Traditional Industry Transformation, Cultural Creativity Rebirth | GCC: Laser Machines Leader Since 1989

We had the honor of interviewing UBook and its founder, Ms. Wen-Ting Chiu, to delve into the inspiration behind the brand's creation and explore how they skillfully utilized laser engraving machines to transition successfully from a traditional printing business to a cultural and creative industry.

Company Name: UBook
Major Business Items: Cultural creativity, customization, laser engraving
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Website│Facebook│Instagram

GCC Products:GCC LaserPro Spirit 40W, C180II Laser Engraving Machines

From Transformation to Today

Wen-Ting, a geography graduate, initially worked in environmental planning. However, in 2007, she resigned to help her father, who had been running a traditional printing business for over 40 years. As digital books became widespread and environmental awareness increased, the printing industry faced significant challenges. Wen-Ting began exploring ways to enhance the value of printed materials, considering the future direction of the business.

She discovered that laser engraving technology was perfect for customization and began experimenting with ways to integrate it with printing."That was when I started focusing on various types of customization," Wen-Ting recalls. "In the early days, I personally brought a laser engraver to events to communicate directly with customers about their needs." Despite not having formal design training, she leveraged her artistic background and passion for creativity, incorporating these talents into the foundation of UBook.

Initially, UBook's flagship product was customized notebooks. "We weren't sure if this model would succeed, but with our printing background, we felt notebooks were an excellent medium for customization," she said. The idea was to engrave company names, individual names, or personal messages onto the notebooks. She chose to give these customized notebooks to her partners and clients on the Mid-Autumn Festival, so that with their names on them, the gifts would not be passed on. As a result, these gifts were a big hit and received great reviews.

However, during market events like the Red House Market, competitors quickly emerged with similar products at lower prices. Wen-Ting, committed to maintaining product quality and attention to detail, realized that competing on price alone was unsustainable. She decided to pivot the brand’s focus toward higher-value, bespoke services, emphasizing differentiation and uniqueness in products.

(Photo: Richly layered laser-engraved notebook)

UBook and GCC LaserPro

Wen-Ting’s introduction to laser engraving began with her father’s connection to GCC LaserPro. "He threw me into a laser engraving factory to learn the ropes," she recalls. Their first laser engraving machine was a GCC LaserPro. After comparing it to other brands, she found GCC LaserPro stood out for its balance of functionality and cost-effectiveness.

"There were also Chinese-made machines, but they were unreliable and prone to breakdowns," she explained. "German brands, though excellent, were prohibitively expensive, and their precision was unnecessary for printed materials." Over the years, she noted the rise of small-scale laser engravers aimed at makers but found they lacked the professionalism of GCC LaserPro.

Wen-Ting highlighted GCC LaserPro’s convenience for customization: "Other machines often require constant computer operation or work only under fixed conditions, like batch engraving 1,000 items at a time. For us, we need to switch tasks quickly—for example, engraving chopsticks one moment and notebooks the next. This flexibility makes the C180II invaluable."

UBook’s storefront features a C180II laser engraver, requiring staff to have basic design software skills. The workflow is efficient: parameters for common items like chopsticks are pre-set, allowing customers to choose fonts or patterns for instant engraving. Wen-Ting shared a special case where a monk requested scripture, tai chi, and bagua patterns—a fully customized project priced based on design complexity.

In their workshop, two Spirit laser engravers handle larger or more intricate orders. Clients often bring unique materials for customization, and UBook begins with sample tests, adjusting laser power to ensure optimal results. This meticulous process underscores their dedication to quality and professionalism in customization.

(Photo: On-site customization for customers)

UBook’s Laser-Engraved Products

Wen-Ting’s introduction to laser engraving began with her father’s connection to GCC LaserPro. "He threw me into a laser engraving factory to learn the ropes," she recalls. Their first laser engraving machine was a GCC LaserPro. After comparing it to other brands, she found GCC LaserPro stood out for its balance of functionality and cost-effectiveness.

"There were also Chinese-made machines, but they were unreliable and prone to breakdowns," she explained. "German brands, though excellent, were prohibitively expensive, and their precision was unnecessary for printed materials." Over the years, she noted the rise of small-scale laser engravers aimed at makers but found they lacked the professionalism of GCC LaserPro.

