9/2/2009
HEADLINES
Unlike ’94, Taiwan Fastener Makers Largely Untouched By Latest Typhoon
In the wake of the worst typhoon to hit the island of Taiwan in nearly five decades, local fastener producers have able to resume production with minimal damage to their facilities.
Typhoon Morakot swamped Taiwan with 83 inches of rain, killed an estimated 500 people. The storm wreaked havoc on the central and southern regions of the island, but fasteners factories are mainly located in Kangshan area that was only slightly impacted, with damage limited to mild flooding.
“I am happy to inform you that Taiwan fastener factories have suffered very little by the typhoon,” XL Screw purchasing director Jikyoon Park told FIN. “Most of the severe damage and heavy flooding area are located more country side area in Ping-tong and Tainan counties, away from most of our suppliers are located.”
One supplier in Tai-nan area had minor flood damage, limited to soggy packing cartons and pallets. Another factory in Chau-tao also reported flooding.
XL Screw’s socket screw supplier suffered the heaviest damage, with the bottom floor of the factory briefly under water. There is some damage to machinery, but the supplier is expected to resume production within the next month.
Importer Heads and Threads International said damage to the majority of its strategic suppliers was minimal, with many reported no damage from the storm.
“HTI is expecting a maximum 1 week delay with some shipments, but that is due to slight problems at the container yards, not at the factories,” HTI’s Joe Peplinksi told FIN.
The typhoon also hit China, but damage was limited to an area where there are no fasteners exporting factories.
In 1994 four typhoons and resulting floods temporarily cut the export of fasteners and other products from Taiwan, the September 28, 1994, issue of Fastener Industry News reported.
From the middle of July 1994 to the end of August the typhoons caused flood waters. It was rated the worst typhoon season in 70 years.
Among the areas hardest hit was Kang Shan, the headquarters of the Taiwan fastener industry.
Kang Shan was surrounded by flood waters twice in one week.
The typhoons created a shortage of imported fasteners – mostly small screws.
In several cases fastener manufacturers may have not been shut down, but the platers or heat treaters they use were. In one case, the carton manufacturer was flooded.
Fastener exports from Taiwan had been running at a record level in January 1994 and for the year were running 20% over 1993. ©2009 GlobalFastenerNews.com
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