Quality & innovation gear up at Motorcycle Taiwan 2006At
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:30 am
Quality & innovation gear up at Motorcycle Taiwan 2006
Thursday, November 30, 2006 - Taiwan Headlines - english.www.gov.tw
At the first Taiwan International Motorcycle Industry Show (Motorcycle Taiwan 2006), one of the clearest statements made was of the rapid advancements made by Taiwan's motorcycle and parts and accessory industries in recent years. Local manufacturers showcased cutting-edge products at the show, attesting to their R&D capability to integrate technology, manufacturing, and industrial design expertise in the creation of some of the industry's most eye-catching products.
The big number of high-quality and innovative products displayed at the event also underscored Motorcycle Taiwan's importance as a one-stop shop for meeting local makers of motorcycles, scooters, all terrain vehicles (ATVs), and electric vehicles, as well as high-quality parts, accessories, and other related equipment. The show also highlighted the major structural transformation of the local motorcycle industry from its concentration on general products to the offering of high-end models and items sold with an emphasis on quality, design, and technical sophistication rather than on pricing, as in the past.
Asia's No. 1 Motorcycle Brake-pad Supplier
A prime example is Nan Hoang Traffic Instrument Co., Ltd., the largest supplier of friction products in Taiwan, and Asia's No. 1 supplier of motorcycle brake pads and shoes. Established in 1961, the company has developed more than 5,000 types of brake pad, disc, shoe, and clutch plate. The company makes all of the materials used in its products, including asbestos, carbon, sintered bronze other metals, semi-metallic cork, and friction paper.
Originally a maker of after-market (AM) friction-material products, Nan Hoang has evolved into an OEM supplier for many leading international motorcycle brands in Japan, the U.K., the U.S., and Taiwan. The company has also passed the stringent certifications for plant and product as stipulated by Bosch, Germany, making it the only Asian supplier qualified to fill orders for the upmarket auto-parts brand.
Company president Fred Cheng claims that the key factor for his firm's success in supplying OEM friction products to international vehicle makers is an unceasing dedication to R&D and quality improvement.
"For example, we set up Asia's second friction-material R&D center in 2005 and equipped it with more than NT$60 million (US$1.84 million at US$1:NT$32.6) of testing and inspection instruments. All of the R&D technicians are licensed in their areas of expertise. The center also works closely with the labs at leading international companies and research institutes to facilitate mutual certification and authorization," explains Cheng.
World's First DIY Minibike
Keen Perception Industries Inc., a major maker and exporter of PTWs and ATVs, will showcase an innovative minibike, the Badboy CX. The company president Michael Wu claims that the Badboy CX is the world's first do-it-yourself (DIY) motorcycle that can be put together and taken apart safely within a few minutes by an adult. The secret to the easy assembly lies in the modular design, which also makes future upgrades a snap.
The Badboy CX serves as an excellent educational tool as young people can easily see how a motorcycle works. The modular design also makes maintenance a breeze, since worn out parts can be easily removed for replacement. "The part number of every Badboy CX is posted on our Web site," Wu says. "Owners can easily order a part online for pick-up from a regional dealer."
Performance Parts
Chian Yie Industrial Co., Ltd. is a specialized maker of high-value added performance-tuning parts for scooters and motorcycles. The company's NCY brand is widely known in Taiwan and overseas.
The firm designs and manufactures assorted products, including aluminum-alloy scooter/motorcycle front-fork assemblies (including shock absorbers); rear shock absorbers; CNC-processed aluminum-alloy cross-drilled vented brake-disks; multi-cylinder brake calipers; and performance engine parts, such as extended cylinders and upgraded transmission gearboxes.
Chian Yie has developed dozens of types of front and rear shock absorber for popular scooters and motorcycles in Taiwan and Japan, and has been introducing over 10 new items for over 30 scooter and motorcycle models yearly. In addition, they have built a series of new brake-disks made of specially formulated materials that greatly enhance rust-resistance and braking.
Drawing on years of R&D experience, Chian Yie recently unveiled a universal AM oil-cooler. Designed for four-stroke engines, the oil-cooler offers several features sought after by PTW lovers, including superb engine-cooling, immediate power boost due to cooler engine temperature, smoother extended operation at high revolutions, improved oil filtration due to the built-in filter, and easy installation.
Shaft-drive ATV
The Armstrong Industry Corp. is displaying a high-end 250cc shaft-drive ATV at the show, becoming one of a few companies in Taiwan to produce such models.
