In 1994, Somic Auto Parts Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Somic") was officially listed in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, which was jointly funded by Shaoxing No. 2 Auto Parts Factory, Japan Somic Ishikawa Co., Ltd. and Toyota Tsusho Co., Ltd.
Over the past 30 years, Somic has not only witnessed the development and rise of China's automobile industry, but also walked with the times and resonated with China's automobile industry at the same frequency to compose a wonderful movement - the market share is more than 50%, the annual sales volume is more than 3 billion yuan, and the product sales volume is growing at a rate of more than 10% every year. 01Set a new benchmark for high-quality development
"For 30 years, we have been unswervingly specialized in the production of automotive steering tie rods, suspension swing arms, ball joints, stabilizer bars and other assemblies, and our goal is to make this field sophisticated and extreme." Shen Baiqing, general manager of Somic, said in an interview with reporters that building a world-class ball joint factory is Somic's firm ideal and belief. In his opinion, if you want to stand out in the market segment, you must make the product to the extreme.
Over the past 30 years, Somic has grown from small to large, and has continued to develop, with an annual output of more than 15 million sets of automotive steering tie rods, suspension swing arms, ball joints, stabilizer bars and other assemblies. The company has invested in the establishment of a provincial-level high-tech enterprise research and development center and a provincial-level enterprise technology center, with the ability to develop synchronously with OEMs, and has become a supporting supplier for more than 100 vehicle enterprises such as FAW, SAIC, GAC, Dongfeng, Changan, BAIC, Chery, BYD, NIO, Ideal, Xiaopeng, and Celis, and has become a leader in the auto parts industry.
"As of May this year, Somic's production and sales have reached a new peak, with a year-on-year increase of 28%, setting a new record again." Zhu Huiquan, director of the product development department of Somice, told reporters that Somice, as an important production base of automobile steering rod and suspension swing arm ball joint assembly in China, has always put quality in the first place for many years, always walked in the forefront of product technology innovation, and has become a benchmark for leading quality and outstanding performance in the auto parts industry. It is revealed that at present, the share of Somic products in the automobile market has exceeded 50%, in other words, at least 5 out of every 10 cars use accessories produced by Somic.
Especially in the era of new energy vehicles, Somic has kept up with the pace of development of the new energy vehicle industry and achieved new breakthroughs. At present, more than 60% of the company's orders come from new energy vehicle companies, which has become a new growth point for Somic.
Strong technology, reliable products and high-quality service have won a good reputation and many honors for Somike. According to reports, since 2003, the company has won the honors of 100 excellent suppliers of auto parts in China, Zhejiang Model Worker Collective Unit, Zhejiang Quality Association Council Director Unit, Zhejiang Patent Demonstration Enterprise, and Shaoxing Key Backbone Enterprise. Over the years, it has been rated as an excellent supplier, an excellent quality unit, and a core supplier by many automobile companies.
Looking back on the 30 years of development, Somic is fortunate to catch up with the good times. First, to catch up with the 30 years of leapfrog development of China's automobile industry, China's automobile has jumped from the original annual output of 1 million to 30 million today, and the production and sales have increased by 30 times, giving Somike a huge space for development; The second is to work closely with joint venture partners to break through advanced technologies and enable enterprises to embark on the fast track of healthy and sustainable development; The third is the support and contribution of all employees of the enterprise, no matter how wonderful the outside world is over the years, Somike has always been distracted, never forget the original intention, so that the enterprise will always maintain vitality.
The management of Somic believes that no matter how the industry cycle changes, no matter how fierce the global competition is, Somic will work closely together to explore new models and paths, and set a new benchmark for high-quality development. 02 Soft and hard power two-wheel drive
The segment is not without rivals, but more competitive. Somike always believes that products are hard power, and only with excellent product quality can enterprises have the right to speak. Especially since the "double carbon" goal was proposed, the automobile industry is facing more severe challenges, such as the lightweight of parts and components, which is the first problem to face.
Therefore, Somic clearly understands this and decisively takes the lead in developing and producing lightweight parts in the same industry as a major measure for the high-quality development of the enterprise. According to reports, since 2018, Somic has developed more than 600 new products. Among them, the proportion of lightweight products in the total product development has increased significantly, and a variety of new products have passed the provincial and ministerial appraisals, and obtained a number of invention patents and utility patents.
