Forged by the Times: The Rise and Legacy of Taiwan aluminium Industry.

Japanese Occupation Period

Taiwan's extrusion industry began during the Japanese occupation. At that time, Japanese industry was in its infancy, creating a large demand for aluminium. Taiwan already possessed well-developed hydroelectric power facilities, sufficient to support the energy-intensive aluminium smelting industry. Furthermore, its geographical location was extremely advantageous, situated between Japan and the aluminium producing region of Southeast Asia (Indonesia). Therefore, with all these advantages, Taiwan became a major supplier of aluminium to Japanese industry. In 1935, Nippon Aluminium Co., Ltd. opened Taiwan's first extrusion and aluminium smelting plant in Kaohsiung, and added a second plant in Hualien in 1938. Its business mainly consisted of three categories: 1. aluminium oxide plant producing aluminized oxide; 2. Electrolysis plant producing aluminium ingots; 3. Rolling mill producing aluminium sheets. The two plants once produced 32,000 tons of aluminized oxide and 12,000 tons of virgin aluminium ingots annually, all of which were exported to Japan.

During the Nationalist Government Era

After the victory in the War of Resistance against Japan in 1945, the Nationalist government established the "Recovery Resources Committee" in Taiwan to take over the Japanese aluminium industry there. Therefore, the government established the "Preparatory Office of Taiwan aluminium Company" in 1946. Assessing that the Hualien plant was dilapidated due to air raids, floods, and other natural disasters, the government decided to close it. In 1949, the Kaohsiung plant was officially renamed "Taiwan aluminium Plant," which later became "Taiwan aluminium Company," and Mr. Sun Jing-hua was appointed chairman. Upon taking office, Chairman Sun Jing-hua implemented sweeping reforms. Besides leading Taiwan aluminium to continue producing aluminized oxide, aluminium ingots, and aluminium sheets, he also introduced the latest American technology and invested heavily in purchasing 800 tons and 1600 tons American-made extrusion presses. In addition, a processing department and an aluminium surface treatment plant were added for anodizing. The processing department was the predecessor of the Taiwan Doors and Windows Extrusion Plant.

Chairman Sun Jing-hua promoted Mr. Wang Sheng-shi, an employee of the original Hualien factory who had internship experience at Makro Corporation in the United States, to the position of factory manager of the processing department. During his tenure, Mr. Wang first introduced the new aluminium window manufacturing technology he had seen during his internship in the United States, developing the 690 horizontal sliding window series and the 380 sliding window series. He also led his team to receive technical guidance from Fujiya in Japan and made several trips to Japan for research. After returning to Taiwan, he pioneered manual processing, welding together raw materials before grinding and electroplating, developing Taiwan first aluminium doors and windows. His products were used in residential buildings and high-rises in Taiwan, and were also exported to Okinawa, Japan. He also promoted several influential figures in Taiwan's aluminium industry: Jiang Cong-hui, Yang Zhao-zhang, Lin Qi-cheng, and Wang Qi-ming.

In 1961, Mr. Li Hong-wen left his original company, "Pacific Cable Group," and established "China Electric Wire & Cable Company", introducing cable manufacturing technology from THE FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO.,LTD. of Japan. In 1966, an aluminium products factory was added, with a large investment in purchasing a 1250T Japanese Umi extrusion press to produce aluminium doors and windows, aluminium extrusions, and aluminium furniture. Mr. Jiang Cong-hui, a former executive of Taiwan aluminium, was appointed as the plant manager of the aluminium doors and windows and related aluminium extrusion plant; Mr. Lin Qi-cheng as the section chief of the aluminium extrusion plant; and Mr. Yang Zhao-zhang was in charge of the aluminium door and window processing plant, focusing on the development of aluminium related technologies. In addition, technical cooperation was established with FUJISASH CO. of Japan, absorbing aluminium product manufacturing technology. In 1969, Mr. Wang Sheng-shi of Taiwan aluminium was hired by Chunghwa Wire & Cable Company as the extrusion plant manager. Under Mr. Wang Sheng-shi's leadership, a technical exchange between Chunghwa and Fuji Electric Co. of Japan, was initiated lasting over ten years. The company introduced the special window types 701 single-action window series and 702 double-action window series. This window type pioneered the use of screw-jointed windows, eliminating the need for welding the raw materials together before grinding and electroplating, as was required for traditional windows. This innovation greatly improved the processing speed of the aluminium doors and windows industry.