Over the past few years, Armstrong has been building a growing series of 50cc, 100cc, and 250cc ATVs. A subsidiary of Hota Industrial Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a leading OEM precision transmission-gear and system supplier to many global tier-ones, Armstrong has quickly expanded its line to include a variety of ATVs, which are produced on an OEM basis for buyers mostly in North America, as well as under its in-house AMS brand mostly for Europe. The 250cc models currently are sold with either in-house or Piaggio engines.
Armstrong general manager Tseng Yao-shen says that his company is now setting its sights even higher. "Over the next few years we'll move aggressively into the big-engine segment by introducing a series of heavy-duty ATVs equipped with engines developed either in-house or supplied by our global partners. We'll cut costs by modifying product designs while maintaining a high level of safety and performance. And we'll further strengthen our global competitiveness with high-quality, competitively-priced models produced on a large scale."
"Most of our R&D staff have over 10 years of experience in the automotive power-train and transmission field," Tseng claims. "And most of the key parts we use in our ATVs are supplied by our parent company."
High-end Meter Specialist
The Tong Yah Technology Co., established in 1981, has become a specialist in the design, development, and manufacturing of high-end parts and accessories for motorcycles and motor scooters. In recent years it has been concentrating on the development of high-tech products, especially electronic meters for scooters and ATVs. The results include a digital liquid crystal display (LCD) speedometer, performance exhaust systems, magnesium-alloy wheel rims, heater grips, auto-folding side mirrors (for both cars and motorcycles), and state-of-the-art design accessories.
High-end performance meters currently account for about half of the firm's total revenue, up from under 20 percent just a few years ago.
The LCD speedometer has a digital display showing fuel level, speed, tachometer readings, trip odometer, and the time.
Company sales manager Rick Wu says that its "KOSO" brand performance gauges are designed for user customization. For example, the gauges can be set to sound an alarm when RPMs exceed a certain level. There is also a switch to change indications from kilometers to miles, as well as power-test settings.
Tong Yah currently employs about 80 people, about 15 of whom are in the R&D department.
Digital ATV Meters
Another major electronic-meter maker in Taiwan is Motor Meter (Taiwan) Co. The company is a specialized manufacturer of precision vehicle gauges, including upgraded universal replacement gauges and pro-caliber performance models. A subsidiary of Auto Gauge (Taiwan) Co., Motor Meter is a leading performance automotive gauge manufacturer on the island.
Motor Meter displayed its latest integrated digital ATV-use performance gauge, the DM-100, which indicates speed, mileage, water-temperature, short trip A/B, left/right direction, high/low beam, warning light, N/R gear, and fuel level. It also makes a series of fully-waterproof and UV-resistant motorcycle gauges.
Another new item exhibited by the firm is a touch meter that can change its backlight colors into seven patterns by touching any part of the gauge.
For PTW and ATV applications, Motor Meter supplies high-quality gauges in diameters of 52 mm, 60 mm, and 65 mm.
Boron Nitride Thermal Coating
TopSpin Design Co., Ltd. has introduced a new heat-conducting technique based on the company's TSD BN (Boron Nitride) thermal coating layer, which can be applied onto the surfaces of high temperature parts such as radiators, continuous variable transmission (CVT) pulleys, and engine blocks. The coating effectively transfers heat away from the alloy-surface and facilitates air cooling.
According to TopSpin, the hexagonal boron nitride can increase the air-to-surface contact areas and create a protective layer resistant to corrosion and oxidization.
Titanium Expert
Established in 2000, Matrix Metals Corp. makes lightweight and high-strength titanium fasteners, parts, and accessories for motorcycles, all of which will be shown at the event.
According to company vice president Henry Shih, titanium products are stronger than steel and twice as resistant to acids and alkalis, but only 60 percent the weight, making it the only choice for components subject to high-impact and variable temperature environments. In addition, Shih adds, titanium can be anodized in various colors. More importantly, the president stresses, titanium parts and accessories have become fashionable in the PTW market and the trend is spreading as more and more titanium-products are promoted by tuners and parts makers in the PTW sector worldwide.
Matrix supplies a wide range of titanium PTW parts and accessories, including PTW exhaust systems, titanium-alloy wheel-rim fasteners, and racing lugs. The company also sells a variety of high-end mufflers for luxury sports cars.
