By Joy Wu, editor of Worldwide Services Co., Ltd.

 

The TOPKEY group is a pioneer in composite materials with over 37 years of research experience. Since their chairman, Walter Shen, started the company in 1980, they have been actively participating on the new trend development within the industry. Through the PLASCOM TAIWAN show, the TOPKEY will again present their new composite products and hope to establish a bilateral exchange platform of knowledge during the show.   Live Everyday on Innovative DNA Different companies pursue different core values. At TOPKEY, “Innovation” plays a key role to their everyday strategy planning and research. TOPKEY stepped courageously into the carbon fiber business in its early stage of founding company’s business. At that time, the carbon fiber was yet a highly emphasized material as today, but TOPKEY was already envisioning its future with unlimited potential. Also, in breaking through the situation at that time where most of the composite materials in the market were being controlled by a single supplier in Taiwan, TOPKEY as a new company decided to self-develop all the formulas and materials required for manufacturing composites. These self-developed composite materials resulted in a lower pricing and helped set TOPKEY to the right path for expansion in worldwide supply market.   Pre-preparation for Future Strategy TOPKEY has remained consistent on researching for advancing new carbon fiber materials and increasing their production capability in the global-scale competition. With a new factory open-up in Xiamen China, TOPKEY’s production has been able to sufficiently supply the needs from the global tennis brands since 1980s. Later on, when more than half of the Taiwan manufacturers were shrinking or even shutting down their businesses, TOPKEY had taken place as the leading carbon fiber tennis racket supplier in the world. But, they were not stopping there; instead, they moved toward their next stage of new development and aimed for researching and producing for cycling industry and aviation industry. “The many years of experiences have shown me the limit of developing only within tennis industry” shared by Walter.

In the recent years, TOPKEY has cut into supplying parts for aviation, medical robotics, automotive, and drone aircraft, and they even developed for environmental-friendly products. These new developments are all countable for high value-added and circular economy-themed production and matching to the “Super Value & Total Solutions” topic at PLASCOM TAIWAN 2017 show.

 

Aviation Is the Key

During the interview, TOPKEY spokesman, Alan Chen, mentioned the key for composite industry development in next 5 years will possibly be in aviation industry. 22 years ago, TOPKEY procured an USA-based composite company, the Composite Solutions Corp., which has successfully built new connection for TOPKEY and transformed them to supplying for aerospace-grade composite materials for aviation interior and structural parts. Also, since TOPKEY could retrieve the most up-to-date technology, equipment, and trends within the aviation industry, these information also elaborate clients’ trust on TOPKEY production quality. For instance, the industry like cycling and helmet manufacturing both emphasize highly on user safety and TOPKEY’s aviation-grade safety requirement will definitely match to these industries requests. In short, TOPKEY top quality supply produces a great advantage for building their leading supplier position in the composite industry. Showcasing at PLASCOM TAIWAN: the light weight smart trolley & satellite panel

 

Light weight smart trolley

The gasoline has been one of the top costs for airline service companies. To reduce on its expense, the aircraft builders have been pursuing more applications of light weight materials. The composite materials can deliver lighter weight and withstand stronger impact comparable to metal products. Therefore, the food trolley that is essential on all aircrafts becomes a good choice to be made with composite materials. For TOPKEY’s new presentation on their food trolley, it replaces the traditional aluminum alloy with high-end industrial-grade PP and produces a 15% less on weight. Nonetheless, this trolley is equipped with better insulation for holding both cold or hot food and even installed with a smart tracking system and smart lock that allows fly attendants to easily keep track on the storing condition and serving update at all times.

 

Satellite panel

While this new product has now been going through some examinations, it is expected to be incorporated onto the next generation of satellite in order to fight off an even fierce using condition in outer space. This also presents TOPKEY’s capability in joining high-end ODM alongside the advanced manufacturing industry.

 

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