Yinlun to expand passenger car sales

Zhejiang Yinlun Machinery Co., a leading heat exchanger maker in China, expects exports in 2007 will climb roughly 50 percent to 442 million yuan ($60 million).

Sales in 2007 are expected to hit 884 million yuan ($120 million), of which about half is for export, says Cao Qingyun, director of the company's international department. He says Yinlun's exports in 2006 were 295 million yuan ($40 million).

Yinlun produces oil coolers, intercoolers, aftercoolers, and exhaust gas recirculation coolers of aluminum, stainless steel and copper brass.

The company supplies key diesel engine manufacturers, including Cummins in the United States, Pertins in Britain and Deutz in Germany, as well as major domestic engine and truck makers such as Yuchai Group and Chongqing Heavy Vehicle.

Yinlun plans to boost its small share of the passenger-vehicle market, says Cao. For passenger vehicles, the company's core product is aluminum oil coolers, which are mainly used for large sedans.

The company supplies Honda's plant in Thailand and two years ago entered Ford Motor Co.'s global supply chain. The company also supplies Mercedes-Benz and Volvo through Valeo and Delphi.

Yinlun also supplies parts to Chery Automobile Co., Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. and Beijing Automotive Industry Corp.

Revenue in the first nine months of 2007 increased 33.4 percent to 626 million yuan ($85.0 million), driven by the expanding market demands for intercoolers and plate-fin oil coolers.