Asia United Unites Asian Suppliers
Asia United Manufacturing Co. has more than 30 years of experience making and trading bicycles, motorcycles and parts, and auto parts. Today it is one of Taiwan's biggest motorcycle parts and accessories manufacturing and trading companies.
The company's highly experienced team of over 70 people serves customers all over the world with a full range of high-quality motorcycle parts and accessories as well as high-end tuning parts and accessories.
Asia United boasts that it can help customers from all over the world source almost any kind of part or accessory for new motorcycle models. In recent years, it has also designed numerous state-of-the-art side mirrors.
Access to Power
Despite its newcomer status, Access Motor Co. has been quick to build a sound reputation internationally in the ATV industry by offering high quality and competitively-priced products.
Access Motor showed off a new 250cc sport ATV model at the exhibition. Its impressive list of features include independent front suspension with hydraulic double A-arms capable of 150 mm of travel; hydraulic swing-arm rear suspension with 85 mm of travel; continuous variable transmission (CVT) with H, L, N, and R gears; dual hydraulic disc-brakes up front and single hydraulic disc-brake out back; and a high-efficiency single-overhead-cam (SOHC), 249cc, four-stroke, single-piston, liquid-cooled engine with a 11:1 compression ratio, and a Mikuni BSR33 carburetor.
Currently, the company turns out mostly 50cc, 150cc, and 250cc ATVs for export mainly to Europe, half under original-equipment brands and half under its own "Access" brand. The company has also been penetrating the North American market and is developing 250cc sport and utility ATVs.
The company employs about 50 people, 20 percent of which are R&D staff with experience in the motorcycle industry.
Parts to Complete Vehicles
Established in 1980, Lun Tai Enterprise Co., Ltd. is an ISO 9001-certified company specializing in plastic-injection mold development and manufacturing, as well as designing and manufacturing all kinds of plastic-injection parts and accessories for motorcycles and scooters. After gaining a solid foothold in the motorcycle business, the company in recent years has extended its businesses into the ATV, electric scooter, and fitness equipment markets.
Lun Tai is a major tier-one parts and accessory supplier to Yamaha Japan and many of Yamaha's overseas plants in Taiwan, the U.S., and other nations. The company is also supported by a subsidiary providing stamping and welding services. Lun Tai currently runs two plastic-injection plants in Taiwan with more than 200 employees.
Thursday, November 30, 2006 - Taiwan Headlines - english.www.gov.tw
At the first Taiwan International Motorcycle Industry Show (Motorcycle Taiwan 2006), one of the clearest statements made was of the rapid advancements made by Taiwan's motorcycle and parts and accessory industries in recent years. Local manufacturers showcased cutting-edge products at the show, attesting to their R&D capability to integrate technology, manufacturing, and industrial design expertise in the creation of some of the industry's most eye-catching products.
The big number of high-quality and innovative products displayed at the event also underscored Motorcycle Taiwan's importance as a one-stop shop for meeting local makers of motorcycles, scooters, all terrain vehicles (ATVs), and electric vehicles, as well as high-quality parts, accessories, and other related equipment. The show also highlighted the major structural transformation of the local motorcycle industry from its concentration on general products to the offering of high-end models and items sold with an emphasis on quality, design, and technical sophistication rather than on pricing, as in the past.
Asia's No. 1 Motorcycle Brake-pad Supplier
A prime example is Nan Hoang Traffic Instrument Co., Ltd., the largest supplier of friction products in Taiwan, and Asia's No. 1 supplier of motorcycle brake pads and shoes. Established in 1961, the company has developed more than 5,000 types of brake pad, disc, shoe, and clutch plate. The company makes all of the materials used in its products, including asbestos, carbon, sintered bronze other metals, semi-metallic cork, and friction paper.
Originally a maker of after-market (AM) friction-material products, Nan Hoang has evolved into an OEM supplier for many leading international motorcycle brands in Japan, the U.K., the U.S., and Taiwan. The company has also passed the stringent certifications for plant and product as stipulated by Bosch, Germany, making it the only Asian supplier qualified to fill orders for the upmarket auto-parts brand.
Company president Fred Cheng claims that the key factor for his firm's success in supplying OEM friction products to international vehicle makers is an unceasing dedication to R&D and quality improvement.
"For example, we set up Asia's second friction-material R&D center in 2005 and equipped it with more than NT$60 million (US$1.84 million at US$1:NT$32.6) of testing and inspection instruments. All of the R&D technicians are licensed in their areas of expertise. The center also works closely with the labs at leading international companies and research institutes to facilitate mutual certification and authorization," explains Cheng.
