從國際市場動態看台灣手工具業發展契機

文筆ttnet.net「從國際市場動態，看台灣手工具發展契機」講座
台北、台中、台南舉行，掌握趨勢，善用市集推廣


國內手工具產業是典型的出口導向，20多年以來一直處於輝煌時期，手工具出口金額更在全球21個主要工業國中連續5年蟬聯第一。但近年來中國大陸出口金額急遽增加，自2003年開始已超越台灣，成為全球第一大手工具出口國家。

2008年上半年，手工具受到幾個因素影響：
．全球第一大手工具市場─美國經濟趨緩，及次級房貸、金融緊縮托累。
．北美市場及德、日等地，對於手工具需求減少，出口力道減弱。
．全球經濟景氣不振，通膨進逼，消費信心下滑。

加上歐元飆漲的當下，台灣廠商該如何迎接補足匯兌貶值之挑戰，又該如何進軍手工具新興市場，尋求更好的獲利呢？

持續關心產業發展的文筆集團─全世握資訊公司，在此關鍵時刻，於台北、台中、台南連續舉辦了三場講座。特邀國內手工具產業精研多年的專家─金屬工業研究發展中心產業分析師陳芙靜擔任講師，提供更精確的產業動向；此外，講座也分析手工具廠商如何透過電子市集行銷的概念，精準佈局海外推廣，成功開拓國際市場，迎向下一波攻勢！

陳分析師指出，雖然受到上述因素，2008年上半年手工具產業仍較去年微幅成長，展望下半年有幾項契機：
．業界多年來在歐洲市場經營有成，仍可見成長良機。歐洲是全球最穩定的市場之一，加強品質前進歐陸，是不錯的方向。
．下半年英國央行調降利率，刺激購屋、手工具運用需求。
．歐盟東歐新興市場開發，澳洲、大陸、日本市場持穩，都可帶動成長。預估2008年產值可較2007年增加8.4%，達640億台幣；出口值可成長9.6%，達615億台幣。

從2007年到2008年，手工具產業有幾項新趨勢，值得注意：
．異業結盟，開創手工具業新藍海。
．工會推動后里手工具專區及形象館，做產品展示及技術交流平台，打響
國際品牌。
．大陸出口退稅政策調整，對我國手工具影響甚鉅。
．歐美女性手工具興起，輕量化、富設計感，成為2008年最具潛力市場。
．不景氣下，多開發市場，規避單一市場風險，整合多元推廣趨勢更盛。

全世握資訊謝家正副總說明，該公司也朝以上的目標為廠商服務，結合ttnet.net文筆商貿網( 工具專區網址：tools.ttnet.net )、e-BOOK電子書、TOOLS專刊，2008年參加進30檔國際工具展，向209.7萬觀展買家曝光優勢推廣，結合產業市集，服務供需，創造多元商機。

本項講座，台北場於9月3日(週三)下午13：30，在中國文化大學推廣部—教育忠孝分部忠孝館-3F數位演講廳舉行，洽詢電話： (02)8369-3869分機873吳小姐。台南場定於9月9日(週二)13：30在台南生活美學館(原台南社教館) -2樓會議室舉行，詳洽：(06)209-1168陳先生。台中場定於9月10日（週三）13：30在台中市世貿中心-301會議室舉行，詳洽：(04)2297-5266分機17蕭小姐。講座免費參加，歡迎工具相關廠商預約列席。

活動網址：http://tw.ttnet.net/class/TT20080903.htm

3C經營

這是一個企業3C經營的時代：把握無數Chance（機會），全體員工Challenge（挑戰）機會，用心下功夫，Change（改變）企業的未來，同時，也增添企業體在市場上輝煌業績。

本期專題企劃＜企業經營＞，將介紹「仁美商標公司」、「瀚宏企業有限公司」、「景祥水晶琉璃藝品有限公司」、及「牧謀國際有限公司」，這四家公司以「Chance+Challenge+ Change＝3C經營」之理念，帶領各公司員工們大步向前進；就透過本次報導，一同來了解他們的經營之路。

仁美商標公司

原先從事提花商標、印刷商標的仁美商標公司，由於市場環境變遷，除了部份生產設備外移，還積極思考國內生產線的經營。要對國內員工負責及照顧的態度下，決定進行企業改變，將國外生產線單純定位外銷導向，而國內廠房則為產品研發設計生產中心。

轉機開啟公司的另一條康莊大道。仁美商標對提花技術的創意運用不僅是國內業界首創，連生產提花織布機的廠商都對此技術讚不絕口。仁美商標長期使用歐洲進口生產裝置設備，已對先進提花機械技術有一定程度的熟悉，且為了提高提花織物技術，不惜成本投資進口提花軟體，將傳統用於提織商標的提花技術運作在日常用品上，製造出如吊飾、提織書籤、賀卡……等創意商品。在創意品中，尤以「全彩提花織畫」最具市場潛力。只要將圖樣輸入電腦轉成點陣圖檔後，便可由提花軟體進行配色。織畫過程中最讓人不可思議的是，一幅栩栩如生的織畫原始色料竟只有八種基本原色，就像水彩作畫的原理一樣，透過漸色與配色的過程，進而調配出完全符合圖樣的色彩。除了織畫外，仁美商標也將提花技術運用在開發品牌鞋面布，並且透整合的力量，由盟友提供高品質的 色紗材，再透過盟友進行織品後加工，使得原本較不具軔性的提花布材也能運用在耐磨強度都要高度要求的鞋面布材上。這些林林總總的創意品為消費市場注入新視野，也為仁美商標創造新佳績。

改變為公司創造大格局。仁美商標曾與地方政府合作，發表深具地方特色的限量創意織品，賀年卡、 零錢包、黑面琵鷺提織 立體吊飾等商品。目前仁美商標以廣泛參展的模式來推廣全彩提花織畫，並將紡織創意產品鎖定高消費族群。未來仁美商標將不排除與地方畫家合作，以全彩提花織畫的模式展現藝術創作，雙方搭配展覽，發揚藝術之美！在業界，仁美商標把握機會，努力創新技術，同時，也使消費者增廣生活美學！

瀚宏企業有限公司

專業經營金屬筆、塑膠筆禮贈品、銷售代理國內外各大品牌商品的瀚宏企業有限公司，為各大客戶量身打造專屬 禮品；十餘年來，公司不斷努力並成長茁壯，深受各企業愛護，常被指定特約廠商。

在市場競爭激烈下，瀚宏精準為客戶分析禮品優劣外，還主動協助客戶，對客戶禮品的使用發放配送等問題提供相關服務，如：股東會禮品數量估算，國外公司包含各類產品之生產及銷售批發、自行開模研發產品……等，針對客戶的需求來全方位服務與關照，也突顯公司待客為尊，服務至上的經營策略。同時，提供代客OEM 個性商品、代客規劃禮贈品。瀚宏秉持「夢想、信念、原則、實踐」為目標，並高標準要求合作夥伴及員工們，生產及開發出有創意、高品質產品。目前研發設計以 PLA（Poly Lactic Acid聚乳酸）的玉米天然原料製造出 環保筆，商品新潮、時尚、多功能外，也為消費大眾建立無污染的生活環境。

瀚宏備足人力、物力、財力，以禮贈品公司身份出發，永續讓客戶生活變得更美好更幸福，有效為客戶提高知名度，無形中也為公司形象加分。瀚宏3C核心經營理念，不錯過任何一次服務客戶的機會，盡全力展現公司的能力，去挑戰客戶的要求與任務，一次又一次的超越，改變與開拓了客戶與公司的光榮之路。

景祥水晶琉璃藝品有限公司

從早期製造木框、 水晶球……等內外銷商品為主的景祥水晶琉璃藝品有限公司，因目前全球市場競爭激烈，為了提昇產品品質與附加價值，進行既有材質改良，加強品質控管與技術創新，以創新與美學的精神，成功轉向精緻路線的水晶玻璃藝品路線開發。

而在原物料高漲的消費時代，工廠的經營成本又上漲，景祥水晶琉璃藝品堅持致力科技與藝術創作的研發與結合，獨家研發出一種玻璃材質──琉璃玉，是採用天然玉石成分，在高溫中熔煉成漿體，經數十道至上百道等純手工熱塑、拉絲工法製作而成，並以玉石發色原理，產生自然的紋理色彩以及半透明、不透明的特質，兼具了琉璃與玉石之美。同時，景祥水晶琉璃藝品以「市場還在」來激勵員工，常要求師父研讀工藝藝術書，尋求開發創意的新活水。挑戰再挑戰，改變再改變，景祥水晶琉璃藝品精益求精的經營理念，使創作作品先後榮獲多項大獎的肯定，「生命之源」、「真愛」分別為新竹美展優選與佳作。另外，景祥水晶琉璃藝品以本土化方向發展，深耕台灣為圓心點，再積極發展圓心以外的市場。

