DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Column: Robotics' razor's edge is finally cutting into the real world

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 23:19:53 GMT

In early June in Vienna, a robotics startup used its keynote at ICRA 2026 — the International Conference on Robotics and Automation — to show a robotic arm slowly and precisely shaving its founder's face.

Sysgration scales drone ground control and smart glasses as industrial edge revenue rises

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 23:19:41 GMT

Sysgration expanded its industrial PC and edge-computing business into drone ground control systems and smart glasses, and said shipments of IPCs and drone GCS flight control systems scaled up to help lift May 2026 revenue. The firm reported consolidated revenue of about NT$308 million (approx. US$9.7 milllion) in May 2026, up 0.96% month-over-month and 15.29% year-over-year, and said related businesses now accounted for nearly 40% of revenue as IPC and drone shipments increased.

Flytech pivots from POS hardware to all-scenario payment and edge-computing systems

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 23:19:32 GMT

Flytech announced a strategic shift from being primarily a point-of-sale hardware supplier toward a systems-provider model focused on payments, edge computing, and recurring services. At Computex 2026, the firm unveiled a full payment solution covering counter POS, self-service kiosks, and handheld payment terminals designed for retail and food service, and said the move reflects changing customer mixes and a push to embed computing power across store operations.

GEM Terminals cites AI-driven demand as May 2026 copper sales jump 72%

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 23:19:10 GMT

GEM Terminals reported consolidated revenue of about NT$428 million (US$13.6 million) in May 2026, up 71.83% year-over-year from NT$249 million, saying expanding global investment in AI infrastructure drove a surge in demand for specialty copper materials used in cooling applications. The firm linked the month's performance to rising cooling needs at servers and data centers as computing density increased, and described the result as evidence of strong long-term momentum for its materials transformation strategy.

COMPUTEX highlights a shift to prefabricated AI data centers

Elaine Chen — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 23:18:56 GMT

At COMPUTEX 2026, held under the theme "AI Together," a clear shift was visible across the exhibition floor: the focus has moved beyond individual chips and server specifications toward a far more practical challenge — how to rapidly deploy full-scale computing infrastructure under tight constraints of power, time, and construction capacity.

Posiflex sees orders through 3Q26, shuns price war

Sherri Wang — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 23:18:43 GMT

Posiflex said order visibility for the second and third quarters of 2026 remains relatively clear, though the industrial PC and POS hardware supplier is taking a cautious view of the fourth quarter as component supply, geopolitical risks, and broader market conditions remain uncertain.

Chenbro Micom posts May revenue jump and projects strong second-half momentum

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 23:18:24 GMT

Server chassis maker Chenbro Micom reported that May 2026 revenue reached NT$2.51 billion (approx. US$79 million), up 37.3% year-over-year and 21.8% month-over-month, and said it expects robust operating momentum in the second half of 2026. The firm disclosed that consolidated revenue for the first five months of 2026 totaled NT$11.69 billion, a 46.8% increase compared with the same period last year, and attributed near-term strength to smooth handovers between legacy and new projects.

Chinese AI startup StepFun seeks US$12 billion valuation in Hong Kong IPO

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 23:18:12 GMT

Chinese artificial-intelligence (AI) startup StepFun is preparing to file for a Hong Kong initial public offering as early as Monday, according to people familiar with the matter, in what could become one of the city's largest technology listings in recent years.

A COMPUTEX beyond PCs: Taiwanese suppliers target robot data and parts

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 23:17:59 GMT

COMPUTEX 2026 has made clearer a shift already underway in Taiwan's robotics supply chain, with suppliers looking beyond humanoid showcases toward less visible technologies — including motion data, vision, sensing, embedded control, actuators, and system integration — that could determine which robots reach commercial deployment first.

PCIM 2026: Every company is now a semiconductor company

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 23:17:42 GMT

Global hardware growth is facing an increasingly fragile and fragmented supply chain. At PCIM Europe 2026, software intelligence firm Luminovo's OEM Growth Lead, Inga Schwarz, made a compelling case for why AI is no longer enough to save hardware companies from costly operational challenges. The industry, she argued, must embrace a transition toward deep, native domain enterprise integration to build a unified "digital thread." With the fast-moving advancement of generative models set against modern supply chain complexity, Schwarz delivered a reality check for OEMs and EMS providers navigating the global market.

