam polishing may not only shorten the manual polishing time significantly, but also improve anti-rust and corrosion resistance performances. The AZ275 Nano Machining Center provides ultra-precision machining solutions, while aluminum injection molding is a new option other than die casting. Yu-Kuei Tu, General Manager of HANRETEC Enterprise, introduced the “application of 5-axis machining and sharing of teaching cases”. Five-axis machining is capable of supporting multiple processes, suitable for machining complicated parts and precision molds. Cadmen’s manager Chung-Ching Tseng talked on the “application of CAE analysis to metal additive manufacturing”, which may reduce stress and distortion in 3D printed metal parts. In addition, two experts from MIRDC, Dr. Ho-Lin Tsai and Dr. Chun-Jen Ting, shared the “additive manufacturing technology and case studies” and the “case studies of metal smart manufacturing application” respectively. Last on the agenda was a laboratory tour, where there were demonstrative production lines for powder forming and 3D printing sand mold in the Additive Manufacturing Center, and for fastener smart manufacturing in the Smart Metal Manufacturing Center. Thus, a better reference was provided for the guests on the practical applications of these technologies.
The theme of the conference corresponded to the developmental needs of traditional industries, and the speakers were all experienced and knowledgeable experts from Japan and Taiwan. Together with the guided laboratory tour, the conference attracted over 60 participants from the industries, academia, and research institutions, who were deeply impressed by the talks and the tour which offered more options for the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries.