SHERIDAN, WYOMING – July 11, 2024 –Taiwan's leading companies that received the Taiwan Excellence Award wowed visitors with groundbreaking innovations such as high-resolution art displays and a Bluetooth headset that doubles as a portable air purifier at the Taiwan Expo held in June in Berlin. In exclusive interviews, the exhibiting companies provide further insights into their new products:
Gary Yang, Managing Director, Sauber Technology Ltd.
Eric Liu, Technical Project Manager, AUO Corporation
Elaine Lin, Senior Manager, ible Technology Inc.
Julian Schubert, Product Manager Gadgets & New Business, Acer
Could you give us a short overview of your company and your innovations?
Gary Yang: “We develop products very closely in line with the needs and wishes of consumers - because they provide us with the best qualitative input that encourages us to develop pragmatic solutions to their wishes and problems. The art here is to be able to listen very carefully and to filter recurring, similar feedback and condense it into an opinion that forms the basis for our solution-oriented tasks.”
Eric Liu: “Founded in 1996, AUO operates in Asia, the US and Europe with a close-knit global team of 38,000 employees. We are a technology-driven company that is passionate about pushing the boundaries of technology. We are the world's leading innovator in display technologies and solutions, for automotive/mobility, retail, education, enterprise, manufacturing, medical, energy, and new in FindARTs.”
Elaine Lin: “Of course, ible is an IoT & Wearable Device company and we are focus on innovating solutions for houses. So the product we bring this time to the Taiwan Expo is a wearable Air Purifier solution. The latest one is Airvida E1. This is a noise cancelling ear phone combining with a wearable air purifier solution. When you are listening to the music at the same time you will purifing the air in your facial area. Especially here in Germany the air is very clean but during the season the people may suffering from the pollen allergy.”
Which product won the Taiwan Excellence Award?
Yang (Sauber): “This is theFLAT™ Picture Frame Air Purifier. It is a revolutionary air purifier that combines art and technology. This elegant, 9 cm thin photo frame not only beautifies the walls, but also purifies the air silently around the clock. Equipped with patented aerodynamic technology and ClogSense™ to detect air volume decrease, FLAT™ ensures optimal performance with its long-lasting filter and smart app integration to monitor air quality in real time. It also lets you enjoy crystal-clear sound via the integrated Bluetooth speakers. FLAT™ offers the future of air purification and combines innovation with elegance.”
Liu (AUO): “It is the High Fidelity ART (Advanced Reflectionless Technology) display, which we market under the FindARTs brand. ART Display delivers sophisticated color reproduction technology and a cloud-encrypted platform for originals, simultaneously preserving authenticity and facilitating the build-up of channels for artworks. Our clients have included off-site art curation for museums, galleries, VIP rooms, ART wall design for hotels, commercial offices, and custom-made artworks for prolific art collectors.”
Lin (ible): “Actually we have won the Taiwan Excellence Award twice in continuing years. It is the series of the Airvida M1 and E1. Here at the Expo we are presenting the new T1.”
What makes being awarded with the Taiwan Excellence Award so important?
Yang (Sauber): “For us, the award is both recognition and the reward for years of hard work. The award of this recognized label is also a kind of certification for us, which enables us to gain recognition and acceptance in order to gain a foothold in new markets. For our target customers, the "Taiwan Excellence Award" label is a quality award that makes it easier for us to be recognized, build lasting trust and document product quality. It is somewhat similar to "TÜV-certified" in Germany, although the TÜV label is clearly more widely known and accepted.“
Liu (AUO): “The recognition by the Taiwan Excellence Award is a testament to the results of our innovative thinking in various applications, including advanced displays, intelligent cockpits, energy and smart healthcare, and a reflection of our remarkable strength in continuously creating market value within our core competencies. Moreover, the success reflects AUO's leading position and great influence in the global market.“
Lin (ible): “First of all the most important thing is the exposure. Getting this award it gives us many opportunities to expose on expos like the Taiwan Expo and getting also the chance to participate on the IFA as well.“
Since the TAIWAN EXPO´s motto is “Digital horizon, Green tomorrow”, what is your company´s approach on sustainability?
Liu (AUO): “AUO firmly believes that the sustainability of a company requires a balanced development in economy, environment and society. Therefore, we continuously invest resources and efforts in the six essential aspects - corporate governance, environmental sustainability, scientific education, cultural preservation, social participation and friendly workplaces.“
Lin (ible): “Because we are focusing on the wearable air purifier products, we are considered to offer consumer electronics. So it is quiet very important, that for example the packaging and also the production to make it very green. Saving up the power by using recyclable material it’s also very important.“
How do you differentiate your products or brand from other competitors?