Column: COMPUTEX 2026 shows Taiwan rewriting its role — from building AI to designing it

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 23:16:47 GMT

COMPUTEX Taipei 2026, held from June 2 to 5 under the theme "AI Together," drew more than 1,500 exhibitors from 33 countries and set a new record in scale. The show underscored a new AI industry reality: competition has moved far beyond standalone chip compute and into a systems-level battle spanning compute, connectivity, power, and cooling.

CATL locks in 770,000 tons of electrolyte supply as battery demand accelerates

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 23:13:28 GMT

China's battery materials supply chain is showing fresh signs of tightening as major electrolyte producers secure multiyear contracts with the world's largest electric-vehicle battery maker.

AI use in PCB manufacturing has gone mainstream, but scaling remains lagging

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 23:13:01 GMT

AI adoption in PCB manufacturing is now widespread, yet fewer than 10% of companies have fully scaled deployments, underscoring a global gap between experimentation and factory-wide integration. For readers worldwide, the findings point to a sector where quality gains are real, but talent, data, and governance constraints are slowing broader industrial change.

Alibaba puts CEO directly in charge of new unit as AI model race turns commercial

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 09:19:17 GMT

Alibaba Group Holding has created a new artificial intelligence unit called Token Foundry, putting it directly under CEO Eddie Wu as the Chinese technology giant further consolidates its model-development teams and pushes AI applications toward commercialization.

Nvidia unveils AI PC vision as Intel offers reflection instead of product news

Elaine Chen — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 09:07:52 GMT

Computex, Asia's largest technology trade show, opened this year with many of the industry's most prominent executives gathering in Taiwan. Yet while Nvidia used the event to unveil new products and reinforce its ambitions in artificial intelligence (AI), Intel's appearance left some industry observers underwhelmed.

Analysis: E-paper moves beyond the shelf into smart mobility at COMPUTEX 2026

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 08:00:00 GMT

At COMPUTEX 2026, e-paper moved beyond e-readers and electronic shelf labels, finding new applications in vehicles, signage, and smart mobility. The technology's expansion signals a widening role in low-power displays as AI and transport applications continue to grow.

Samsung foundry profit rebound may come in 3Q26 as 2nm orders rise 130%

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 07:04:26 GMT

Samsung Electronics' foundry business may return to profit as early as the third quarter of 2026, ahead of its previous target of late 2026 to 2027, as improving yields, larger orders, and stronger demand for high-bandwidth memory base dies lift utilization, according to Korean media reports.

Adata, Macronix report record May revenue amid rising memory demand, prices

Eifeh Strom — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 06:59:23 GMT

Memory manufacturers have reported revenue gains in May 2026, with Adata Technology posting NT$12.94 billion (approx. US$410.88 million), setting a new record for the third consecutive month. Macronix International also reached a single-month record high of NT$6.26 billion.

PCL Technologies targets CPO as Penang plant nears completion

Charlene Chen — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 06:55:33 GMT

Optical communications maker PCL Technologies is expanding into high-power laser packaging, with its new Malaysia plant on track to pass customer certification by the end of 2026. Its earlier investment in US silicon photonics firm Skorpios and the acquisition of Pingood Enterprise also form part of the group's co-packaged optics (CPO) strategy.

Nvidia's ecosystem commands the conversation at COMPUTEX 2026

Elaine Chen — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 06:49:34 GMT

COMPUTEX 2026 concluded this week after drawing the world's largest chipmakers and technology suppliers to Taiwan. Yet despite a crowded field of competitors, one company once again dominated the conversation: Nvidia.

Commentary: COMPUTEX 2026 shows AI race moving from GPUs to ecosystems

Levi Li — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 06:46:35 GMT

One of the clearest shifts at COMPUTEX 2026 was that suppliers across the AI supply chain were no longer talking only about GPUs. The conversation has moved toward how CPUs, GPUs, DPUs, and networking operate together. In other words, the next phase of AI cluster competition will not be defined simply by stacking more GPUs, but by whole-system optimization.

ELAN sees drone and AI PC push reshaping revenue mix

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 06:31:04 GMT

Taiwanese fabless chipmaker ELAN said its second-quarter 2026 outlook suggests revenue will hold near first-quarter levels, even as the company expands beyond PC orders into drones, AI PCs, and optical modules. The company also said drone-related revenue could grow multiple times over the next two years.

India's NoPo targets advanced materials gap in chip supply chain

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 06:29:20 GMT

India's semiconductor push is creating an opening for companies outside the traditional chipmaking chain, including advanced materials suppliers that could serve electronics, sensor, battery, and semiconductor-related applications before the country's own wafer fabrication ecosystem matures.

