Ask: “Sailun is presenting the new generation Sailun Atrezzo Erange, Sailun Atrezzo ZSR2 and Elite 2 at the trade fair. What makes the tires so special?”
Yan Hua Liu: “For us, technological innovation is key. Sailun not only develops tires, but also the mixture and the production facilities. We are not just a tire manufacturer, but a technology company that is constantly working on an optimal recipe and its implementation in new products. You should know: Our founder Yuan Zhongxue was a professor and researcher in rubber science and industrial development at QUST (Qingdao University of Science and Technology) in the 1990s. He was responsible for translating educational research into applicable business solutions. With the new generation of tires, we have succeeded in improving the tire overall in all areas thanks to the new EcoPoint3 technology.”
Ask: “What does EcoPoint3 technology mean?”
Liu: “Our EcoPoint3 technology is a liquid mixture that can be mixed better than conventional production methods. Instead of mechanically mixing fillers into the rubber, which is energy-intensive, the liquid filler is distributed more evenly and precisely. In combination with the adhesion promoter used, we achieve a particularly strong bond between the rubber polymers. This ensures greater durability in the tire, thus better performance, less abrasion, better rolling resistance and good grip. Tires with EcoPoint3 are more durable, longer lasting and more energy efficient than tires with a conventional mixture.”
Ask: “And in production?”
Liu: “The new technology offers advantages here too. Liquid materials can be processed more efficiently, and energy consumption is reduced by up to 36 percent. On the other hand, silica is used instead of soot. This further reduces the carbon footprint. Since we develop machines for tire production in addition to tires, we have had comprehensive know-how in the entire value chain of tire development and tire production for over 20 years. Sailun integrates production, research and product simulation into the development of new products in one process at one location. This is unique.”
Ask: “How do you develop your tires?”
Liu: “It’s not just about the tires themselves, but about their rubber compound. And we’re very well positioned in this respect: Sailun was founded as a technology and testing platform for tires to develop new rubber compounds. Since then, our employees have been researching improvements together with the Qingdao University of Science and Technology. In the past, we didn’t know who our customers were because we sent the tires to the dealers. Now we can better identify them, analyze them, study the strategic map of the country. What is the weather like, what is the road like. Then we design the right products for them. Our customers help us to further improve our products. They give us valuable feedback to further develop the tires. This means we will soon be able to adapt the tires to the respective market.”
Ask: “What do you mean by that?”
Liu: “The temperature gradient in Europe is very large. Producing a tire for the whole of Europe is always a compromise. With EcoPoint3 technology, we can now specifically put together a harder compound in very hot regions like Spain than in cooler Norway. It doesn’t matter whether it’s for cars or trucks. In the future, we can produce different products for different markets.”
Ask: “How do you want to continue to grow?”
Liu: “In the next few months, we will be introducing more new products and new technologies for our European customers. We also want to hire more field service technicians to strengthen our network. It is important to us that we want to provide our customers with comprehensive support. We know from customer surveys and tests that our tires can keep up with the well-known competitors or are sometimes even better – at much more attractive prices. We need to continue to communicate this and underpin it with additional products.”
Ask: “What products will these be?”
Liu: “We are involved in all areas: passenger cars, agriculture, mining, industry. More and more new products are being created to meet the needs of customers in the various areas and to further promote the brand. Sailun produces passenger car and truck tires, as well as other brands such as Maxam, Dynamo and RoadX. We also produce tires for other well-known tire manufacturers.”
Ask: “How many tires do you want to produce in Europe in 2024?”
Liu: “Europe is a big market, our market share is still quite small, but the potential is great. We can produce as many tires as customers want. Globally, with our approximately 18,000 employees, we are planning a total capacity of 103 million passenger car tires. In addition, there are around 26 million truck tires and 447,000 tons of OTR. I believe in a great future for Sailun in Europe.”
Ask: “Do you produce exclusively in China?”
Liu: “Sailun produces tires worldwide. In addition to the five factories in China, there is one each in Cambodia and Vietnam. This year, another factory will be added in Indonesia and Mexico. We are currently examining other locations worldwide for our global activities. Our basic research takes place in China, but our research and development centers are spread all over the world. Local knowledge is important for tire development. This is the only way we can respond quickly and adequately to local needs.”
Ask: “Many of your employees are wearing Sailun shoes at the trade fair. A new product?”
Liu: “Oh, that’s a funny story. Eight years ago I traveled to India. After the long trip I wanted to relax by the pool in the hotel, put on my flip-flops and promptly slipped on the slippery floor. When I told my boss Yuan Zhongxue about it, he got to the bottom of the matter, bought various slippers with different rubber compounds in a shoe shop and analyzed them. He is an incredible researcher and then developed a new mixture of silica. This is what the sneakers were made of. For now, however, only to show what Sailun can produce with its technology. But who knows what the future will bring.”
