Kun-Chi Wei, vice president of Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry and chairman of Diing Kuen Plastic Machinery Co. Ltd, started his journey in the food machinery industry at the age of 17, and has been in the business for nearly 40 years. Now, he’s taking his enterprise to a global level step by step, while investing in the education field and social welfare with passion. Not only did he donate money to help with CCU’s academic development, but he also put effort in promoting industrial collaboration in the Southwest Coast, all for cultivating local talents. CCU awarded Kun-Chi Wei the honorary doctorate degree on the 17th, to thank him for his long-term care and support for the school’s administrative affairs, faculties, and for his dedication to the county.

Kun-Chi Wei had a tough time growing up in Chiayi, for his family was struggling financially. He started working in a food machinery company through his brother’s introduction after graduating junior high school, while attending higher education at night. At the age of 19, he got promoted to the company’s operations manager, his job was to make arrangements with over 300 collaborated firms. This was, in fact, the turning point of Kun-Chi Wei’s life. He said, due to his stubborn and probing nature, he was a bit distant to the firms in those years, causing him to miss out on numerous opportunities. However, those experiences became valuable knowledge for this entrepreneurship later on.
In 1986, Kun-Chi Wei founded Diing Kuen Plastic Machinery Co. Ltd., with a focus on export sales. He took on the world with the External Trade Development Council. Apart from being personally dedicated to promoting sales, he mentioned, if they were to export products abroad, he will travel to the designated location and help with implementing machines in person. This act helped Kun-Chi Wei nurture mutual trust and feedback from agents. Despite the company being passed down to the second and third generation, he still maintains a good relationship. What’s more, Kun-Chi Wei’s entrepreneurship motto: “We offer top-quality products and services that can leave our customers satisfied.” has helped him sell his products to over hundreds of countries all over the world, and customers have nothing but good words for them.

Speaking of getting into contact with CCU, Kun-Chi Wei said Lin-Jin Yi, chairman of Bei-Huei Culture and Arts Foundation was his benefactor. After being recommended to TAMI, he joined CCU Tsu-Yuan golf team, which was famous for raising funds for charity. This was the starting point for Kun-Chi Wei to be invested in CCU. After that, Kun-Chi Wei also participated in activities in Friends of CCU and CCU Education Foundation successively, in an effort to make the transition from cultivating talents in universities to working in business environments easier. Ever since the year of 2015, he signed a cooperation project with CCU, while stationed in the startup land. He even connected with TAMI and pushed several related cooperation plans. He believes that CCU’s abundance of high-tech research materials, especially in the field of intelligent machinery, could help upgrade Taiwan’s machinery industries.

Today, before the witness of TAMI, Kiwanis International, CCU Education Foundation, Association of CCU Alumni, Friends of CCU, and multiple other local groups of Chiayi, CCU principal Zhang-Hua Fong awarded the honorary doctorate degree of management to Kun-Chi Wei. Apart from thanking him for his contribution to CCU, this doctorate degree is also a certification of his endless effort for the education field and charity as an entrepreneur. His endeavor really proves that he is an excellent role model for alumni. Upon seeing enthusiastic participation from all groups, Zhang-Hua Fong noted how it highlighted Wei’s success as an entrepreneur, warmly welcoming him to CCU’s alumni.

Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Kun-Chi Wei is also a committed philanthropist. He founded the Cih-Ren charity, cared for underprivileged children, and even donated resources to help arrange sketching contests for elementary schools in rural areas, giving kids who are passionate about art a place to show their talents. He has also been donating to Bei-Huei Culture and Arts Foundation, Li-Ming Charity, Taiwan Fund for Children and Families, Ruo Jhu-Er Charity, and Tainan City Baihe Nei-Jiao Elementary School continually.

Over the past 15 years, Kun-Chi Wei has donated nearly 2 million NTD, while generously contributing company vehicles and aiding in the improvement of CCU’s school operations. Chairman of CCU Education Foundation, Jin-Shu Chen, also pointed out not only did Kun-Chi Wei personally purchased and gifted 35 ear thermometers during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, but he also donated nearly ten million NTD when he was the chairman of the foundation. He extended his support even further by inviting esteemed individuals such as Barry Lam, president of Quanta Computer; Morris Chang, founder of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.; Ying-Tai Lung, former Minister of Culture; and Hwai-Min Lin, founder of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, to share their insights and experiences with CCU’s teachers and students.

Chien-Wei Kuo, president of the Association of CCU Alumni, expressed pleasure to have another alumnus of CCU, and he sincerely welcomes Kun-Chi Wei into the group. Friends of CCU president Shu-Mei Lyu also said: “Chairman Kun-Chi Wei has accomplished many great things on multiple occasions. He really has a kind heart, the heart of loving CCU forever.” TAMI’s former chairman Ba-Si Ke said, while Kun-Chi Wei was the vice president, he frequently advised the government on strategic policy and industrial development matters, which was instrumental in facilitating the successful establishment of the precision machinery in Dapumei and Machouhou. It’s clear as day that he’s the role model of the production industry.

Reflecting on his journey, Kun-Chi Wei touchingly said, when he decided to become a businessman, despite encountering financial difficulties, not only did his brother help with giving all his life savings, but Kun-Chi Wei’s wife’s support cleared all his worries, so he can keep pursuing new heights. “My family, my wife and her family, all of them supported me. This is what made me a lucky man.” Wei expressed. Regarding being awarded the honorary doctorate degree, he modestly said, his contribution was little, in fact, he was the one that kept gaining knowledge from CCU’s professors. He also urged members of Friends of CCU, Kiwanis International, and TAMI to utilize CCU’s resources wisely. “CCU is Chiayi’s best domain of resources, while enjoying them, remember to reciprocate by supporting the alma mater.” he added.