Wenzhou dc micro motor makers eye mobile phone apps

Micro motor producers based in Wenzhou, mainland China are focusing their R&D efforts to develop smaller cylindrical and thinner profile coin motors used for portable handheld phones.

To this effect, Zhejiang Lufa Micro Motor Co. Ltd's two production bases, located in Zhejiang and Shanghai, are producing an annual capacity of 50 million units. The company offers: 12-, 10-, 7-, 6-, 5- and 4(?)mm hollow cup permanent magnetic dc motors; 18-, 16-, 14-, 12- and 10(?)mm series flat motors with or without brush and the reflow soldering vibration motor used for SMD full-auto assembly lines. The company exports 30 percent of its output to overseas markets, particularly in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, the United States and Europe with figures likely to increase to 40 percent next year.

According to Mao Guibo, vice general manager of Lufa, 70 percent of the company's capacity is now utilized due to demand hikes from mobile phone companies. The company is planning to expand its production on coin type motor by almost 100 percent, thereby boosting the entire yield by some 30 percent by year-end. Further, Lufa has successfully developed brushless dc micro motors and applied its patents in mainland China.

Mao notes that miniature, low power consumption, high rated speed is the trend of this line. Lufa is developing 3(?)mm cylindrical motor and 10(?)-by-2.5mm coin motor to cater to this trend, which can fit into super compact mobile phones.

Likewise Jinlong Machinery & Electronics Co. Ltd is taking a slice of the Wenzhou dc micro motor market with its own set of offerings. Ranked 79th of the top 100 electronic component makers in Wenzhou, the company offers 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 10- and 12(?)mm series of dc micro motors with a monthly capacity reaching 4 million units. In 2003, the company shipped 25 million units to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, EU and the United States.

According to Jerry Zhang, sales manager for Europe and the United States markets, 80 percent of the company's monthly capacity is fully utilized, with 50 percent expansion plans in the works by year-end, which will chiefly involve coin motors and 4(?)mm cylindrical motors. Jinlong is now gradually reducing its production of large size motors, as the company focuses on smaller types.

Zhang remarks that Jinlong plans to release a new 8(?)-by-2mm coin type motor by year-end to address the growing demand of mobile phone makers. At present, 4(?)-by-8mm units take 50 percent of the company's total output. Key demand drivers include mobile phones and electric toys.