Insole Manufacturer Breaks into TSMC Supply Chain! Hsieh Chin-Ho Hails 'This Taiwanese Traditional Company' for Perfect Transformation: A Legendary Journey

Taiwan's semiconductor industry enjoys global acclaim, while the transformation of traditional industries has become an inevitable challenge. Functional insole giant Sung Sheng Technology seized the opportunity and successfully transitioned into Taiwan’s largest local supplier of chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) polishing pads for semiconductors.

Hsieh Chin-Ho, chairman of the Wealth & Credit Media Group, stated today (20th) that Sung Sheng Technology is one of the "exemplary models of traditional industry transformation," having endured past legal battles and now becoming a vital part of TSMC’s supply chain.

Hsieh shared on Facebook that he visited central Taiwan, touring Kao Ming Iron in the morning and then visiting Sung Sheng at Taichung Industrial Park in the afternoon. He described both companies as exemplary cases of traditional industry transformation, showcasing the resilience of Taiwan’s traditional enterprises.

Sung Sheng’s Chairman Chu Ming-Kuei was born in 1959, just ten months younger than Hsieh. Chu recounted to him the story of the patent infringement lawsuit filed by DuPont.

Hsieh noted that Chu mentioned how when Chi-Ming Chiu, chairman of Precision Industry’s Kato Corporation, was sued by American firm Entegris, both the government and TSMC stood firmly behind him. However, from 2004 to 2009, when Sung Sheng was sued by DuPont for infringement, the company’s revenue was less than NT$100 million, yet it had to spend over NT$10 million annually on litigation fees—with no institutional support. Chu called this period the most painful chapter of his life.

During their visit, Sung Sheng’s General Manager Dr. Shih Wen-Chang explained how traditional insoles differ from Sung Sheng’s products, which can address various sports-related issues and even help treat plantar fasciitis. Dr. Shih is a classmate of Chu Ming-Kuei from United Junior College of Science and Technology. While Chu started his entrepreneurial journey, Shih pursued a doctorate abroad and is now the general manager of Sung Sheng.

Hsieh pointed out that the legal battle between Sung Sheng and DuPont lasted from 2004 to 2009. Later, Chu recruited Dr. Yang Wei-Wen, a materials engineering PhD from National Cheng Kung University. By reviewing numerous academic papers and leveraging unique formulations and self-developed technologies—including micro-porous groove surfaces that allow uniform dispersion of polishing slurry—Sung Sheng found a new path in the CMP pad market, creating a legendary breakthrough.

Hsieh emphasized that they spent considerable time in Sung Sheng’s showroom. "I finally understood Chung Sha’s diamond discs, Sung Sheng’s polishing pads, and TOTO’s electrostatic chucks. They are all crucial members of TSMC’s supply chain. The localization of TSMC’s supply chain has provided the greatest boost for traditional industries’ transformation."

Hsieh added that Chu told him about their humble beginnings, relentless entrepreneurship, and many hardships faced in life. But Chu excels at talent management—Wei Lung-Cheng, a major shareholder of Chiao Hsin, has long been a key investor in Sung Sheng. Both Shih Wen-Chang and Yang Wei-Wen hold PhDs, with Yang now serving as general manager of subsidiary Zhi Sheng. Chu, like Lord Mengchang of ancient China, unites top talents around him.

Sung Sheng’s new factory, located adjacent to TSMC’s Fab 15A and 15B, is currently under rapid construction and will further enhance its capabilities in the future.

"Chu stood at the company gate sharing the bitterness of the lawsuit with me, then came aboard the tour bus to greet everyone. His sincerity and resilience are the foundation of Sung Sheng’s success," Hsieh concluded.