Industry Insight

Impact wrenches(continued)

In the first six months of this year, Kuani Gear Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of impact wrenches in Taiwan, recorded 10 percent increase in export.

To meet growing global demand, the company has bought a factory in an industrial park in Taichung, central Taiwan. The new factory consists of 21,000 sq. meters. "We have started moving production equipment to the new plant which is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year," said the general manager.

The pneumatic hand tools made by Kuani Gear are exported to the world market, including North America, accounting for 40 percent, Europe at 30 percent and Asia at 20 percent, with the remaining 10 percent to Africa and South America.

The general manager said 30 percent of the impact wrenches exported are brand products, with the remainder being ODM orders. "Our brand orders are expected to increase this year," stressed Cheng. "I am very optimistic about our export business in the future."

Cheng said Kuani Gear has a strong R&D team which turns out new models of pneumatic hand tools every year. In October last year, the general manager said, an orbital sander introduced by his company was granted patents by the U.S.

Air screwdrivers
Granted patent rights

The torque-controlled pneumatic screwdrivers developed by Mijy-Land Industrial Co. in Taipei County have been granted patent rights by Taiwan, mainland China, South Korea and Germany.

Applications for more patent rights from other countries are being considered, according to Aric Lee, R&D manager of Mily-Land Industrial Co., founded in 1976 in Luchou, Taipei County.

The patents were given in recognition of its motor and clutch system incorporated in the air screwdrivers, the R&D manager said. Lee noted that the bits of the pneumatic screwdriver are made of high-quality T.I.C.N. material. "We are the first company in the world using T.I.C.N. material to make our bits," stressed Lee. The electroplated bits, featuring Hv1800 2-3u, last 30 to 50 percent longer in operation than the ordinary ones, the R&D manager noted.

The patented MSC motor comes with 30 percent more power than the general types, the R&D manager said, stressing that between two and three years were spent on developing the torque-controlled pneumatic screwdrivers prior to mass production. Lee revealed that this air screwdriver was named a best product by the trade organizer at a DIY show in Osaka last year in recognition of its low noise level and air pollution control.

Europe is currently the biggest destination for the torque-controlled pneumatic screwdrivers developed by Mijy-Land Industrial Co, accounting for more than 50 percent of its total exports, Lee said. While the U.S. takes 15 percent of its overseas shipments, the other 30 to 35 percent goes to mainland China. "We are not content with our current sales performance. We are making greater efforts to expand our global market share in the future," stated the R&D manager.