Growing offshore electronics market propels ECLAT forward

Process equipment manufacturers have seen a spike in demand amid buoyant sales of terminals for smartphones, tablet computers and other gadgets. Exploring fresh opportunities, ECLAT Forever Machinery expands its product lines and continuously develops its research and development (R&D) portfolio in tune with quickly evolving markets.

Starting as a manufacturer of printed circuit boards (PCBs) in 1994, ECLAT shifted to liquid crystal display (LCD) production in 2002 to take advantage of the LCD market. Sixty per cent of ECLAT's sales revenue, which it sees expanding to 70 per cent, comes from China. ECLAT has built a 26,680-square-metre manufacturing centre in Kunshan to support its mainland operations.

ECLAT's Asian base covers Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and China. It also serves customers in the United States, France and Canada. Global suppliers of LCD panels, such as Chi Mei Optoelectronics and AU Optronics, count as its major clients.

With the goal of creating a solid base to propel LCD equipment production, ECLAT enhanced its R&D through technical co-operation with Japan-based Micro Engineering in 2005. Learning from its partner's technological expertise, ECLAT has developed in-house R&D programmes, optimising cost by utilising locally manufactured equipment.

"We have 21 patents across Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the mainland," says president Chou Kun-lin. "We provide customised glass and film-type touch panel turnkey solutions. We also assist clients in sourcing and integrating upstream and downstream materials and equipment."

With support from Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, ECLAT is developing ultra-high-pressure cleaning technology with improved cleaning ability and reduced energy and water consumption. ECLAT has also hired foreign experts in low energy consumption, low pollution and green optical equipment to develop high-efficiency equipment expected to be launched in 2014.