琉璃在陽光照耀之下，閃閃動人，吸引眾人目光。景祥水晶琉璃藝品，期許用嚴謹的態度來製作完成每一件細緻琉璃藝品，開創琉璃創作嶄新視野，發揚台灣琉璃之光！

牧謀國際有限公司

專門開發新潮、新奇、時尚、多功能產品的牧謀國際有限公司，也與國內多家銀行合作紅利積點規劃及商品提供，如家用品、小家電、文具用品、寢具、電動玩具……等等商品。

牧謀國際以多角化的經營，來面對和挑戰變化萬千的市場。同時擴展經營，目前在中國大陸有3個物流點，長期採購當地最新奇的商品及觀察趨勢商品。落實企業經營，加強產品品質、提升技術，使公司的商品品牌提高價值和知名度。目前牧謀國際擁有品牌「精靈工廠」、「北海道有熊出沒」、「日本三浦太郎」、「ENNE」、「卡蒂爾」、「justwood」…等，而精靈工廠是目前國內無店舖通路銷售量最大型床包製造工廠。以永續經營品牌形象，創造出優良商品。以整合良性利潤、空間、達到穩定長期合作，並以「用心服務客戶、不斷開發新產品」的經營理念，牧謀國際朝向國際化、做國際通路商品。

創造和諧的工作環境，牧謀國際努力延攬人才創造人才，對公司無形資產──員工，以完善福利制度，照顧員工生活品質並利益分享，讓員工們與公司同心協力，一起為公司目標奮鬥。面對無限挑戰的未來市場，牧謀國際跳脫傳統思維，以3C經營改變現狀，放眼國際世界，穩紮穩打的站在市場最前線，第一時間掌握商品的動向，為客戶提高最吸引人的競爭力！

各公司企業為了美好的未來，努力經營3C（Chance+Challenge+ Change）理念，增添企業體質強度，建立良好公司形象，拓展公司視野，創造了公司、員工、客戶「3贏」歡喜大局面！

文章摘自文筆商貿網

ttnet.net產業趨勢講座014-從國際市場動態看台灣手工具業發展契機

典型出口導向的台灣手工具產業，可粗分為動力和非動力手工具產品兩大類，在2007年，動力手工具外銷表現上，台灣已成功擠身全球前10大出口國；在非動力手工具方面，受歐元升值、台幣貶值影響，出口值略為下滑，而居全球第三大出口國，僅次中國大陸及德國。

然而，今年受到全球第一大手工具市場美國經濟衰退因素的影響，國際市場需求是否將因此縮？此外，在歐元飆漲的當下，台灣廠商該如何迎接補足匯兌貶值之挑戰，又該如何進軍手工具新興市場，尋求更好的獲利呢？

本次產業趨勢講座特邀擁有專業領域背景並且對台灣手工具產業有多年觀察及研究的金屬工業研究發展中心產業分析師─陳芙靜小姐擔任講師，為您提供更精準的產 業動向；此外，講座也將為您分析手工具產業廠商如何透過電子市集行銷之概念，精準佈局海外推廣，成功開拓國際市場，面對即將到來的下一波攻勢！

台 北 場

時　　間： 97年09月03日 （三）13:30~16:20

地　　點： 中國文化大學推廣部教育忠孝分部忠孝館-3F數位演講廳

(台北市忠孝東路一段41號3F)

洽詢電話： (02)8369-3869#873 吳小姐

台 南 場

時　　間： 97年09月09日（二）13:30~16:20

地　　點： 台南生活美學館(原台南社教館)-2樓會議室

(台南市中西區中華西路二段34號)

洽詢電話： (06)209-1168 陳先生

台 中 場

時　　間： 97年09月10日（三）13:30~16:20

地　　點： 台中市世貿中心-201會議室

(台中市西屯區天保街60號)

