Sailun is an up-and-coming tyre brand from China. We spoke to chairwoman Yan Hua Liu on the sidelines of “The Tire Cologne” trade fair about new products, what makes the brand special and other products beyond tyres.
Sailun is presenting the new generation Sailun Atrezzo Erange, Sailun Atrezzo ZSR2 and Elite 2 tyres at the trade fair. What makes these tyres so special?
For us, technology innovation is the key. Sailun not only develops tyres, but also the compound and the production facilities. We are not just a tyre manufacturer, but a technology company that is constantly working on an optimal recipe and its implementation in new products. You need to know: Our founder Yuan Zhongxue was a professor and researcher of 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 tyres, we have succeeded in improving the tyre overall in all areas thanks to the new EcoPoint technology.
What does EcoPoint3 technology mean?
Our EcoPoint3 technology is a liquid mixture that is easier to mix than conventional production methods. Instead of the energy-intensive mechanical mixing of fillers into the rubber, 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 tyre, resulting in better performance, less abrasion, better rolling resistance and good grip. Tyres with EcoPoint3 are more durable, longer-lasting and more energy-efficient than tyres with a conventional compound.
And in production?
The new technology also offers advantages in this area. Liquid materials can be processed more efficiently and energy consumption is reduced by up to 36 per cent. On the other hand, silica is used instead of carbon black. This further reduces the CO2 footprint. As we not only develop tyres but also machines for tyre production, we have over 20 years of comprehensive expertise in the entire value chain of tyre development and production. Sailun integrates production, research and product simulation into the development of new products in one process at one location. This is unique.
How do you develop your tyres further?
It’s not just about the tyres themselves, but about their rubber compound. And we are very well positioned here: Sailun was founded as a technology and testing platform for tyres in order to develop new rubber compounds. Since then, our employees have been working together with Qingdao University of Science and Technology to improve the process. In the past, we didn’t know who our customers were because we sent the tyres to the dealers. Now we can identify them better, analyse them and study the strategic map of the country. What’s the weather like, what’s 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 tyres. In this way, we will soon be able to adapt the tyres to the respective market.
What does that mean?
The temperature range in Europe is very large. Producing a tyre for the whole of Europe is always a compromise. With the EcoPoint3 technology, we can now create a harder compound specifically for very hot regions such as Spain than for cooler Norway. No matter whether for cars or lorries. In future, we will be able to produce different products for different markets.
How do you want to grow further?
Over 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 for us to provide our customers with comprehensive support. We know from customer surveys and tests that our tyres can keep up with the well-known competitors or are even better in some cases – at significantly more attractive prices. We must continue to communicate this and underpin it with further products.
Which products will these be?
We go into all sectors: Passenger cars, agriculture, mining, industry. More and more new products are being created to fulfil the requirements of customers in the various sectors and to make the brand more widely known. Sailun manufactures car and truck tyres, as well as other brands such as Maxam, Dynamo and RoadX. We also produce tyres for other well-known tyre manufacturers.
How many tyres do you want to produce in Europe in 2024?
Europe is a large market, our market share is still quite small, but the potential is huge. We can produce as many tyres as customers want. Globally, we are planning a total capacity of 103 million car tyres with around 18,000 employees. In addition, there are around 26 million truck tyres and 447,000 tonnes of OTR. I believe in a great future for Sailun in Europe.
Do you produce exclusively in China?
Sailun produces the tyres worldwide. In addition to the five factories in China, there is also one in Cambodia and one in Vietnam. This year, another factory will be added in Indonesia and Mexico. We are currently examining further locations worldwide for our global activities. Our basic research takes place in China, but our research and development centres are spread all over the world. Local knowledge is important for tyre development. This is the only way we can react quickly and adequately to local needs.
Many of your employees wear Sailun shoes at the trade fair. A new product?
Oh, that’s a funny story. Eight years ago, I travelled to India. After the long journey, 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, he got to the bottom of it, bought various slippers with different rubber compounds from a shoe shop and analysed them. He is an incredible researcher and then developed a new mixture of silica. From this, the trainers were born. For the time being, however, this was just to show what Sailun could produce with his technology. But who knows what the future holds.