Media reports on companies invested by the TAYA Group:Air Cool Industrial focuses on R&D quality to create an invisible champion in global ceiling fans (Reported by Global Views Monthly)
2021/09/01
Air Cool Industrial focuses on R&D quality to create an invisible champion in global ceiling fans
Text / Yeh, Ya-Wei
Air Cool Industrial was founded in 1975 with an aim to address the needs of ceiling fan manufacturers in Europe and the United States. It subsequently conquered the US ceiling fan market with its high quality motors and sophisticated technology. Moreover, by virtue of its patented technology and its honesty and goodwill, the company has secured a position as a leader in export manufacturing. Today, its business map spans five continents, allowing every corner of the world to feel the elegance of the light of Taiwan.
Stepping out of the elevator of the Air Cool Industrial Building, one’s attention is exquisitely drawn to the appearance of grace and tranquility imparted by the bright European-style corridor and meeting space, where an elegant ceiling fan slowly rotates as it is suspended from the ceiling. “Ceiling fans in the international market are divided into decorative and functional types. The former is dominated by Europe and the United States, while the latter are mostly from India, Southeast Asia, and other countries. The American market alone accounts for 60% of decorative ceiling fans worldwide, and Air Cool holds a US market share of 30%.” Over the past 46 years, the company has locked in the export market for tabletop fans and ceiling fans. With its continuous upgrading of perfect functions and streamlined appearances, it sits firmly in the leading position. The President of Air Cool Industrial, Mr. Chen Hung-Wei, appears confident.
“At that time, Fengyuan in Taiwan could be said to be ‘the world’s most important fan factory.’ Yet now the branches and leaves are grown, propping up the sky everywhere.” Chen Hung-Wei discussed the manufacturing origins of Air Cool Industrial, as it started out in Fengyuan and set down deep roots in Tanzi; it could be described as “hard power” spanning three generations. In the 1960s, Taiwan’s industrial manufacturing was in its heyday. At that time, Mr. Chen Kun-Lung, the grandfather of Chen Hung-Wei and founder of Yuan Long Machinery Co., began to invest in the manufacturing of tabletop fans and standing fans. The first cooperating manufacturer was Ta Ya Electric Wire & Cable. Over the past 60 years of cooperation between the two sides, the products provided by Ta Ya have always been above standard; and as a consequence, this too has led to an intertwining of the two companies’ fates for over half a century. In 1975, European and US manufacturers were seeking OEM services for ceiling fans in Taiwan. Chen Kun-Lung directed his sixth son, Mr. Chen Shan-Wan, to found Air Cool Industrial, and in this way it launched its ceiling fan export business.
The key to stable and powerful ceiling fan motors is pure copper, high-quality enameled wire/strong>
Amid a wave of opening ties across the Taiwan Strait, Air Cool moved its factories to mainland China in 1995. It still insisted on choosing materials from Ta Ya Electric Wire & Cable; even though the cost of shipping from Taiwan was high, this was the key to superior quality. This also formed one of the very powerful bargaining chips it had in the process of negotiating with customers. “Almost all Air Cool suppliers have been partners for 20 or 30 years. The key is to trust each other. Only by understanding each other’s difficulties and discussing market trends can we go a long way.” Representing the third generation, Chen Hung-Wei believes that Air Cool shares the same beliefs as Ta Ya. Reliable partners are an asset to innovation in the pursuit of constantly evolving market demand. This is essential to Air Cool creating the world’s first UL-certified DC brushless motor ceiling fan, as well as the first LED ceiling fan light in the United States and the first minimalist outdoor plastic ceiling fan in that market.