洽詢電話： (04)2297-5266#17 蕭小姐

主辦單位：文筆商貿網

議程：

13:30~14:00 報到

14:00~14:10 主辦單位致詞

14:10~15:00 從國際市場動態看台灣手工具業發展契機 Part I － （金屬工業研究發展中心 / 陳芙靜 小姐）

15:00~15:20 Tea time

15:20~15:40 從國際市場動態看台灣手工具業發展契機 Part II － （金屬工業研究發展中心 / 陳芙靜 小姐）

15:40~16:10 如何善用手工具市集概念 行最有效推廣 － （全世握資訊）

16:10~16:20 Q&A

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

參加費用：免費

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為配合國人的飲食，月餅不再是單調口味，例如近年健康養生風盛行，月餅特別注重低糖、低鹽、少油、高纖等健康原則，如人參、枸杞、當歸、川貝琵琶、珍珠粉、冬蟲夏草等中藥及燕窩、山藥、蓮子、竹炭等流行健康食材，只要想的到的，通通都可以入餅，這樣標榜養生的月餅在口感上減少油膩，增添一份清爽，造福想吃又怕胖的人。其他如冰淇淋、巧克力、起司、麻糬、及鳳梨、紅豆、芋頭等各種蔬果 內餡更是各大業者月餅內的常客。當中值得一提的是，去年風行日本的健康食材──寒天，讓月餅餅皮多了另種Ｑ嫩口感的選擇，低卡路里是它吸引目光的最大優點，同時也能促進腸胃蠕動，今年依然火熱。

在外觀上，一顆顆如此誘人精巧，極具特色的月餅，令人忍不住食指大動，有使用卡通人氣偶像如Hello Kitty、哆啦A夢形象的可愛月餅，也有借用中國神話當中如月兔的形狀衍伸，而傳統廣式、中式月餅外觀依然精巧，保持一貫高評價，每年各家無不爭奇鬥艷，月餅已經可以說成為一種藝術。

像是一向走高檔路線的「帕莎蒂娜」，今年月餅禮盒主題為「璧月」，取其「中西合璧」之意，禮盒包裝融合了中式傳說的趣味性及西式設計的簡潔大方之感，而口感上則以真實本味決勝負，重拾傳統食材，加之現代獨特創意，一盒共有五款中式手感與四款南法普羅旺斯的組合，無論是中式墨魚蛋黃月餅、養生紅麴冬瓜月餅，或西式南法塔本那黑橄欖月餅、無花果巧克力月餅，皆有別於傳統月餅形式，中西方如此相容並存又互映其趣，令人再三驚歎不已。

除了月餅外，中秋節另一主角就是茶，好月餅就要配好茶，無稐是普洱、烏龍、包種、鐵觀音等常見傳統茶，乃至年輕人喜歡的花草茶、水果茶等，無一不適合與月餅作搭配，因此，包裝雅致、嚴選把關的罐裝茶葉，或利於隨身攜帶、沖泡方便的袋茶，也都是中秋送禮的好選擇。

如何挑選品質優良的茶葉呢？業者表示只要掌握「觀形、辨色、聞香、賞味」四項原則，就可以輕鬆選購。「觀形」就是觀察茶葉外觀，每種茶葉都有一定的標準外形規格，如炒青條形、珠茶圓形、龍井扁形、紅碎茶顆粒形等，形狀勻稱完整，沒有斷碎，並且沒有混入雜質，這就是好的茶葉。「辨色」是指辨別色澤，各種茶皆有一定的色澤要求，如紅茶深紅褐色、綠茶翠綠、烏龍茶翠綠或呈現墨綠色，但無論何種茶類，好茶均要求色澤一致。「聞香」顧名思義就是嗅聞香氣，因茶種與發酵製法不同，各種茶類香澤各異，乾香與濕香也有所不同，但無論哪種茶皆不能有異味，選購時應掌握精純、濃郁、綿長等特性。最後「賞味」就是品嘗滋味，除了甘醇回甘外，更重要的是要選擇自己或送禮的人喜歡的茶種，才算是最好的中秋禮品。

百年老店嶢陽茶行貿易有限公司在今年推出以阿里山烏龍茶、阿里山金萱與梔子烏龍茶三種茶所組合的紅牡丹山采禮盒，作為中秋節特別獻禮。從百年傳承「傳統炭火烘焙法」改良到「三焙三退火」的革新烘焙法，與嚴選茶葉是最佳搭配，將恆久不變的真摯感情帶給每一位品茗者，溫暖人心。

