The Fujian Sanli Engine Company Ltd
First established in 1983, Sanli parent, the Fujian Sanli Engine Company Ltd, has developed over the years into a major group of companies specialising in a wide range of engineering, manufacturing, product distribution and sales and after-sales support activities.
Among the company’s key engineering activities are precision die-casting and gear production, CNC machining, paint powder coating, product assembly, finishing and testing. The company has established also a dedicated research and development centre for its engines, motorcycles and outdoor power equipment, all of which are manufactured in Jinjiang City and sold world-wide under the Sanli brand name.
Supporting the development and production of Sanli-branded products is a team of more than 80 specialists that includes post-doctoral researchers in engine and motorcycle development, global experts in garden machinery and outdoor power products as well as highly- skilled senior engineers and technicians, a number of which are recipients of the State Council Allowance Scheme.
As far back as 2002, the Fujian Sanli Engine Company established a Technical Research and Development Centre that satisfied National Standards. Among the advanced equipment installed at the centre are a laser plotter, a high precision three-coordinate measuring machine, a CNC processing centre, work stations and supporting network systems, an engine test bench and motorcycle performance test bench.
In partnership with Zhejiang University, the company developed the GS 125 electronic fuel injection system and the CG 125 continuously variable transmission (CVT) system. In the wake of these two important achievements, the company developed and produced independently and successfully its REBEL 150 twin-cylinder petrol engine which has won widespread acclaim throughout the industry.
In 2002, the Fujian Sanli Engine Company was awarded ISO 9001 (2000) Quality Management System certification leading, in 2003, to the gaining of the CCC (China Compulsory Certificate) Mark.
One year later, the company was inspected and accredited by the National Development and Reforms Commission as "an enterprise meeting the criteria concerning access requirements for an automotive manufacturer and its R and D capability.” In fulfilling all six categories of access requirements, the company became a formally-recognised motorcycle manufacturer.
The Fujian Sanli Engine Company’s administration, research and manufacturing operations cover a total area of 300,000 sq m with more than 210,000 sq m being devoted to product manufacture. Within the centre’s advanced production, inspection and testing facilities can be found specialist equipment for die-casting, stamping, machining, injection moulding, powder coating and heat treatment.
Currently, the company operates 10 assembly lines capable of building the entire range of SANLI products. Additionally, there are five paint lines together with associated areas for welding, machining , injection moulding and related manufacturing and finishing processes. The production equipment inventory numbers close to 400 individual items.
In 2005, the Fujian Sanli Engine Company was awarded the title of ‘Provincial Enterprise Technology Centre’ and is in the process of gaining accreditation as a ‘National Technology Centre’.
Over recent years, the company has won a plethora of local, provincial and national government honours and, in 2008, was honoured to be asked by the Standardization Administration of China to chair the drafting of the first National Standard on lawnmowers. Subsequently, the company was appointed a member enterprise of various engine and machinery standardization committees and sub-committees.
Meanwhile, the development of new Sanli products continues apace alongside ongoing research and development as part of the National Key New Products Programme, the National Torch Project and the Provincial Key New Products Programme.
Annual production capacity of Sanli motorcycles currently stands at 400,000 units while the combined annual production of Sanli petrol and diesel engines together with all types of powered equipment now exceeds one million units. The total number of Sanli specialist gardening and landscaping machines alone that can be produced annually by the company is around 600,000 units.
These numbers are expected to show a continued rise as the Fujian Sanli Engine Company establishes new overseas subsidiary operations to complement the existing successful enterprises that have been set-up already within Europe, Africa and Australia, among them the European headquarters of Sanli UK Ltd.