Taiwan’s Smart Machinery Ecosystem at SIMTOS 2026
In 2026, the Department of International Trade Administration (DITA), Ministry of Economic Affairs, kicked off the Smart Machinery Overseas Promotion Program in Korea as the Seoul International Manufacturing Technology Show (SIMTOS) opened in grand style. April in Korea is the romantic cherry blossom season, and the Taiwan pavilion drew crowds and attention—blooming as brightly as the blossoms outside the venue. Even the procurement team from Korean industry leader Doosan (DN) was attracted to the Taiwan delegation for business discussions, an inspiring highlight of the show. After several years of global economic fluctuations, the exhibition floor in Korea felt filled with a strong, springlike momentum—signaling a recovery-ready market.
Breaking Away from Going Solo: Taiwan’s Ecosystem Makes a Strong Debut
The program’s execution team—Precision Machinery Research & Development Center (PMC)—brought DITA resources to help the industry feel the government’s backing. This time, Taiwan did not fight an individual battle; instead, it showcased the collective strength Taiwan is most proud of. A prime 72-square-meter area was secured on the show floor to set up the “Taiwan Image Zone,” themed around the “Smart Machinery Value-Chain Ecosystem.” Ten representative companies—Kao Ming, Jian He, New Tiger, Jing Qin, Jiachun, Comp, Jing Jie, Syntec, OI Pump, and Chibin—presented a complete chain of capabilities to international buyers, spanning the “computing brain” (controllers), “power-transmission joints,” “cooling vessels,” and “end processing.”
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On the second day of the show, a press conference was held at the Taiwan Image Zone. Representatives from four major Taiwanese industry associations—the Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders’ Association (TMBA), Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI), Precision Machinery Development Association (CMD), and Taiwan Fluid Power Association (TFPA)—gathered to jointly endorse the Taiwan brand. Exhibitors also unveiled standout technologies: Kao Ming demonstrated integrated friction stir welding (FSW) solutions for machine tools; Jian He presented a high-precision grinding solution addressing key pain points; Comp launched a high-performance roller-cam automation system; Jing Jie showcased a new zero-backlash planetary gear design; HIWIN featured high-load linear guideways and dust-resistant self-lubrication technology; and OI Pump proposed innovative pump solutions for both machine tools and data centers. Cross-industry momentum-building under the TAIWAN brand spotlighted complementary Taiwan–Korea partnerships and delivered comprehensive solutions to meet Korean market needs—showing media and buyers the unity of Taiwan’s industry.
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Influencer Marketing with Local Reach: Bringing Traffic and Business Opportunities to Traditional Industries
Korea is a relatively closed market, and breaking out of the “echo chamber” is not easy. This time, we invited a Korea-based YouTuber specializing in the machinery industry (The Tech) to conduct fast-paced on-site interviews with our exhibitors in both Korean and English—using truly local Korean to attract buyers to stop by. We also produced short-form videos tailored to buyer viewing habits; within one week of posting, views surpassed 2,500. Participating companies watched the videos and happily said, “It’s me! With a professional influencer’s boost, we gained much more visibility!” For the team, that was the best moment—companies focus on products and technology, and the Smart Machinery Overseas Promotion Program helps amplify their reach.
Frontline Insights: Embracing AI and Finding Breakthrough Opportunities
When pursuing orders overseas, it is essential to know both the customer and the competition. This year’s SIMTOS theme was “AI-driven autonomous manufacturing and the collision of talent.” PMC observed that Korea’s four major machine tool giants (DN Solutions, Hwacheon, SMEC, and Hyundai WIA) have embraced AI technologies across the board. Beyond showcasing Digital Twin and anti-collision simulation, they also proposed solutions targeting rigid-demand sectors such as semiconductor machining and defense manufacturing—making Korea’s machine tool export strength a formidable competitive force.
As Kao Fong’s Deputy General Manager You shared a strategic key message: “To catch the thief, first catch the ringleader—win over benchmark customers to truly enter the Korean market.” Facing both the technological pressure from Japanese and German brands and the challenges of Korean local protectionism, the execution team distilled two key entry points for Taiwan from in-depth discussions at the show. First is a customized niche for large gantry machines. While Taiwan and Korea compete fiercely in mid-to-low-end models, Korea lacks the capacity for customized large gantry solutions—an area where Taiwanese manufacturers hold a clear advantage. Second is the high flexibility of components and a co-exhibition strategy. As Korea’s semiconductor and electronics industries continue to expand, components enjoy broad application scenarios and fewer constraints, enabling faster market penetration than complete machines. At this show, Jiachun and Comp demonstrated an effective co-exhibition approach: Jiachun supplies key roller-cam bearings to Comp, and as Comp’s worktables sell strongly in Korea, Jiachun’s business grows in parallel—perfectly illustrating the multiplier effect of supply-chain collaboration.
According to feedback from local Korean agents, while the broader environment is still adjusting, Korea’s machine tool market is expected to see noticeable growth in about two years. Taiwan’s high-quality component manufacturers will be well positioned to find substantial complementary collaboration opportunities in this recovery cycle. DITA and the PMC team will continue to stand firmly behind the industry, and we look forward to working together at upcoming key exhibitions to capture fruitful business opportunities.
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