Designed for barcode scanners, the BC312001 motor from Taiwan's Sunon measures 20x8.8mm and has starting torque of 47gf-cm

Miniaturization and improved efficiency are typical R&D highlights. Demand from the healthcare, automotive and robotics sectors spurs development of new DC motor models.

Most DC motor manufacturers in mainland China and Taiwan focus on brushed, micro, servo, stepping and brushless motors. According to 3see Market Information, mainland China's output for brushed DC motors used in video, acoustics and toys; low-voltage DC motors for car electronics; and DC motors for computers and peripherals will reach 250 million, 60 million and 100 million units, respectively, in 2007. Although demand from these markets is stable, makers in this report admit that revenues remain modest. The onset of miniaturization and the profitable proliferation of new applications in robotics, healthcare equipment and car electronics is driving more and more makers to produce small motors that can fit in any device and withstand harsh environments.

Taiwan motor makers are now tapping into the robotics segment. Expecting huge demand from robotics, makers are planning to supply more DC motors suited to industrial/service/entertainment robots and controlled artificial limbs. According to industry watchers, one robot or artificial limb will require numerous motors. For instance, the i-SOBOT from Japan's Takara Tomy Group is the world's smallest mass-produced humanoid robot, measuring 16.5cm in height and 350gm in weight—is designed with 17 servomotors.

The United Kingdom's Touch Bionics likewise recently launched the world's first bionic hand—the i-Limb. The i-Limb's life-like fingers have five micromotors each. Twenty-five micromotors in one i-Limb. The company plans to develop bionic shoulders, arms and individual fingers in the near term.

Aside from robotics, most motor makers agree that the number of motors used in vehicles will increase. DC motors for rearview mirrors, window lift mechanisms, electric parking brakes, seating adjustment mechanisms, sunroofs, electric steering systems and other automobile technologies are now being developed.

Bullish predictions this year are prompting makers to increase their production capacities, enhance in-house capability, and expand facilities. Mainland China remains the biggest manufacturing base for DC motors, accounting for 60 percent of overall supply. In the next five years, the industry is expected to grow at annual rate of 8 percent. There are about 1,000 mainland manufacturers of DC motors, of which 80 percent are based in Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu province. Shenzhen alone has more than 300 to 400 DC motor manufacturers.

Established in 1984, Xiamen Dazhen Magnetic Record Co. Ltd specializes in the development and production of micromotors and stepping motors. DC motors is its main business, accounting for 80 percent of output.

Utilizing 75 percent of capacity, Dazhen can produce 7 million units of motors per month. In 2006, the company posted sales revenue of $15.8 million. The company expects the amount to go up by 8 percent in 2007.

Shenzhen Wintop Electronic Co. Ltd was established in 2002 and focuses on micromotor production. The company has a workforce of 300, and a monthly capacity of 800,000 units. It is currently utilizing 70 percent of its capacity. In 2006, Wintop's total revenue reached $1.98 million. The company forecasts revenue to hit $2.64 million in 2007.

Three-year old company Shenzhen Kinmore Motor Co. Ltd produces DC micro motors and geared motors for small home appliances and electronic toys. Equipped with a workforce of 520, Kinmore can produce 4.3 million motors monthly.

Shenzhen Autom Tech. Industry Co. Ltd offers precious metal-brush and carbon-brush DC micro motors which are suited to entertainment, car electronics, home and industrial applications. Autom has a workforce of 2,000 and 10-million-unit monthly capacity. In 2006, the company earned a total of $26.4 million.

Taiwan is home to about 600 motor manufacturers, mostly found in the northern area as of Taipei, Taoyuan and Hsinchu. Some makers are based in the middle area of the island, such as Taichung.

Sunonwealth Electric Machine Ind. Co. Ltd has a factory in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and three in Jiangsu and Guangdong. These ISO-certified factories follow OHSAS 18001, QS 9000 and TS16949 standards. Starting early 2008, the company will increase its monthly capacity to 1 million units for DC motors.

Likewise, Teco Electro Devices Co. Ltd (TED) has a factory in Taoyuan and another in Jiangsu. Its ISO-certified factories produce stepping, servo, BLDC and PMDC motors. Currently, its annual production for stepping motors is 1 million units and servo motors, 300,000 units. Its DC motor production is rather small, and hence plans to increase annual output to 1 million units. Its DC motors feature 40W to 3kW power.

