Exploring business opportunities in a transforming sector

The beginning of 2018 has seen new trade deals and national policies announced, including China’s plastic waste import ban, and the increased import tariff on washing machines (to 50%) and solar panels (to 30%) in the United States. These measures have already had impacts on the global supply chain in the manufacturing industries for rubber, plastics, home appliances, energy, and metal working.

In addition to these impacts, a restructured global commercial network is on the way. More variables from the global arena will complicate the face of the manufacturing industry, similarly to how technology brought destructive forces. Turning the manufacturing sector toward more intelligent and service-focused industry will become the center of discussions, and is aimed at increasing the versatility and competitive edge of equipment in this fast-paced age.

In short, enhancing the production line with automation and smart features will hold key appeal for users looking for reduced cost and tailor-made solutions. In terms of units, it is estimated that the worldwide stock of operational industrial robots will increase from about 1,828,000 at the end of 2016 to 3,053,000 by 2020. This represents an average annual growth rate of 14% between 2018 and 2020.

We have entered a period of rapid growth in industrial robotics and export from Taiwan over the past two years has experienced an impressive surge. Taiwan’s export value grew 60% from January to August 2017. The top destinations for industrial robots are China, Korea, and Hong Kong. This represents a valuable opportunity for the automation sector.

IoT is another exciting growth area. In a BBC report it was predicted that by 2025, 100 billion connections (90% from intelligent sensors in machines of all kinds) will link the globe as a direct result of information and communication technologies. Everything that can be connected will be connected. Among a number of main activities at iMTduo 2018, visitors can spend time learning about the display systems and equipment targeting the foundation of Industry 4.0.