點心搭配飲品以熱量低、維生素含量高為首選，至於口味則因人而異，大致原則是甜月餅不配甜飲料，能夠消味解膩、調整胃口為佳，隨著月餅種類款式多樣化後，近年國人在搭配月餅飲品的選擇上，除了茶外，咖啡也名列前茅，是而咖啡沖泡器、沖茶器更是中秋禮品熱門選擇。在此領域不斷追求創新，與國際接軌的愛貝企業股份有限公司，以簡便、耐用為目標設計出「魔力咖啡花茶沖泡壺系列」，內建專利的咖啡及茶汁濃度控制濾網，濃淡可隨當時情況及心情自由調整，滿足不同需求的消費者。

秋天是美食的季節，不管是在戶外、陽台賞月，嚐遍美食，品茗閒話，皆是享受團圓幸福之感，感受溫馨時刻。

文章摘於文筆商貿網

China Food Packing Machinery Market to Double in 2005

The packaging machinery industry is closely relevant with the boom and bust of the consumer goods industry. A rise in the demand for consumer goods is commonly reflected on the sales of packaging for these products and, therefore, in turn benefiting packaging machinery players. Currently, mounting environmental awareness, problems of waste disposal, a growing scarcity of raw materials and the consequent statutory regulations, are demanding a fast response from all industrial sectors, especially in packaging machinery arena. In response to the up-and-coming recycling concept, packaging machinery manufacturers must be prepared to invest in continual development of their products and technologies.

In China, the major exports included food grinding machines, mixer, juice extractor, food and beverage makers, cereal and bean processing machine. By the statistics, the largest growth lay in diary product processing and brewing equipment.

Thanks to the improved living standard and gradual shift of eating habit, the sales of food packaging machinery in China will continue to increase in the on-coming years. By a survey, in 2005, the overall demand is expected to hit RMB65 billion, highly potential as compared with the existing market scale of RMB30 billion, marking an average growth of more than 12 percent every year.

Fueled by growing proportion of food industrial output value, probably up from the current 0.3-0.4 percent to 0.5-1 percent, more and more industry players target Chinese market, seeing the coming years as hay days to expand their market share.

Rising meat consumption will boost the demand for meat processing in the food industry from the present four percent to 10 percent with the output reaching 6 million tons, together with the improved proportion of grain processing from eight percent to 15 percent and with the processing volume peaking 82.50 million tons. Meanwhile, the output of sugar will climb to 10 million tons in 2005, the output of diary products, 800,000 tons, various feed, 27 million tons, liquid milk, two million tons, edible oil, 30 million tons, and tin food, 3.80 million tons.

Article from ttnet.net

New Vehicle-based Techs Always from Humanity

Nowadays, cars and light trucks aim to entertain and inform drivers and passengers, not merely transport them from one place to another. Car owners, familiar with iPods, Blackberrys, handheld video players, portable games and so on, expect their vehicles to cater to their miscellaneous "infotainment" needs. Modern gadgets carry features to make navigating easier. The latest GPS devices are miles away from the old handheld ones. In help of speech recognition, drivers can speak commands to the GPS without having to take their hands off the steering wheel. If they are driving at a significant speed, or in heavy traffic, they don't have to take their eyes off the road because voice prompts will navigate them. Some devices even can be linked to a driver's mobile phones, and voice calls can be made using the GPS as a hands-free gear. Read the following news via Dialog NewsEdge to find more new techs on automotives.

Sizzling Portable Navigation Devices (PND)

In a release, Research and Markets noted that report highlights include:
Globally, the satellite navigation system is still a nascent industry with market penetration of only 4 percent and this offers lucrative opportunities for all the players in the supply chain of this industry. Western Europe and North America are the potential markets for Portable Navigation Systems, a technology/medium for automobile satellite navigation system. However, still these two regions remain massively under-penetrated with Europe's satellite navigation penetration currently stands at only 15 percent and in North America at 4 percent. Since, the satellite navigation industry has low barriers to entry; the list of entrants is long and growing. But there are only a few leading players that have dominance in this industry.

The Thinnest GPS Unit in the Industry

Wireless News via NewsEdge Corporation:
Magellan has announced a second generation of its Maestro series of portable vehicle navigation devices that will feature the thinnest GPS units in the industry. Designed to be pocket-sized for easier portability, the new units feature a streamlined look and functionality built into a new, sleeker industrial design. At only 17.8 mm thick and just 82.5 mm tall, the new Maestro packs dozens of advanced mapping features and bright 4.3-inch or 3.5-inch QVGA screens into the industry's most compact, portable auto navigation units.