“Two elements are required for a high-quality ceiling fan: quiet without any abnormal noise, and stability without shaking.” Chen Hung-Wei said that whether one is sleeping or working, continuous noise from a ceiling fan can easily affect quality of life. Meanwhile, a tottering ceiling fan will make people afraid it will fall. To avoid these situations, the ceiling fan’s “motor” is critical. “Take, for example, the enameled wire provided by Ta Ya Electric Wire & Cable for use in DC motors, which is made of pure copper. Through the continuous winding of three long enameled wires, the motor can operate quietly and powerfully; it does not heat up or shake easily, and it is safe and stable. In addition to providing efficient quality control for ceiling fans, this also allows consumers to use them with energy savings and peace of mind.” By likening them to a “heart” and “blood vessels,” Chen Hung-Wei specifically illustrates the close relationship between the motor and the enameled wires, which together form the core technology of ceiling fans.
Under the impact of the pandemic, attention is paid to air circulation and circulating ventilation for the sake of pandemic prevention. Air Cool’s ceiling fan business has grown contrary to the overall trend and orders have surged. The supply of raw materials will also face a large demand for output in a short period of time. Such fluctuations bring even greater challenges to suppliers, but TAYA Group has always delivered on schedule and is very trustworthy. In order to chase goods, industry participants occasionally seek out a supplier’s boss for direct communication and coordination. However, under the tacit cooperation between Air Cool and Ta Ya, problems can usually be solved optimally by simply explaining matters to the responsible window of contact. Chen Hung-Wei believes that the reputation of Ta Ya’s time-honored brand can still provide stable quality materials in line with delivery dates at those moments when raw materials are not easy to obtain. The revolutionary sentiment is self-evident, and this is also the primary reason why Air Cool has long designated Ta Ya as its sole supplier of enameled wire.
Practicing corporate sustainability: energy saving and environmental protection, environmental friendliness, and giving back to education
In response to the global trend of energy saving and carbon reduction, Air Cool Industry began to focus on the development and application of brushless DC motors in 1997. In addition to its breakthrough growth in annual revenue, it has also gradually expanded the implementation of corporate sustainability concepts. This has included the replacement of styrofoam with paper tray packaging. After eight months of research and development, testing support and so on, and in view of the high cost of paper, internal communication has been even more indispensable. At the same time, in order to better implement environmental protection, factory equipment has added waste disposal, wastewater treatment, and so on, for the sake of friendliness to the local environment. From Yuan Long Machinery to Air Cool Industry, three generations of businesses have been deeply involved in the Tanzi area. In order to encourage learning among local children, Air Cool cooperates with Toujia Elementary School to provide prizes for competitions such as speeches every year. It also donates to the “Air Cool Library” to allow children to read and experience culture closely. Chen Hung-Wei often participates in the activities of Toujia Elementary School in the hope of contributing to the education of the local area’s upcoming generation.
With the advent of Industry 4.0, Air Cool Industry’s ceiling fans have also shifted from large-scale manufacturing to small-scale diversification. In doing so, it has enhanced its design power to create works that subvert industry preconceptions. To better meet the needs of modern life, it must make the “big ceiling fan smaller.” It will be a new challenge to make a small but powerful motor in line with the trend of the times. In particular, upgrading the development of automation levels will be inevitable given manpower shortages in the industry. Enameled wire production shall change to automatic processing by winding machines. As a result, quality must be more rigorous in order to truly save time and effort while fully exploiting automation efficiency. Chen Hung-Wei indicates that with a small number of diverse manufacturing processes, only three ceiling fans with unique functions or appearances might be made in one day. Enameled wires of different specifications must be used, and the wires must be changed frequently, which is more difficult in technology, quality control, and component materials.
“By continuously innovating to stay close to the needs of our customers, we hope that the entire supply chain can be improved together.” As IOU family integrated management technology gradually matures, Air Cool Industry’s product line is not only diversified, but also aligns with the trend of green energy and intelligent control in terms of both function and aesthetics. As partners of sixty years, Chen Hung-Wei expects that Air Cool and Ta Ya can keep up with the times and reinvent the ceiling fan market with their sophisticated craftsmanship.
Original source: https://www.gvm.com.tw/article/81917