At present, the lightweight products independently developed by Somice, including aluminum alloy front and rear suspension control arms and connecting rod assemblies and other parts, realize the serialization and marketization of chassis aluminum alloy parts, which can meet the supporting needs of fuel vehicles and new energy vehicles at the same time, and contribute to the weight reduction of the whole vehicle. According to reports, the aluminum alloy products created by Somike are more than 30% lighter than traditional steel structural parts, and have formed an annual production capacity of 10 million sets of lightweight products.
If the product is hard power, then technology is the blood and wealth of the enterprise. Somick always believes that technology is a strong support for the development of enterprises, innovation is the first driving force to lead the progress of enterprises, only by actively embracing the scientific and technological revolution, accelerating technological iteration and industrial upgrading, can we be invincible in the complex and fierce scientific and technological competition and win development opportunities.
Automobile steering rods, suspension swing arms, ball joints and other assemblies are key components on automobiles, which have extremely high requirements for technology and safety. In order to make Somic ahead of the industry, it is necessary to strengthen its technical strength. To this end, the company has invested 90 million yuan to create an enterprise technology center, and invested more than 200 million yuan in technological transformation every year, which has greatly enhanced the competitiveness of the enterprise and cultivated a large number of compound talents who understand both technology and management.
In 2016, the two national technical standards drafted and revised by Somic were officially implemented, namely "Performance Requirements and Test Methods for Automobile Independent Suspension Ball Pin Assemblies and Test Methods for Automotive Steering Tie Rod Assemblies" and "Performance Requirements and Test Methods for Automobile Steering Tie Rod Assembly", which marked that Somic's technical strength has been recognized by relevant government authorities.
Today, Somicroc adheres to the concept of "quality-oriented, innovation-leading", and constantly develops new products to accelerate product structure optimization and enterprise upgrading. In the face of a new round of market competition, Somike insisted that Tsingshan would not relax, firmly grasp the power of technology, continue to take scientific and technological innovation as the core, further reduce production costs, and improve product quality. 03Accelerate the development of new quality productivity
This year's government work report once again pointed out that it is necessary to vigorously promote the construction of a modern industrial system and accelerate the development of new quality productive forces. As a part of the manufacturing industry, Somic opens up a new track for development, enhances new momentum for development, and shapes new advantages for development with new quality productivity.
The company's leaders believe that accelerating the transformation to intelligent modern manufacturing industry is the inevitable trend of the development of the auto parts industry in mainland China, and the introduction of intelligent and automated equipment can greatly improve the level of product manufacturing. In this regard, Somic has long been at the forefront of the industry.
Somic invests more than 200 million yuan in automation equipment every year, and the equipment automation rate reaches 80%, realizing 100% automatic testing of products. The industry-leading production equipment has effectively improved the automation level of the factory.
Somic firmly grasps the general trend of digital development and spends a lot of money to build a digital factory. With the digital monitoring, instructions and real-time management of the production process, Somic has a digital "brain" to carry out various production and manufacturing more efficiently and accurately. With an annual increase of 15% in technological transformation, the company upgrades production equipment in an all-round and continuous way to inject a steady stream of competitiveness into its products.
In recent years, the company has actively implemented the national "double carbon" policy, invested hundreds of millions of yuan to install 24 megawatts of photovoltaic power generation equipment on the roof of the factory, which can solve 40% of the company's electricity consumption every day, which not only alleviates the impact of power and load limiting, but also reduces the cost of electricity for enterprises, and to a certain extent makes up for the profits of enterprises after the sharp increase in material prices. 04Build a world-class ball joint factory
For 30 years, Somic has focused on auto parts, focusing on automotive steering tie rods, suspension swing arms, and ball joint assemblies. It is this concentration and concentration that has made Somic a professional and a little giant in the field of automotive steering.
Over the past 30 years, Somike has continuously introduced and self-made production, testing and testing equipment, innovated and promoted advanced manufacturing technology, continued innovation and continuous improvement, so that the company has been reborn, and its products are in short supply, and it has established a dominant position in the industry and become a real industry leader.
Over the past 30 years, through continuous technological innovation and continuous improvement, Somic has gradually moved from the original labor-intensive to the current technology-intensive road, and gradually developed from stand-alone manual operation to automated assembly line operation, becoming an advanced manufacturing enterprise.
"Facing the next 30 years, Somic is full of confidence and anticipation. We will continue to carry forward the passion and vitality of entrepreneurship in line with the attitude and principle of harmony, and make unremitting efforts to build a world-class ball and joint factory. Shen Baiqing said.
Text: Yao Huifa Editor: Zhang Yanwu Layout: Li Peiyang
Add a chicken leg to the editor!