Automotive Hard Disk Drive Shipments to Rise by Fie times by 2013

M2 PressWIRE via NewsEdge Corporation:
The explosion of digital multimedia infotainment systems in cars is prompting auto makers to adopt Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) for storage and playback of music, video and other digital content. Shipments of HDDs for automotive infotainment systems are expected to reach 16.6 million units by 2013, nearly five times the 3.5 million in 2006. Automotive HDD shipments will rise at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 25.1 percent from 2006 to 2013, making hard drives the fastest-growing storage solutions for cars in the coming years. The attached figure presents iSuppli's forecast of shipments of HDDs and other storage formats for automotive infotainment applications.

Audio Streaming Bolsters Automotive Bluetooth

Wireless News via NewsEdge Corporation:
The migration of Bluetooth for music streaming into the automotive and portable navigation markets is increasing automotive Bluetooth adoption, reports Strategy Analytics. In fact, the research firm noted, this wireless technology is set to account for 94 percent of in-vehicle communications system shipments by 2013, according to a new Strategy Analytics report, "Automotive Bluetooth: Heat Unit Integration and A2DP Present New Opportunities." Over the last 12 months, key product trends were emergence of audio streaming via the Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), Bluetooth integration on embedded automotive infotainment systems and an increase in portable navigation devices offering Bluetooth hands-free functionality.

Satellite Radio Increases 26%

Wireless News via NewsEdge Corporation:
“Nearly 40 percent of consumers report having satellite radio capability in their new-vehicle's audio system-marking a considerable increase from 26 percent the previous year, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study released. Additionally, 94 percent of owners indicate that their satellite radio is factory or dealer installed-increasing from 92 percent in 2006. "Buyers want the latest technologies included in their new vehicle's audio system, and the increase in market penetration is a reflection of auto manufacturers' response to consumer demand," said Allison LaDuc, senior research manager of automotive product quality at J.D. Power and Associates. "New and redesigned vehicles-particularly those within the luxury segment-are increasingly being equipped with the latest multimedia features, including satellite radio, MP3/auxiliary output and navigation systems. Market penetration for these audio features will likely increase as time goes on."

Adding NIR Capability to Portfolio of Single-Chip Automotive

Wireless News via NewsEdge Corporation:
“The NIR capability significantly improves functionality for automotive safety and security applications while allowing OEMs and automotive manufacturers to simplify system designs and reduce the overall system bills of material. The new night vision capability is made possible by the development and successful implementation of a number of process-level enhancements that expand the sensor's spectral light sensitivity up to 1050 nanometers, the equivalent of NIR sensitivity. This enhanced sensitivity enables OmniVision sensors to perform object detection in complete darkness with the support of only a few very low-power LEDs and allows automotive cameras to see both beyond and outside the range of a vehicle's headlights.”

Increased MEMS-Based Applications in Automotive Industry

Wireless News via NewsEdge Corporation:
“Demand from end-user markets such as automotive, medical and consumer electronics spurs growth in the world microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors markets, reports Frost & Sullivan. The consulting company said that its new analysis, World MEMS Sensors Markets, reveals that the market earned revenues of $1.6 billion in 2005 and estimates this to reach $4.2 billion in 2012. "Demand from key applications such as electronic stability control (ESC) and tire pressure sensors in the automotive market will likely drive the MEMS sensors market," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Prashanth Venkatesh. "Regulations passed by the U.S. highway and safety authority that mandate the installation of tire pressure sensors, also fuels demand. Moreover, environmental and legislative mandates increase the need for fuel-efficient cars, thereby supplementing demand for sensors in the automotive market."

Simultaneously, the adoption of inertial sensors for the purpose of adding functionality and safety in devices such as mobile phones, gaming devices and e-notebooks, drives growth in the consumer markets.