Lin (ible): “I think because first of all we are very specialized in developing indoor solutions for houses and second we would like to build up a solution that is very well designed and wearable. Because when people are wearing a device it must be something very pretty. It is also important to ensure the performance of quality.“
Who are the main target consumers for your highlight product?
Yang (Sauber): “The target customers are located in both the B2B and B2C sectors. In the B2B sector, wherever many people come together in enclosed spaces, e.g. in surgeries, clinics, hospitals, companies with offices, universities, schools, nurseries, commercial outlets, restaurants, retailers, etc. In the B2C sector, we primarily address people who, due to their individual dispositions, may attach great importance to good, purified air in their immediate living environment - e.g. in their home.“
Liu (AUO): “These include museums, galleries, VIP rooms, the design of art walls in hotels and business premises as well as customized works of art for successful art collectors.“
Lin (ible): “In the European Market we are especially for people who have allergy issues. We want that our solutions are helping them to reduce the allergy especially in the pollen season.“
What are the most important markets for you?
Liu (AUO): “At the moment, we are only represented with this product on the Taiwanese market. But we also want to enter the European market. The approvals for this are underway and we hope to have the certification for this by the end of 2024.“
What made you decide to participate in this event? What is your expectation for becoming a part of it?
Yang (Sauber): “In view of the fact that we want to drive forward our market entry in Europe, participation in this trade fair is very important for us to present ourselves and our product to the interested public. We also hope that the influencers who visited us at the Taiwan Excellence Pavilion stand will raise our profile. Samantha Abdul in particular was a very welcome guest at our stand.“
Liu (AUO): “Given that we are planning to enter the European market, participating in this trade fair is very important for us to present ourselves and our product. And it is of course an honor for us to be able to exhibit at the Taiwan Excellence pavilion.“
Acer, a company primarily known for IT hardware such as computers, laptops and gaming products, is suddenly going mobile. Why?
Julian Schubert: “Basically, our mission is to make things possible for our customers. That's why we would like to take the Acer brand, originally based on classic hardware, onto the road and fundamentally want to promote mobility. The green approach has always been in our DNA. That's why we now also want to start with eScooters and eBikes.“
What distinguishes Acer eBikes and eScooters from other companies' products?
Schubert (Acer): “To start with the eScooters: On the one hand, we have the advantage that, from a German perspective, we are directly on site in Ahrensburg with the Care Center. In other words, since these scooters have been around, our people have been familiar with these products. This enables us to offer the end customer the best possible service as soon as they have a problem.“
Prices are always a key factor when it comes to eMobility. What is the situation with Acer's eScooters and eBikes?
Schubert (Acer): “Let's just stick with the eScooters. There is the classic entry-level scooter, which is divided into different categories according to motor and battery power. With the Advance Scooters I, III and V, we are positioned in three different categories. With the 1 series, we serve the classic entry level, where we are at 299 euros. In the 3 series, we are then at around 499 euros and the 5 series is a more comprehensive product that covers everything a scooter needs. Here we are at 699 euros.“
What about the range?
Schubert (Acer): “Very different. The 5 Series scooter has a range of up to 60/65 kilometers. The one-series has a much lower battery performance of 20 kilometers. The 3 Series is positioned pretty much in the middle with 30 to 40 kilometers. This also always depends on how hilly or mountainous a route is.“
How important is the Taiwan Expo for Acer in this context?
Schubert (Acer): “We are of course delighted to be represented here and to see what other opportunities there are. The inspiration and exchange - the people who come here and give us feedback are particularly important in the German market. In this new business, it is important for us to exchange experiences. Our Taiwanese colleagues give us a lot of tips.“
The scooters and bikes have not yet been approved for the European market. When do you expect this to happen?
Schubert (Acer): “As product manager for this area, I can say that we are very, very close. The launch will take place very soon this year.“
Taiwan Excellence Awards were established in 1993 by the Ministry of Economic Affairs to recognize and celebrate the great achievements of Taiwan's most innovative companies. Each year, eligible candidates go through a rigorous selection process that assesses their products based on four important factors: research and development, design, quality, and marketing. A diverse group of experts carefully selects outstanding brands which excel in sustainability, design, research, and development, identifying exceptional products that embody innovation.
The Taiwan Excellence mark has gained global recognition as a prestigious symbol of quality and design, effectively showcasing Taiwan's impressive product innovation. For more information, please visit http://www.taiwanexcellence.org
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