World's First DIY Minibike
Keen Perception Industries Inc., a major maker and exporter of PTWs and ATVs, will showcase an innovative minibike, the Badboy CX. The company president Michael Wu claims that the Badboy CX is the world's first do-it-yourself (DIY) motorcycle that can be put together and taken apart safely within a few minutes by an adult. The secret to the easy assembly lies in the modular design, which also makes future upgrades a snap.
The Badboy CX serves as an excellent educational tool as young people can easily see how a motorcycle works. The modular design also makes maintenance a breeze, since worn out parts can be easily removed for replacement. "The part number of every Badboy CX is posted on our Web site," Wu says. "Owners can easily order a part online for pick-up from a regional dealer."
Performance Parts
Chian Yie Industrial Co., Ltd. is a specialized maker of high-value added performance-tuning parts for scooters and motorcycles. The company's NCY brand is widely known in Taiwan and overseas.
The firm designs and manufactures assorted products, including aluminum-alloy scooter/motorcycle front-fork assemblies (including shock absorbers); rear shock absorbers; CNC-processed aluminum-alloy cross-drilled vented brake-disks; multi-cylinder brake calipers; and performance engine parts, such as extended cylinders and upgraded transmission gearboxes.
Chian Yie has developed dozens of types of front and rear shock absorber for popular scooters and motorcycles in Taiwan and Japan, and has been introducing over 10 new items for over 30 scooter and motorcycle models yearly. In addition, they have built a series of new brake-disks made of specially formulated materials that greatly enhance rust-resistance and braking.
Drawing on years of R&D experience, Chian Yie recently unveiled a universal AM oil-cooler. Designed for four-stroke engines, the oil-cooler offers several features sought after by PTW lovers, including superb engine-cooling, immediate power boost due to cooler engine temperature, smoother extended operation at high revolutions, improved oil filtration due to the built-in filter, and easy installation.
Shaft-drive ATV
The Armstrong Industry Corp. is displaying a high-end 250cc shaft-drive ATV at the show, becoming one of a few companies in Taiwan to produce such models.
Over the past few years, Armstrong has been building a growing series of 50cc, 100cc, and 250cc ATVs. A subsidiary of Hota Industrial Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a leading OEM precision transmission-gear and system supplier to many global tier-ones, Armstrong has quickly expanded its line to include a variety of ATVs, which are produced on an OEM basis for buyers mostly in North America, as well as under its in-house AMS brand mostly for Europe. The 250cc models currently are sold with either in-house or Piaggio engines.
Armstrong general manager Tseng Yao-shen says that his company is now setting its sights even higher. "Over the next few years we'll move aggressively into the big-engine segment by introducing a series of heavy-duty ATVs equipped with engines developed either in-house or supplied by our global partners. We'll cut costs by modifying product designs while maintaining a high level of safety and performance. And we'll further strengthen our global competitiveness with high-quality, competitively-priced models produced on a large scale."
"Most of our R&D staff have over 10 years of experience in the automotive power-train and transmission field," Tseng claims. "And most of the key parts we use in our ATVs are supplied by our parent company."
High-end Meter Specialist
The Tong Yah Technology Co., established in 1981, has become a specialist in the design, development, and manufacturing of high-end parts and accessories for motorcycles and motor scooters. In recent years it has been concentrating on the development of high-tech products, especially electronic meters for scooters and ATVs. The results include a digital liquid crystal display (LCD) speedometer, performance exhaust systems, magnesium-alloy wheel rims, heater grips, auto-folding side mirrors (for both cars and motorcycles), and state-of-the-art design accessories.
High-end performance meters currently account for about half of the firm's total revenue, up from under 20 percent just a few years ago.
The LCD speedometer has a digital display showing fuel level, speed, tachometer readings, trip odometer, and the time.
Company sales manager Rick Wu says that its "KOSO" brand performance gauges are designed for user customization. For example, the gauges can be set to sound an alarm when RPMs exceed a certain level. There is also a switch to change indications from kilometers to miles, as well as power-test settings.
Tong Yah currently employs about 80 people, about 15 of whom are in the R&D department.
Digital ATV Meters
Another major electronic-meter maker in Taiwan is Motor Meter (Taiwan) Co. The company is a specialized manufacturer of precision vehicle gauges, including upgraded universal replacement gauges and pro-caliber performance models. A subsidiary of Auto Gauge (Taiwan) Co., Motor Meter is a leading performance automotive gauge manufacturer on the island.