Taiwan leverages tech ecosystem to bridge digital divide and lift SME AI adoption rates well past 12%

Willis Ke — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 06:21:08 GMT

Following the successful conclusion of Computex 2026, Taiwan is mobilizing its technology giants to spearhead a nationwide digital transformation. Facing a stark disparity where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) lag at an 11.9% AI adoption rate compared to 40% in large corporations, the government is leveraging its leading tech firms to accelerate deployment across the broader economy.

Chief Telecom eyes stronger second half on AI data center demand

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 06:15:00 GMT

Chief Telecom reported May 2026 revenue of NT$334 million (US$10.61 million), down 25.22% from a year earlier, but the decline largely reflected a high comparison base created by one-off income booked in the same month last year.

SuperAlloy targets semiconductor supply chain with recycled aluminum push

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 04:55:25 GMT

SuperAlloy reported that rising demand from global luxury and supercar manufacturers, alongside green procurement policies, drove higher sales of recycled aluminum in May, lifting group momentum into the first half of 2026. The company said consolidated revenue for May reached NT$635 million (US$20.14 million) — up 6.7% from April and 18.74% from the same month in 2025. Cumulative consolidated revenue for January through May 2026 totaled NT$3.103 billion, up 2.86% year over year, returning the company to positive growth for the period.

Expansion beyond SEA: VinFast-backed Green SM targets India's ride-hailing market

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 04:49:35 GMT

Vietnamese electric taxi operator Green SM has launched operations in India, marking its first expansion beyond Southeast Asia and opening a new front in one of the world's fastest-growing mobility markets.

Commentary: How Nvidia turned Computex into its own annual coronation

Charlene Chen — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 04:36:20 GMT

Computex 2026 has ended, with the spotlight again firmly on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. From his arrival in Taiwan on May 23, Huang spent two weeks meeting key industry figures, attending Nvidia developer events, GTC Taipei, and a Computex tour, and once again hosting his "trillion-dollar banquet."

VinFast spins off manufacturing arm, deepens Nvidia tie-up in autonomy push

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 04:33:07 GMT

During its first quarter 2026 earnings call, VinFast Auto Ltd. unveiled a series of significant corporate moves, including a transition in board leadership, a major restructuring of its manufacturing assets, and the expansion of high-tech partnerships focused on autonomous mobility. These developments signal the company's shift toward a "capital-light" business model that prioritizes research and development (R&D) and brand growth over capital-intensive manufacturing.

TSMC capacity crunch pushes Google, Nvidia closer to Intel

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 04:32:16 GMT

TSMC's AI capacity crunch is giving Intel its clearest opening in years to re-enter the most advanced chipmaking race, with Google and Nvidia exploring Intel as a potential backup manufacturing and packaging partner for next-generation AI processors.

Onsemi launches Elite Pairing Studio to simplify power design

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 04:24:00 GMT

Onsemi has introduced an online design tool to help engineers match SiC MOSFETs and gate drivers more quickly. The company said the platform could reduce early-stage trial-and-error in power electronics, with potential implications for AI data centers, electric vehicles, industrial systems, and electrification infrastructure worldwide.

Nvidia and Hyundai deepen AI partnership in robotics and mobility

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 04:17:19 GMT

Nvidia and Hyundai Motor Group have agreed to deepen their collaboration in artificial intelligence, robotics, and future mobility technologies as the two companies seek to accelerate the commercialization of physical AI and expand South Korea's role in next-generation AI infrastructure.

VinFast revenue rises 42%, but losses widen sharply in 1Q26

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 04:13:01 GMT

Vietnam-based electric vehicle maker VinFast reported strong revenue and delivery growth in the first quarter of 2026, but its financial results showed that losses continued to widen significantly as the company pursues aggressive global expansion.

SK Hynix orders Hanmi equipment for HBM4 capacity buildout

DIGITIMES — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 04:10:22 GMT

SK Hynix has ordered new HBM4 production equipment from Hanmi Semiconductor, a clear signal that the South Korean memory maker is moving deeper into capacity expansion as Nvidia demand strains supplies of advanced memory chips.

Huawei tests AI agents at HDC 2026 after OpenClaw hype loses steam

Levi Li — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 04:08:47 GMT

Huawei Developer Conference (HDC) 2026 is set to open on June 12 at Songshan Lake in Dongguan, with HarmonyOS and frontier AI technologies taking center stage. Beyond updates to the HarmonyOS ecosystem, the market is also watching AI agents as a key test of Huawei's broader AI roadmap.