Dear Shareholders,
Over the past year, Delta has faced a global economic environment filled with both opportunities and challenges. Global inflation, rising interest rates, international conflicts such as the wars in Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine, a slowdown in China’s economic growth, and heightened tensions between the U.S. and China have influenced our operations throughout 2023. Amid a volatile environment, Delta adheres to a sound strategy and focus on sustainable development and stable profitability.
In 2023, with the collective efforts of all members of Delta, our consolidated revenue was NT$401.2 billion, a 4.4% increase from the previous year; gross profit was NT$117.2 billion with a gross profit margin of 29.2%; net operating profit was NT$40.9 billion with a net profit margin of 10.2%; net income after tax was NT$33.4 billion with a net after-tax profit margin of 8.3%; EPS was NT$12.86 and return on equity (ROE) ratio was 17.3%. Here is a summary of the performance and status of Delta’s core business categories in 2023.
Power Electronics
With over 50 years of expertise in Power Electronics, Delta relentlessly invests in R&D. Each year, it develops innovative and advanced power management technologies, maintaining its leadership in power management and heat dissipation solutions. Delta’s diverse power products and system solutions span a wide range of global applications, including artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, edge computing, information and communications technology (ICT), industrial, aerospace, medical, lighting, and home appliances.
In recent years, due to the development of AI technology, there has been a surge in various cloud and edge computing applications and devices such as AI servers, AI computers, smart edge devices, and others. This has resulted in increased AI computing power demand for advanced power supply systems capable of delivering higher instantaneous power, high power density, and superior efficiency. Leveraging our expertise in key technologies, Delta is undeniably a leader in comprehensive power solutions. This includes 18kW power shelves and thermal solutions that comply with the Open Compute Project (OCP) and the latest Open Rack version 3 (ORV3), which boast over 97.5% peak efficiency. Delta provides high efficiency and energy-saving power supply for data center servers, networking equipment and AI servers. In addition, we have developed an innovative DC voltage converter for AI GPUs with a power density of up to 5,300 watts per cubic inch and an ultra-high energy conversion efficiency of 98.3%. This translates to efficient delivery of the high instantaneous DC power required by AI CPUs, GPUs, and xPUs.
Within the automotive industry, Delta supplies a wide range of components, including fans, magnetic components and passive components. In 2023, we further strengthened our product portfolio by acquiring the German TB&C and its subsidiaries for 142 million euros. By integrating our core competence in power electronics technology with TB&C’s cutting-edge technology and extensive experience in high-voltage hybrid components, Delta is poised to accelerate our growth in the electric vehicle (EV) market and create long-term value for shareholders.
With the explosive growth of the EV market, the EV Solutions Business Group has become one of the Company’s critical drivers in recent years. Delta’s power management system has established a clear advantage over competitors in terms of product development schedule, power efficiency, and power density, which have secured numerous orders from top-tier international automakers. This dominance extends beyond power systems, as Delta’s built-in drive traction motors have also been adopted by these same leading automakers for their high-level EV models. In addition, Delta’s commitment to providing safer and more efficient traction motors has made it the first company in Taiwan to receive ASPICE CL3 certification for the automotive industry in 2023.
Automation
In response to the goal of net-zero carbon emissions, Delta made significant strides in industrial and building automation solutions in 2023. A prime example is our supervisory control and data acquisition system, VTScada, which was implemented in a South African metallurgical plant to assist customers in establishing an efficient monitoring and control system.
Within the demanding metallurgical industry, our customers face challenges such as highly energy-consuming, operational risks and capital intensive issues. By introducing Delta’s VTScada system, we have helped our customers integrate various plant equipment, which have improved the feed rate tolerance to within 1%. Additionally, the system’s robust redundancy and alarm system ensure the safety and stability of equipment operation. Even within the harsh environment of a metallurgical plant, characterized by extreme heat and toxic fumes, VTScada’s real-time remote monitoring function empowers managers to continuously monitor equipment status and proactively prevent potential risks. These improvements have increased overall productivity and helped the metallurgical plant reduce natural gas consumption by a third. This translates to a more efficient and sustainable production method for the client, propelling them forward in the metallurgical industry.