Vitai Technology Co. Ltd's factory is in Jiangsu, mainland China. Its monthly output for DC motors is 1.5 million units, including 700,000 units for stepping motors.

Mainland China's DC motor makers produce brushed types that are suited to mobile phones and electronic toys.

Improving motor life, lowering noise and material quality are Dazhen's R&D priorities for stepping motors, which account for 20 percent of its total output. In 2008, stepping motor output is likely to increase up to 60 percent.

The BLDC motors by Wintop feature high reliability and low noise, and are suited to gaming devices, medical equipment and car electronics.

Currently, Wintop is eyeing car electronics and personal care products, such as in-vehicle DVD players and electric razors. It has attracted TOHEI, Thomson, Skypine and Foryou to source from them. Wintop's products are TÜV-approved and are RoHS-compliant.

Kinmore focuses on improving the lifespan, stability and compliance of its motors, intended for vehicles. The company has a team of six engineers and in-house capability for metal parts production.

Autom's product development team consists of 50 engineers. Its team will focus on micromotors in the near term. In the meantime, its brushed motors feature controlled momentum and speed. Autom counts Samsung, Sony, Epson, GE Motors and Benz as its major clients.

	The NEMA series from TED, Taiwan, come in sizes of 11in, 17in, 23in and 34in

Most DC motor manufacturers in Taiwan offer customization. Typical services include electromechanical integration, which covers adding electronic encoders, gearboxes, drivers and controllers to DC motors.

Some DC motor makers provide value-added features, such as dust-proof caps, leads, inductors and capacitors on PCBs, and automatic control functions. For instance, TED offers customize dservices for its clients, including stack configuration for rotors; resistance or inductance winding; and adjustable shaft and length of lead wires.

TED's DC motors, which include stepping, servo and BLDC motors, are suited to medical, military and semiconductor applications. For industrial applications, TED provides hybrid stepping motors. Its NEMA series of stepping motors support 0.4A to 6A range, and comes in sizes of 11in, 17in and 34in.

The company's super-low inertia motors are intended for semiconductor and medical applications. Generally, motors produced by TED are available in step angles of 0.9°, 14° and 1.8°.

Vitai's micro stepping motors are mainly applied to digital cameras, mini scanners and printers. The outer diameters of the company's stepping motors range from 6mm to 20mm. Its 15mm and 20mm models are suited to printers and scanners. Slated for release in end-2007, its latest micromotor features diameter of 4mm.

Aside from stepping motors, Vitai produces solenoids and shutter units. The company can provide 12x12mm voice coil modules (VCM) with auto-focus function for camera phones.

Sunon has been producing BLDC motors for in-car ventilated seats. According to the company, cross flow seat ventilation motors are designed in 12V and 24V, and feature low noise and vibration, longer lifespan and higher efficiency. Sunon's CF212002 DC motor features a starting torque of 640gf-cm; rated speed, 4,200rpm; and an outer diameter, 46.7mm.

Aside from automotive motors, Sunon is focusing on home and optical applications, such as air-filtering machines, barcode scanners, laser printers and digital light projectors.

Designed for laser printers, Sunon's polygon motor has an operating voltage of 24V; start-up current, 2A; noise, 58dBa; and rotation speed of 27,300rpm. The model measures 30x17mm. Its micro meters, which are applicable to mobile phones, measure 5x3mm.

About 95 percent of Dazhen's motors are shipped. Japan, South Korea and Singapore are its main export destinations. The company specializes in OEM and expects to generate more revenue from this type of service.

OBM-centric Wintop expects prices of standard motors to decline slightly this year. The company exports to the United States and Europe. This year, the company forecasts exports to reach $2.63 million, up 30 percent.

In 2006, 30 percent of Kinmore's total sales came from exports. The company expects export sales to increase by 50 percent. Kinmore's export destinations include the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia. It counts SEB, Walkera and Feber as its clients.

Autom ships 80 percent of its total motor output. Shipments in 2006 were worth $10 million, and are expected to increase by 50 percent in 2007.

About 60 percent of Sunon's total export sales come from the Asian market, while the remaining come from Europe and the Americas. TED ships its stepping and servo motors to the Middle East, Eastern Europe and India. Vitai ships 85 percent of its output to mainland China, Europe and the Americas.