In the same year, Mr. Hsu Lun and Mr. Huang Shun-tien of the steel industry established Ta Tung aluminium, and Mr. Chiang Tsung-hui and Mr. Yang Chao-chang went to work there. In 1973, the Rebar Group established an aluminium products department, and Mr. Wang Sheng-shih transferred to work there. From then on, Taiwan aluminium industry entered a period of tripartite competition between "Chung Hwa," "Ta Tung," and "Rebar."

Economic Takeoff Period

In 1985, China Steel Corporation took over the smelting and rolling equipment of Taiwan aluminium Corporation and established an aluminium products production department. Subsequently, China Steel aluminium Co., Ltd. was established. From the 1980s onwards, Taiwan's construction industry flourished, and dozens of aluminium companies of varying sizes were established from south to north. In the north, there were companies such as Cheng Shin, Yung Hsin, Mei Hwa, Shan Ren, and Tai Lien; in the south, there were companies such as Tung Hsin, Hsin Yuan, Wang Guan, Yuan Yi, and Wei Hsin, creating a competitive landscape. In the mid-1990s, industrial extrusion emerged as a major trend in Taiwan aluminium industry, and aluminium products gradually expanded from building materials to other types, such as heat sinks and bicycle bodies. With numerous manufacturers vying for a share of the lucrative aluminium door and window market, profit margins have diminished, leading some companies to gradually shift to other industrial extrusion manufacturing. Few companies remain truly focused on and dedicated to the aluminium door and window market.

Chiang Tsung-hui

Born January 12, 1915, he graduated first in his class from the Mechanical Engineering Department of Taipei Industrial School (later changed name to National Taipei University of Technology). In 1936, he joined the founding office of Nippon Aluminium Co., Ltd. and was assigned to the Electrochemical Laboratory of the Central Research Institute of the Taiwan Governor-General's Office to research aluminium smelting. The following year, he joined the factory's technical design department, participating in the construction of the Kaohsiung and Hualien plants. During Taiwan's retrocession, he assisted the Taiwan Electrometallurgical Industry Takeover Committee of the Ministry of Economic Affairs in taking over Nippon Aluminium Co., Ltd., Toho Metal Corporation, and Taiwan Asbestos Corporation. After the takeover was completed, he returned to Taiwan aluminium Co., Ltd. to work on aluminium extrusion and aluminium door and window development. He retired in 1965 after 29 years of service. In 1969, he was invited to jointly establish Ta Tung aluminium Co., Ltd., where he served for 14 years, responsible for building aluminium extrusion and aluminium door and window production lines, training personnel, establishing management systems, and producing high quality aluminium doors and windows. He retired from the position of deputy general manager in 1983, having worked in the aluminium industry for a total of 47 years. His life had a profound impact on Taiwan aluminium industry. He passed away on February 16, 2013, at the age of 98.

Wang Chi-ming

Born in 1926, graduated from the 61st Arsenal of the Japanese Navy. He joined Taiwan aluminium Co., Ltd. in 1951, later rising to the position of product designer in the processing plant. In 1957, he was sent to the U.S. Air Force base in Okinawa to supervise the construction of aluminium products for U.S. military housing. He was seconded to Okinawa in 1963 for the second phase of the project, successfully completing both assignments independently. In 1965, he joined Chung Hwa aluminium Doors and Windows, and during his tenure, he went to Japan to study Fujiya's aluminium door and window technology. After retiring, he moved to southern Taiwan and joined Hsin Yuan aluminium Co., Ltd. as a plant manager. In 1985, he became an advisor to Wang Guan aluminium Co., Ltd., assisting in the production of standard products.

Lin Chi-cheng

Graduated from the Department of Materials Science at National Cheng Kung University. He previously served as an engineer at Taiwan aluminium Co., Ltd., section chief, deputy general manager, and engineer at the aluminium extrusion plant of Chung Hwa Wire & Cable Co., Ltd., and executive vice president of Atlantic Beverages Co., Ltd. He is currently an advisor to Chung Hwa Wire & Cable Co., Ltd.