In addition, through Delta’s building automation solutions, our Wujiang Plant No. 5 secured both “Zero Carbon Factory” and “Carbon Neutral” certifications in 2023, becoming the first “Five-Star Zero Carbon Factory” within Jiangsu Province’s electronics manufacturing industry.
A “Zero Carbon Factory” achieves net-zero carbon emissions throughout its production and manufacturing process through a combination of technological innovations that focus on energy conservation, emission reduction and carbon elimination. Delta Wujiang Plant 5 utilizes the energy and carbon management platform, Delta Energy Online, to conduct energy-saving diagnostics and analysis, and effectively reduces the plant’s energy consumption and carbon emissions through high-efficiency energy-saving lighting, renewable energy, and energy storage system technologies. Delta has also upgraded its factory equipment by introducing energy-saving air compressors and vacuum pumps, replacing ordinary motors with reluctance motors, and upgrading the energy-consuming SMT reflow furnace to a new type of dual-orbital reflow furnace, which is integrated into the centralized chilled-water system. It has achieved a remarkable 42% reduction in energy consumption.
Delta’s Wujiang Plant 5 stands as a shining example of the Company’s commitment to low-carbon manufacturing and green building practices. Moving forward, Delta will leverage Wujiang Plant 5 and replicate its successful carbon reduction strategies to continue building low-carbon smart factories worldwide, ultimately infusing more green power into the Company’s high-quality manufacturing operations.
Infrastructure
Delta also offers comprehensive solutions for information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, including networking equipment, telecom power systems, and data center solutions. In 2023, Delta provided a fast-growing data center operator in Australia with an energy-efficient pre-positioned data center. The design concept features a pre-installed Power Train Unit (PTU) within a dedicated enclosure. The entire unit can then be transported to the customer’s site for seamless integration with other systems, creating a complete data center. Delta deployed 12 PTUs in just 16 weeks, which previously took 30-40 weeks to complete, saving the customer significant capital costs and time.
With the rapid growth of the global EV market, building a sound charging infrastructure has become an important key to supporting the industry’s sustainable development. In 2023, Delta’s ultra-fast 350kW DC EV Charger successfully passed voluntary product certification by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), making it the first 300kW (or higher class) DC charger in Taiwan to pass the national standard certification. With an output current of up to 540A and a power conversion efficiency of 96%, this charger can replenish an EV with a driving range of 250-300km in 10 minutes. This demonstrates Delta’s leadership in EV charging technology and unwavering commitment to low-carbon transportation, even amidst economic uncertainties and market volatility, which have presented new challenges to our business.
However, thanks to the efforts of all Delta employees and our continued investment in innovative R&D, Delta was selected as one of the “2023 Best Taiwan Global Brands” for the 13th consecutive year. In 2023, the Company’s brand value soared to a new all-time high of over US$540 million, marking a significant 28% increase from the previous year. For the third time, Delta was awarded the CDP’s prestigious double “A” rating for excellence in climate change and water safety management. This remarkable achievement places Delta among the top 61 companies out of over 21,000 participants worldwide in this year’s CDP assessment.
Looking ahead, Delta remains committed to driving innovation across key application areas, including electric vehicles, servers and data centers, energy storage and management, as well as industrial and building automation. Moreover, through its global presence, Delta is well-positioned to thrive in a fast-changing environment given its flexibility and resilience. Considering the Company’s wide range of products, spanning single components to comprehensive solutions, with varying price points, sales volume alone is not the most effective metric for gauging operating performance. Nevertheless, we expect an increase in overall sales volume for the current year compared to the previous year.
We sincerely thank our shareholders, customers, employees, and partners for their long-term trust and support. Looking to the future, Delta will continue to adhere to our innovation-driven and quality-oriented development strategy, constantly exploring new market opportunities, and steadily moving towards a broader future.
Finally, wish everyone good health and good luck.
Sincerely,
Yancey Hai, Chairman
05/2024