Industry Activities
Unitech Launches New Factory Construction
Auto Fastener Expert Zephyr Chang: Technical Development and Manufacturing Optimization to Create New Market Demands
by Tanya Shih, Fastener World Inc.
With over 20 years of experience in production and sales of auto fasteners, President Zephyr Chang established Spec Products Corp. in 2001, Accurtek Products Corp. in 2004, and BCR Co., Ltd.. in 2009. All these companies are specialized in buying and selling industrial/auto fasteners and components and cooperate with over 200 manufacturing suppliers. The range of new products demanded by previously received orders has been nearly 9,000 items and continues to grow by 200 more items every year.
In order to correspond to the car manufacturers’ evaluations guided by distributor customers and the strict control over related procedures, as well as accumulating critical technologies without influencing the long term partnership with all suppliers, Unitech was established in 2010, showing that the business of President Chang has been expanded to the R&D and production of auto fasteners and components. The construction of the new factory spanning the area of 5,950 sq. m has been planned and scheduled. Its capacity will be doubled with the expected annual growth rate of 20-30% when the new factory is completed.
Will It Not Cause Conflict Among Customers, Products, and Cooperation with Suppliers When These 3 Fastener Companies Co-Exist in the Market?
President Chang having his own management strategy responded, “Although my companies are basically for industrial and automotive market sectors, the markets are still vast and wide. They not only have to build up the image of providing instant service and understanding products really well, but also have to compete internally with each other. I completely fulfill the system of professional managers and differentiate the types of service and products including standard parts and special parts in various sizes and materials to satisfy all the demand of our long-term customers. We are good at offering the most competitive price and highest product quality as well as providing instant R&D service of products for each order.”
The all-in one service for the auto fastener market gives President Chang the title of “Auto Fastener Expert.”
An ISO/TS 16949 Certified Factory- Unitech Specializes in Engineered and Secondary Processed Special Parts
As all of Unitech’s products are 100% for export (90% for Europe and the U.S., 10% for Japan) and its major customers are local distributors and manufacturers, President Chang said frankly, “Only when we focus more on technical development and manufacturing optimization can the new market demand be created.” Auto fasteners with high technical levels like weld bolts/nuts, prefabricated bolts/nuts, and special parts are all what Unitech can manufacture. It is able to supply cold forged products in sizes of 6-14mm and do in-house threading and optical sorting (but secondary processing is outsourced).
President Chang’s Expectation to Auto Fasteners Market
The current depreciation of currencies directly influences the market supply and demand. President Chang said, “Europe is one of the important export trade partners of Taiwan. Take auto fasteners as example, some of the contracts for certain items may last for lots of years, so the depreciation of currencies may not be a good thing to the suppliers and buyers. I suggest that we should take actions that are favorable to maintain the relationship with customers and those will be the best ways.”
The future of the auto fasteners market still leaves something to be worried about. For example, with the continuous growth of the electricity cars market, it will take about 5-10 years for this market to become matured. At that time there may be a decline of up to 30-40% in the demand for automotive components. President Chang appeals to the industrial partners for concerning more about this issue and being well-prepared to make a response in advance.
