Although the epidemic situation has increased, the operation of the Taiwan Woodworking Machinery Industry Association(TWMA) is still actively carried out, but in order to cooperate with epidemic prevention, the second board of directors and supervisors adopted an online meeting. During the meeting, the new chairman Joe Chang pointed out the challenges that Taiwan woodworking machinery will face in the future, and proposed For future countermeasures, he emphasized Taiwan's competitive advantages. He also thanked the new team for their collective efforts to accomplish the mission of the WOOD TAIWAN Digital Go, digital marketing, handover ceremony and other conference affairs currently being implemented.
Chairman Chang said that in 2020 and 2021, COVID-19 will disrupt the normal activities of the world. Coupled with the Sino-US trade war, the United States began to impose a 25% tariff in 2018. Taiwan's woodworking machine industry has benefited from the "home economy" phenomenon. In 2020, the export has grown by 21.49% compared with 2019, and by 26.8% in 2021. The export value has reached 903 million US dollars, or about NT$25 billion, which has made the new record.
But in the future, Taiwan's woodworking machinery industry still faces many challenges:
1. Woodworking machinery in mainland China continues to strengthen and expand its equipment and market optimization. In addition, several large companies in China are moving towards group management, and the global layout is getting stronger and stronger, which compresses the living space of woodworking machinery in Taiwan. In 2008, exports surpassed Taiwan and rose to the third place. In 2020, it will surpass Germany to become the world's number one.
2. The export market ratio is too dependent on the United States: the proportion is 40% in 2015, and it will increase to 63% in 2021, and DIY is estimated to account for about two-thirds, this is also something to worry about.
3. The third generation succession problem: Most of Taiwan's woodworking machinery manufacturers are small family-owned enterprises, and most of the second generation belong to the X generation (1964~1980). For the Y generation (1980~1990) or the Z generation (1990~2010), there is a lack of interest in manufacturing. In 2006, there were still 282 member manufacturers of the guild, and by 2022, it will be reduced to 239.
4. The production equipment is still dominated by stand-alone machines, and most of the machines still lack smart machinery elements: with future trends, there will be smart machines, smart whole lines, and smart factories. If manufacturers do not invest in the layout and participate in it, they will be limited by the market sooner or later, or even eliminated.
Joe quoted the famous saying in Jurassic Park, "Life will find its own way." Most Taiwan woodworking machinery manufacturers still have the gene of "tenacity and fearlessness" in their blood, and they are willing to help each other and share experience. This is hard to see in other association.
In the future, Joe and TWMA directors and supervisors will unite and make selfless dedication on the basis of the good foundation established by the predecessors, and come together to tide over the difficulties with the member manufacturers. In the future, TWMA's goals are very clear: "Industry Niche Value-Added Innovation", "Smart Digital Development and Application", "Local Talent Selection and Cultivation", and "Mutual Support of Industry, Government, University, Research and Research" will allow Taiwan woodworking machinery industry to continue to grow globally. The stage shines brightly!