Motor Meter displayed its latest integrated digital ATV-use performance gauge, the DM-100, which indicates speed, mileage, water-temperature, short trip A/B, left/right direction, high/low beam, warning light, N/R gear, and fuel level. It also makes a series of fully-waterproof and UV-resistant motorcycle gauges.
Another new item exhibited by the firm is a touch meter that can change its backlight colors into seven patterns by touching any part of the gauge.
For PTW and ATV applications, Motor Meter supplies high-quality gauges in diameters of 52 mm, 60 mm, and 65 mm.
Boron Nitride Thermal Coating
TopSpin Design Co., Ltd. has introduced a new heat-conducting technique based on the company's TSD BN (Boron Nitride) thermal coating layer, which can be applied onto the surfaces of high temperature parts such as radiators, continuous variable transmission (CVT) pulleys, and engine blocks. The coating effectively transfers heat away from the alloy-surface and facilitates air cooling.
According to TopSpin, the hexagonal boron nitride can increase the air-to-surface contact areas and create a protective layer resistant to corrosion and oxidization.
Titanium Expert
Established in 2000, Matrix Metals Corp. makes lightweight and high-strength titanium fasteners, parts, and accessories for motorcycles, all of which will be shown at the event.
According to company vice president Henry Shih, titanium products are stronger than steel and twice as resistant to acids and alkalis, but only 60 percent the weight, making it the only choice for components subject to high-impact and variable temperature environments. In addition, Shih adds, titanium can be anodized in various colors. More importantly, the president stresses, titanium parts and accessories have become fashionable in the PTW market and the trend is spreading as more and more titanium-products are promoted by tuners and parts makers in the PTW sector worldwide.
Matrix supplies a wide range of titanium PTW parts and accessories, including PTW exhaust systems, titanium-alloy wheel-rim fasteners, and racing lugs. The company also sells a variety of high-end mufflers for luxury sports cars.
Asia United Unites Asian Suppliers
Asia United Manufacturing Co. has more than 30 years of experience making and trading bicycles, motorcycles and parts, and auto parts. Today it is one of Taiwan's biggest motorcycle parts and accessories manufacturing and trading companies.
The company's highly experienced team of over 70 people serves customers all over the world with a full range of high-quality motorcycle parts and accessories as well as high-end tuning parts and accessories.
Asia United boasts that it can help customers from all over the world source almost any kind of part or accessory for new motorcycle models. In recent years, it has also designed numerous state-of-the-art side mirrors.
Access to Power
Despite its newcomer status, Access Motor Co. has been quick to build a sound reputation internationally in the ATV industry by offering high quality and competitively-priced products.
Access Motor showed off a new 250cc sport ATV model at the exhibition. Its impressive list of features include independent front suspension with hydraulic double A-arms capable of 150 mm of travel; hydraulic swing-arm rear suspension with 85 mm of travel; continuous variable transmission (CVT) with H, L, N, and R gears; dual hydraulic disc-brakes up front and single hydraulic disc-brake out back; and a high-efficiency single-overhead-cam (SOHC), 249cc, four-stroke, single-piston, liquid-cooled engine with a 11:1 compression ratio, and a Mikuni BSR33 carburetor.
Currently, the company turns out mostly 50cc, 150cc, and 250cc ATVs for export mainly to Europe, half under original-equipment brands and half under its own "Access" brand. The company has also been penetrating the North American market and is developing 250cc sport and utility ATVs.
The company employs about 50 people, 20 percent of which are R&D staff with experience in the motorcycle industry.
Parts to Complete Vehicles
Established in 1980, Lun Tai Enterprise Co., Ltd. is an ISO 9001-certified company specializing in plastic-injection mold development and manufacturing, as well as designing and manufacturing all kinds of plastic-injection parts and accessories for motorcycles and scooters. After gaining a solid foothold in the motorcycle business, the company in recent years has extended its businesses into the ATV, electric scooter, and fitness equipment markets.
Lun Tai is a major tier-one parts and accessory supplier to Yamaha Japan and many of Yamaha's overseas plants in Taiwan, the U.S., and other nations. The company is also supported by a subsidiary providing stamping and welding services. Lun Tai currently runs two plastic-injection plants in Taiwan with more than 200 employees.