Market trends and business perspectives
by Mai Tao
Foxconn boss Terry Gou has reiterated his commitment to building a multi-million-dollar factory in Mount Pleasant, in the US state of Wisconsin.
The chairman of Foxconn, which is better known as Hon Hai Precision in its native Taiwan, met with US President Donald Trump at the White House earlier this week.
After the meeting, media reports suggested that Foxconn will make additional investments in the Wisconsin facility.
Read moreCNBCby Mai Tao
Foxconn boss Terry Gou has confirmed that he is considering running for president in Taiwan’s general election next year, according to the South China Morning Post.
“I will decide in the next two days whether to run for president,” Gou told reporters at a seminar in Taipei earlier today. “I hardly slept last night thinking of the future of Taiwan and its security issues.”
He added that the 2020 presidential election will be “extremely critical in determining Taiwan’s future in the next 20 years in the political, defense and economic sectors”. [Read more…] about Foxconn boss Terry Gou considers automating the entire population of Taiwan
by Sam Francis
Sharp is in talks to buy Toshiba’s personal computer business, according to a report on the Reuters website.
Sharp is owned by Foxconn, which is the main contract manufacturer to, and makes iPhones and iPads for, Apple.
Toshiba, meanwhile, has been looking to sell some of its assets to see itself through a difficult financial situation. [Read more…] about Sharp in talks to buy Toshiba’s computer business
by Sam Francis
Hon Hai Precision, better known as Foxconn, is planning to invest $4 billion into increasing the amount of robotics and automation technology used in its factories, according to a report on Nikkei.
The business news website says Foxconn’s profits are coming under pressure because of rising labour costs.
Foxconn, a Taiwan-headquartered company with extensive operations in China and around the world, is the main contract manufacturing partner for Apple, and makes the US tech giant’s iPhones and other devices. [Read more…] about Foxconn to invest $4 billion in new robotics and automation technology
by Sam Francis
2018 looks all set to be a bumper year for sales of industrial robot arms across all categories – from the large, heavyweight class right down to the small desktop variety.
With established robot makers expanding their range, and with new startups launching innovative new models, the market is more dynamic than ever.
Oversupply may be a problem going forward, especially as Chinese robot manufacturers step up their production, but even including the new companies entering the market, the number of industry-standard robot makers worldwide is relatively small. [Read more…] about 30 industrial robot manufacturers to watch
by Mai Tao
A Chinese startup company called Megvii has developed an industrial robot for Foxconn to use in its smartphone manufacturing operations.
Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision, is the main supplier to Apple, making iPhones and iPads for the tech giant.
Foxconn is also said to be the world’s largest contract manufacturer, employing a massive 1.3 million people and generating revenues in excess of $136 billion a year. [Read more…] about Chinese startup develops industrial robot for Foxconn for smartphone manufacturing
by Sam Francis
Apple suppliers “continue to struggle with low yield rate” because the smartphone giant is integrating advanced technologies, requiring investment in new and expensive manufacturing processes, which affect the suppliers’ profit margins, according to Nikkei.
Apple is planning to launch its $1,000-dollar iPhone X to consumers in the coming months, but the new device includes functions not found in other phones, which is requiring manufacturers to change their processes and invest in new equipment.
Among the features in Apple’s high-end iPhone X will be facial recognition and organic light-emitting diode screens, both of which are new technologies and not found in current Apple devices. [Read more…] about Apple manufacturing partners ‘struggle with low yield rate’
The legal battle between Qualcomm and Apple may portend the future direction of car technology.
Qualcomm says Apple manufacturers are not paying the correct amount of money for the chipmaker’s intellectual property the iPhone maker is licensing – basically they’re not paying anything.
The lower, or absent, payments probably account for Qualcomm’s patent licensing business falling 42 per cent this year, according to CNBC. [Read more…] about Qualcomm and Apple’s legal battle may indicate the future of cars, as Foxconn looks to build driverless tech factory
by Sam Francis
Foxconn says the expansion is the first in a series of investments in the United States
Foxconn says it will invest $10 billion over the next four years to build a liquid crystal display panel manufacturing facility in Wisconsin.
Foxconn, a Taiwanese company also known as Hon Hai Precision, says the new facility will be a “state-of-the-art” plant and part of its “intelligent manufacturing ecosystem”.
Foxconn is one of the world’s largest electronics manufacturing services providers, and makes iPhones and other devices for Apple.
The investment, which is believed to be the largest new greenfield investment made by a foreign-based company in US history, will create 3,000 jobs with the potential to grow to 13,000 new jobs in that state. [Read more…] about Foxconn to build $10 billion manufacturing plant in Wisconsin as part of massive expansion plan in US
by Sam Francis
President Donald Trump says Apple CEO Tim Cook has committed to building “three big manufacturing plants in the US”, according to a report on the Wall Street Journal website.
In an interview with the business and investment newspaper, Trump is reported to have said: “I spoke to [Cook], he’s promised me three big plants – big, big, big.
“I said you know, Tim, unless you start building your plants in this country, I won’t consider my administration an economic success. He called me, and he said they are going forward.” [Read more…] about Apple to build three ‘big, big, big’ manufacturing plants in the US, claims Trump
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