Wen-Ting highlighted GCC LaserPro’s convenience for customization: "Other machines often require constant computer operation or work only under fixed conditions, like batch engraving 1,000 items at a time. For us, we need to switch tasks quickly—for example, engraving chopsticks one moment and notebooks the next. This flexibility makes the C180II invaluable."

UBook’s storefront features a C180II laser engraver, requiring staff to have basic design software skills. The workflow is efficient: parameters for common items like chopsticks are pre-set, allowing customers to choose fonts or patterns for instant engraving. Wen-Ting shared a special case where a monk requested scripture, tai chi, and bagua patterns—a fully customized project priced based on design complexity.

In their workshop, two Spirit laser engravers handle larger or more intricate orders. Clients often bring unique materials for customization, and UBook begins with sample tests, adjusting laser power to ensure optimal results. This meticulous process underscores their dedication to quality and professionalism in customization.

(Photo: On-site customization for customers)

Overcoming Imitation and Opening New Frontiers

"Our roots are in traditional industries, so online marketing isn’t our strong suit," Wen-Ting shared. "I also prefer hands-on work, so we mainly rely on word-of-mouth to grow our customer base." She recalled an international customer who received a UBook gift, then sought them out while visiting Taiwan to place a custom order. Before the pandemic, UBook’s retail space in Dihua Street generated around TWD 100,000 in monthly revenue from customized products.

Unlike typical souvenir shops, UBook adjusts its offerings to local cultural themes. "In Dihua Street, chopsticks are especially popular, so we stock nostalgic-style products and utensils. People even call us ‘the chopstick engraving shop in Dihua Street,’" she noted. In youth-centric locations like Taipei Main Station or Ximending, UBook displays colorful designs that appeal to younger and international customers.

Their sophisticated, understated style attracts a core demographic of women aged 30–40, often seeking gifts. Regulars living abroad frequently return to commission custom gifts when visiting Taiwan. Tourists, particularly from Japan, also form a vital customer base, with some visiting through guided tours to experience UBook’s services.

"What sets UBook apart and matters most is our people—their skills and accumulated experience," Wen-Ting reflected emotionally.

(Photo: UBook’s flagship store on historic Dihua Street, filled with retro-inspired items)

Overcoming Imitation and Opening New Frontiers

Years of hands-on experience have allowed UBook to establish unique customization standards. They frequently collaborate with department stores and have developed their laser engraving services into an art form—balancing client interaction, detailed craftsmanship, and brand value enhancement.

UBook also offers consulting services to help stores optimize customization, from machine setup to staff training, providing comprehensive laser engraving solutions to enhance service quality.
"From UBook’s perspective, I always consider how we can differentiate ourselves from competitors," Wen-Ting said. Moving forward, their strategy focuses on elevating product aesthetics to near-artistic levels, creating collectible value, and exploring diverse designs.

In terms of materials, she noted that while bamboo and wood are widely available, they lack the precision needed to fully showcase laser engraving. Paper, on the other hand, allows for intricate details like perforated designs. UBook plans to further integrate printing and laser engraving technologies to break new ground with innovative, creative products.

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Introduced laser engraving machine:

C180II 12-40W CO2 Desktop Laser Engraver

Compact desktop laser engraver with smart vacuum adjustment is suitable for limited space.

Specification

Working Area	458 x 305 mm (18 x 12 in.)
Z-axis	152.4 mm (6 in.)
Wattage	12W~40W
Max. Working Speed	40 IPS

Spirit 12-100W CO2 Laser Engraver

Well-known for its perfect CO2 laser engraving performance makes it a bestselling model in GCC.

Specification

Working Area	740 x 460 mm (29 x 18 in.)
Z-axis	165 mm (6.5 in.)
Wattage	12W~100W
Max. Working Speed	60 IPS

We are happy to answer your questions about any laser products and processing. If you want to learn and do more with GCC LaserPro lasers, we invite you to see our laser engraving and cutting applications videos where you will find out how they physically work and are done.