Calin Technology, as a leader in Taiwan's optical industry, has always adhered to the core value of sustainable development. In this fiercely competitive market, the company stands strong. Rooted firmly in Taiwan, it not only emphasizes technological innovation and excellent quality but also considers financial security, production discipline, and strong technical expertise as the solid foundations of its development.
 
Calin Technology Actively Invests in Automation and Smart Technologies
 
Chia-Pin Liu, Chairman of Calin Technology, stated that in managing the optics industry, it's not just about the volume of current orders; more importantly, it is about maintaining stable yield rates and improving management techniques. Calin  Technology understands well that efficient production processes and strong technical support are key to continuous growth. As a result, the company has been actively investing in automation and intelligent technologies, striving to enhance production efficiency and quality standards, continuously surpassing itself in the pursuit of excellence.
 
In terms of market strategy, Calin Technology focuses on high-end, high-value-added lens products, avoiding the pitfall of price wars by not aggressively pursuing the low-cost segment. This strategy not only elevates the brand’s added value but also helps protect Taiwan's optics industry’s position and competitiveness in the international market.
 
Recently, Calin Technology has not only strengthened the trust and support of its existing customers but also gained new clients, with orders steadily increasing. This growth not only affirms the company's technological prowess but also reflects the market's confidence in the company’s potential for further development.
 
Chia-Pin Liu also serves as the current President of the Taiwan Optics Association. When speaking about his dual roles, Liu stated that the former is about internationalizing the company, as the customers are already global, and extending production lines internationally is a natural step. As for the latter, in his role as president of the association, Liu aims to guide member companies through challenges, create new opportunities, and timely provide recommendations to the government regarding the current industry environment.
 
Calin Making it Competitive
 
Founded in December 2002, Calin Technology's senior management team has long served in the optics industry, bringing rich experience and carrying on the management philosophies of Japanese optical giants, with an emphasis on quality. In addition to stringent production management, the company has also recruited optics professionals with over 30 years of experience to ensure strict quality control. It is one of the few manufacturers capable of vertically integrating optical lens manufacturing.
 
Calin Technology offers a wide range of customized optical lens development services, as well as OEM design and manufacturing. Its main products include lenses for automotive applications, surveillance cameras, projectors, industrial lenses, medical endoscopes, and extreme sports cameras.
 
Chia-Pin Liu is highly active in the industry and is passionate about public welfare. He has a visionary outlook and high expectations for the future direction and goals of the company. He noted that in recent years, aside from a few major lens manufacturers that have monopolized the huge demand in the smartphone camera lens market, most other optical lens manufacturers have struggled through painful transformation periods. However, starting in 2022, new applications with high added value, such as autonomous driving, IoT, metaverse (AR/VR smart wearable devices, etc.), and drones, are gradually emerging, offering promising new opportunities for Taiwan’s optical lens manufacturers.
 
Post-pandemic Opportunities Emerging
 
Liu pointed out that after the global pandemic broke out at the end of 2019, certain sectors benefited from remote applications such as video conferencing, online education and training, telemedicine, and remote monitoring and maintenance. In response to the booming "stay-at-home economy," smart products continued to develop. Data shows that Taiwan's optics industry was among the least impacted by the pandemic compared to other sectors. As the pandemic subsides in 2023, many industries are gradually returning to their former glory. Taiwan's optics sector is seizing the moment to rise again. According to the international market research agency TrendForce, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the global optical lens industry is expected to reach 8.1% from 2022 to 2028. Similarly, a report by the American market research company Grand View Research predicts that the global metaverse market will grow at a CAGR of 39.4% between 2021 and 2030. Taiwan's optical lens manufacturers are well-positioned to re-emerge as key players in the local stock market, driven by the resurgence of demand, global supply chain restructuring, and the infusion of both old and new growth drivers.
 
Taiwan's optics industry started in the 1960s, with foreign investments from Japan, Germany, and the United States helping establish the foundation and talent development system. This laid the groundwork for Taiwan's optics industry to prosper for more than half a century. Taiwan's manufacturers have excelled at integrating supply chains, a model successfully replicated in China and Southeast Asia, expanding operations across various factories in the region.
 
However, in terms of the overall transformation and layout of optical lens related products, Liu added that from simple cameras, digital cameras, smartphones, automotive applications, surveillance equipment, and information network applications, Taiwan’s manufacturers have responded effectively to customer demands and market trends. Yet, the industry faces challenges as it matures, such as the loss of professional talent (especially the talent drain to China), delays in new product R&D, high product homogeneity among manufacturers, fierce price competition, and profit compression by international brands. These factors have formed significant barriers to the industry's efforts to scale up and achieve higher profitability.
 
Liu stated that Taiwan's optical component manufacturing industry operates in a highly competitive production model. Compared to the broader optoelectronics industry, the optical sector is relatively small, with many small and specialized manufacturers. Aside from a few large flagship companies, most small firms focus on their unique strengths, making it difficult to form international-grade R&D and marketing teams.
 
Chairman Liu's Recommendations to the Government
 
The Taiwan Optics Association is regarded as the most representative organization for Taiwan's optics industry, having long worked to assist industry-wide coordination and communication horizontally, as well as technological and management development vertically. It acts as a bridge between the government and the industry. Liu made three recommendations for government policy: strengthening the training of specialized technical talent, accelerating the transformation and upgrading of the optics industry, and expanding opportunities to connect with major international marketing exhibitions.
 
Regarding talent cultivation, Liu pointed out that there are currently few universities in Taiwan offering dedicated "optics technology applications" programs, severely affecting the supply of talents in this field. He suggested that the government’s education and vocational training departments should select multiple technical universities to establish optics-related departments or research centers, encouraging schools to train optics professionals and ensuring smooth employment, thereby supporting the industry’s long-term development needs.
 
Secondly, Liu called for accelerating the transformation and upgrading of the optics industry. Compared to the photonics sector, government support for the optics industry has been minimal, leaving many companies feeling financial pressure during the process of technological upgrading and operational transformation. As a result, domestic optics firms face significant challenges in international competition. Liu urged the government to allocate a portion of its annual scientific and technical development budget to support optics companies' transformation efforts.
 
Lastly, Liu suggested expanding opportunities to connect with major international marketing exhibitions. Taiwan optics companies have always been OEMs for major international manufacturers, so profit margins are often compressed. This has made operations increasingly difficult for domestic firms. Liu recommended that the government’s economic and foreign trade departments, through diplomatic and trade channels, should strengthen matchmaking opportunities between domestic exhibitors and international brands or potential clients before and after major international exhibitions. This would help reduce market exploration risks and costs for companies, assisting them in effectively expanding business opportunities.