A wide range of components such as screws, nuts, and rivets are collectively referred to as fasteners, and this industry has been well developed in Taiwan for over six decades and, at present, ranks second in terms of output among Taiwanese metalwork product industries. Following its rise in recent years, Mainland China has seized a larger share of the opportunities in the global fastener market with its low labor costs, which has greatly impacted the Taiwanese fastener industry. In an effort to improve our fastener industry, the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) is now providing guidance in the research and development of high-value aircraft fasteners.
The scale of the global aircraft fastener market is approximately USD$ 8 billion, and products include aircraft grade rivets, bolts, screws, and other items. According to Boeing, one 747 aircraft requires approximately 3 million fasteners, and one 767 needs 1,800,000 fasteners, while the new 787 uses 500 thousand titanium alloy fasteners. These products must have a long life cycle. In addition, the aircraft production process is complicated. Safety and durability are essential for these reasons. All components must undergo rigorous certification and testing before being utilized in the international aircraft production supply chain. Furthermore, manufacturers that have passed the certification process are guaranteed lucrative long-term profits without having to cut prices due to competition.
Aircraft fasteners are many times more valuable than general-purpose fasteners. For example, metal bolts used for general purposes are priced at approximately NTD$ 70 per kilogram, while those used on aircrafts can be as high as NTD$ 900 per kilogram. IDB is undertaking various projects to assist the Taiwanese fastener industry in gaining market share in the aircraft industry. It has invited America’s Boeing to assist Taiwanese companies by providing special production certification and relevant know-hows such as production technologies for advanced aircraft fasteners, surface treatment, heat treatment, and non-destructive testing. These measures are expected to assist Taiwanese producers in joining the exclusive line-up of international aircraft fastener suppliers. San Shing and Ying Ming have received trial orders, and they are anticipated to produce fasteners used for aircraft’s structural components and cabin interior products.
While our fastener industry has already penetrated the aircraft manufacturing, there is still room for improvement in terms of self-sufficiency in material supplies, quality control systems, and special manufacturing certification. In the future, IDB will continue to assist fastener manufacturers in more rapidly establishing aircraft quality system and special manufacturing certification, in addition to facilitating transfers of key technologies and reaching out to the international market, thereby enabling Taiwanese fastener manufacturers to become a major player in the global aviation industry.