Linglong eyes innovation with SI Group

(Delegation of Linglong Tire Co Ltd and SI Group (Shanghai) Co Ltd at the signing ceremony in Zhaoyuan city, East China's Shandong province, Jan 14, 2014.  Yang Shuwen/Chinadaily.com.cn)

Aiming to become a world-class tire manufacturer, Linglong Tire plans to speed up innovation by signing a strategic deal with its material supplier SI Group (Shanghai) Co Ltd, a subsidiary of US-based chemical intermediates manufacturer SI Group, on Thursday.

Research and innovation in materials are keys to increasing the performance of tires while maintaining the advantage of comparatively low price, said Wang Feng, President of Linglong Tire Co Ltd, at the signing ceremony.

He said that as world's first-class resin material supplier, SI was Linglong's perfect partner in material supply.

SI Group Shanghai has been East China's Shandong-based tire company's material supplier for some time. And both sides' strategic deal on Thursday shows growing cooperation between the two companies, according to the tire company.

Besides continuing to supply quality materials, SI would also deepen cooperation with Linglong in technological research, said Yao Lihong, sales director of SI in Asia Pacific.

Linglong plans to sell 90 million tires annually during China's 13th Five-year Plan (2016-2020), and steadily become one of world's top 10 tire manufacturers, said the company.

Wang also said that Linglong aims to catch up and overtake top-class tire companies in manufacturing high performance tires.