Article from ttnet.net

Global Views on Hardware Headlines

Fastener Industry Up 5% Per Year Through 2007

Industrial fastener demand, usually dancing with the pace of industrialization and business circle of the world, is predicted to climb no less than 5% every year through 2007 to over $11 billion. Generally speaking, the demand will be spurred by robust growth in durable goods production and building spending. Accelerating global economic growth will also contribute to help speed in aftermarket fastener demand, even though improvements in fastener quality will somewhat curb maintenance/ repair /operations sales growth. Building sector, electrical and electronic equipment manufacturing will enjoy the fastest growth in end-use markets for fasteners.
Standardized industrial fasteners will continue to govern overall product demand. However the sales of application-specific fasteners jump at a prompter pace than other standardized product types while more OEMs take the place of non-specialized items with application-specific designs. In the other hand, demand for aerospace-grade fasteners is predicted to soar at better-than-expected rate through 2007, fueled by new momentum in aircraft production as global economic climate bodes well military expenditures keep climbing. Recently, innovations and improvement on fastener design focus on new generations of self-locking and self-sealing fasteners, which can be installed without the use of tools and fasteners fabricated from advanced alloys, composites and plastic materials. As more reinforced plastics are successfully developed and launched, plastic fasteners will be widely applied in a growing number of settings.

Global Valve Demands to Rise 5.5% Through 2007

Global demand for industrial valves is predicted to climb 5.5% per year through 2007 to over US$60 billion. The growth momentum is specially attributed to the blooming macroeconomic growth in the developing regions of Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. The markets in the US, Japan and Western Europe, although not very prominent in performing, will also show slight improvement. Rising fixed investment levels will boost most valve consuming sectors and strengthen underdeveloped infrastructures in these regions.

Die-casting Hardware Boosted from Auto Sector

Die-casting is a process to form metal shapes from molten material, in most cases, typically nonferrous metals such as aluminum, magnesium, and zinc. Die-casting processes include sand casting, precision investment (lost wax) casting, and permanent mold casting. Generally speaking, the major market for die-casting is the automotive industry. Especially smaller electric motors calling for the application of die cast aluminum housings and end covers, further promote the usage of die-castings. Additionally, for further development of the die casting industry, production scale is of prime importance for industry players. However, the prerequisite for a large production size is large investment. The automotive industry is surely a strong support. In recent years, attention has been paid to the development of large capacity die casting machines, bringing up hot chamber machines accordingly.

Variety Uses of P/M, Powder Metallurgy

The basic P/M process uses pressure and heat to form precision metal parts and shapes. Powder is squeezed at room temperature by itself in a rigid precision die into an engineered shape like a gear. After the mass of powder is squeezed into a shape and ejected from the press, it is fed slowly through a special high-temperature controlled atmosphere furnace to bond the particles together. In contrast to other metal forming techniques, P/M parts are shaped directly from powders while castings are formed from metal that must be melted, and wrought parts are shaped by deformation of hot or cold metal, or by machining. P/M parts are used in a variety of end products such as lock hardware, garden tractors, snowmobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, auto brake and steering systems, etc. New Developments include improved manufacturing processes and commercialization such as metal injection molding: (MIM), rapid solidification, P/M forging, spray forming, high temperature vacuum sintering, warm compacting and both cold and hot isostatic pressing. The use of P/M hot forged connecting rods in automobiles and a P/M camshaft for automobile engines. The use of P/M composite camshafts in auto engines and main bearing caps, and stainless steel ABS sensor rings and exhaust system flanges. New submicron and nanophase powders for cutting tools and other specialized applications.

Bearings, Small Parts Big Use

Bearings belong to a major component in a machine to reduce friction and, simultaneously maintain the expected precision and stability while machine working. By statistics, the size of global bearing market approximates US$30 billion every year. Coming in over ten thousand kinds, bearings can be found everywhere in a gear from small drivers, motor cars, conveyors, electrical machinery to big ships. Fundamentally, bearings are composed of two parts: sliding bearings and rolling bearings. The most frequent-used bearings are linear bearings, connecting bearings, ball bearings, roller bearings, trust bearings and needle bearings. The precision quality of bearings depends on hardness, wear rate, mechanic strength and stability along with concentricity, sphericalness and roughness. In these years, the users of conventional ball bearings and roller bearings have been gradually upgraded to ball guide bars, linear bearings, connecting bearings and oil-less bushings. Some higher-level bearings should resort to the help of technicians. King-size bearings for steel-making or petrochemical industry are heavily installed and traced by technical suppliers. The popularity of NC/ CNC machine tools and automated warehouse systems provides a stable-growing background for bearings industry. The up-and-coming trends follow the advantages of high precision, high speed, compact size, lightweight, maintenance-free and durability.

Article from ttnet.net