Few members of the general public know much about the Value Valves Company, which specializes in producing valves, but firms among Taiwan’s Top 500 manufacturing enterprises, including China Steel, Formosa Plastics, and Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC), are all old clients. And when the Internet superpower Google set up an operation in Changhua, they specifically asked to work with Value Valves.
Having built up a strong reputation over four decades, today Value is synonymous with specialized valve manufacturing. But in the company’s early days, many refused to do business with the founders, because it was thought that things “Made in Taiwan” couldn’t compare with American, European, or Japanese products.
“When we first started out things were tough. Taiwanese companies believed that domestic brands were not up to snuff, and insisted on foreign products.” In a sonorous voice, General Manager David Chen recalls the difficulties they faced while struggling to get the business on its feet: “After trying to work the domestic market for a while, we thought ‘forget it’ and began to focus on exports.”
By specializing in a “supporting role,” Value Valves has grown to become a valued member of the supply chain for many of Taiwan’s Top 500 companies.