Competitiveness on Display:Taiwan International Fastener Show／從台灣國際扣件展看見台灣扣件產業競爭力
Competitiveness on Display :
Taiwan International Fastener Show
◎English translation: Peng Hsin-yi
◎Photos by Pao Chung-hui
Kaohsiung Exhibition Center is the first landmark building completed under the city's Asia New Bay Area initiative. The center's curvy form mimics that of ocean waves, giving its exterior a modern look. The center opened on April 14 this year, and the Taiwan International Fastener Show (April 14-15) had the honor of being the first exhibition ever hosted by this important new venue. The show was the second-largest exhibition relating to fasteners ever held in Asia, and third largest in the world. Uniquely, this particular exhibition not only displayed products from 350 participating Taiwanese manufacturers, but also included all kinds of forums and factory tours, fully demonstrating Taiwan highly-integrated fastener supply chain. The exhibition attracted over 2,000 foreign visitors who were able to see the industry's best offerings and meet their procurement needs.
The Taiwan International Fastener Show is a biennial event at which customers from all over the world can view new products and innovations in Taiwan fastener industry. Taiwan is the world's No. 2 exporter of fasteners and related products, with 90% of made-in-Taiwan fasteners entering the international market. Exports of these products in 2013 totaled US$3.84 billion. Most of Taiwan's fastener manufacturers are located in Kaohsiung, with approximately 800 in the Gangshan and Lujhu districts, forming an industry cluster of global significance. Visitors to the exhibition were given the chance to visit some of these factories, just 30 minutes' drive away, so they could better understand the production processes and business models. This helped strengthen customers confidence in these Taiwan-based producers.
A notable participant in the exhibition was Zyh Yin Enterprise Co., Ltd., which specializes in making fasteners for wooden furniture. Zyh Yin's president, Mr. Chen Chi-siang, was originally a manufacturer of wooden furniture, and he says he became an expert in the field of fasteners because the fasteners originally available were far from ideal, so he felt the need to improve upon them. Zyh Yin is now the world's biggest manufacturer of fasteners for wooden furniture. The company's products are sold to over 50 countries around the world, with the customers including IKEA and Home Depot.
According to Mr. Chen, the exhibition is a very important channel to broaden his customer base. He has invested in a boutique-style exhibition booth, aiming to attract high-end customers. The welcoming atmosphere is an invitation in itself, and customers who come in to get information about Zyh Yin products and techniques leave with a great impression of the brand.
Mr. Chen explains that top-quality wooden-furniture fasteners are made with practicality in mind. They should be easy to use and not strip. This seemingly mundane product is supported with a surprisingly wide array of technologies. The deviation value of any Zyh Yin products is never more than 0.02mm. The company has its own testing lab because quality control is its highest priority. Mr. Chen smiles when he adds that many people are stunned to learn that quality demands for wooden-furniture fasteners are more stringent than those applying to electronic products. As the saying goes, the devil is in the details. Fasteners for wooden furniture must be able to secure table legs to table tops while remaining invisible. In many cases, that means thick legs and tops. However, because Zyh Yin has been able to customize fasteners which match table designs, they are able to tightly secure all parts of an item while staying out of sight, even when the legs and table tops are thin. This is how the company's high-tech approach has prevailed, and how Zyh Yin earned its reputation.
Zyh Yin does not rest on its laurels. The company is constantly elevating the technology it employs, further distinguishing itself in the market with added value. Mr. Chen believes there is still a lot of potential in the wooden-furniture market. He is determined to stay in the field he is most familiar with, and continue to make fasteners for wooden furniture that impress the world. Zyh Yin, a brand born in Taiwan and made in Taiwan, is an excellent example of the best possible quality coming from Taiwan.
從台灣國際扣件展看見台灣扣件產業競爭力
◎文／侯雅婷
◎攝影／鮑忠暉
以新穎的波浪外型引起矚目的高雄展覽館為「亞洲新灣區」計劃中首座完工啟用的地標建築，於今(2014) 年4月14日開館，開館當日登場的首展—「2014台灣國際扣件展」是亞洲第二大、全球第三大螺絲專業展，其特色為於扣件產業聚落當地辦展，結合觀展、論壇和參觀工廠。此次參展的350家台灣廠商莫不卯足全力，呈現高度整合的扣件產業供應鏈，吸引近2000名國外專業採購人士來台觀展、採購。
二年一次扣件展讓全球買家看見台灣的扣件新品以及更進步的技術。台灣為全球螺絲出口量的第二大出口國，2013 年出口產值為38.4億美元，台灣製螺絲九成外銷。台灣扣件產業以高雄岡山和路竹為核心，這兩地群聚約800家業者，形成全球最密集的扣件產業聚落，距展場30分鐘車程，買家觀展後可參訪工廠，瞭解生產運作模式，加強買主採購台灣扣件產品的信心。
此次最大設攤廠商為專營木製傢俱螺絲的至盈實業(Zyh Yin)，董事長陳啟祥談起他從生產木製傢俱轉為投入木製傢俱螺絲製造和研發，全因當初他覺得傢俱業螺絲不夠好用，時至今日，Zyh Yin為全球木製傢俱螺絲產量最大製造商，客戶包括IKEA和Home Depot等，行銷世界50多國。
陳啟祥表示，參展為拓展客源的重要管道，打造高規格展場用意是為了吸引重量級的優質客戶，期以極具吸引力的展場空間吸引貴賓駐足，進入展場內了解Zyh Yin的產品和技術，要讓貴賓第一時間就記住Zyh Yin這個品牌。
陳啟祥表示，好的木製傢俱螺絲很實用、很好鎖且不滑手，背後全仰賴科技 。他指出Zyh Yin 把木製傢俱螺絲做得很精密，誤差值在0.02mm內，還設置專屬測試實驗室，嚴格控管品質。陳啟祥笑說，很多人感到費解，鎖在木頭上的螺絲卻比電子業使用的螺絲要求還高！但，細節藏在魔鬼裏，高級的木製傢俱螺絲是不能被看見的，為了要將桌板與桌腳鎖緊，卻又不能被看見螺絲，往往只得加厚桌板厚度，但Zyh Yin為客戶量身訂作的螺絲，隱身其中的螺絲能大幅減少桌板厚度且能牢固地鎖住桌腳，這些都歸功於很精密且實用的螺絲，就是這樣硬底子的功夫吸引客戶上門。
不斷提升技術門檻，Zyh Yin做出產品的市場區隔和價值。陳啟祥認為木製傢俱的市場尚未飽和，堅持只在最熟悉的木製傢俱領域開發出讓人讚嘆的螺絲 ，Zyh Yin這個來自台灣的品牌，讓全世界看見台灣的好品質。