Hota Industrial
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Nvidia eyes Taiwan for humanoid robot assembly; supply chain gaps remain
Taiwanese manufacturers have advanced significantly in component production, though complete system development remains underdeveloped. Hiwin and Main Drive Corp. stand out as two of the few Taiwanese firms capable of mass-producing harmonic reducers. Hiwin has supplied components for Boston Dynamics’ BigDog and is partnering with US firms to develop logistics robots. Meanwhile, Main Drive is transitioning from reducers to joint modules, targeting the collaborative robot (cobot) market with subsystem innovations. These advancements are crucial in bolstering Taiwan’s robotics ecosystem.
Analysts cited by Money.udn.com suggest that Nvidia’s potential Taiwanese supply chain for robotics could involve Main Drive (a subsidiary of Mirle Automation) and Hiwin for harmonic reducers, Apex Dynamics and Turvo International for planetary reducers, and Chieftek Precision and Hiwin Mikrosystem for linear motors.
Reportedly, key targets also include Hota Industrial Mfg., Ace Pillar, and Solomon Technology, focusing on humanoid and specialized robots. Insiders predict that plans could materialize by 2025, followed by certifications, paving the way for a Taiwan-US robotics supply chain.