Tong Hong Taiwan's No. 1 Maker Of Engine Gasket Kits

Established in 1969, Tong Hong Automobile Parts Co. is one of Taiwan's most experienced maker of engine gaskets, and its largest. The ISO9002- and QS9000-approved company also produces rubber parts, oil seals, and valve-stem seals. Its products are marketed worldwide under the THG, KP, and NR brands.

About one-and-a-half years ago, Tong Hong completely upgraded its 16,000-square-meter plant in Tainan, southern Taiwan, with the installation of the most advanced high-end equipment. Now, the company says, it is fully prepared to fill the rapidly growing demand for its auto-engine gasket-kit products, which feature original equipment (OE) quality along with aftermarket prices.

Tong Hong attributes its global competitiveness to reasonable prices, reliable quality, punctual delivery, and superior, prompt services. In addition, says David Wu, Tong Hong's sales manager, Tong Hong has a number of unique attributes that make it one of the most competitive producers in the line.

First, he says, is an in-house production ratio of over 90%, which is unmatched in Taiwan. The company has over the years systematically boosted its self-production ratio through constant long-term investment, with the aim of assuring the highest quality, shortest delivery times, and most efficient cost control.

The firm's second unique attribute, Wu says, is its concentration on the development of products exclusively for Japanese engines. This policy has remained unchanged, even though most other producers in the line have extended their attention to European autos as well. Wu comments that Tong Hong has developed more than 3,000 distinct engine-gasket repair kits over the past 30 years, over 95% of them for Japanese autos and the rest for Japanese forklifts and agricultural machines. The Japanese orientation will not change, at least in the short term, because the company has established what seems an unassailable niche as one of the world's most comprehensive suppliers in its segment and all resources, including R&D, manufacturing, sales, and customer groups, are relevant to expansion within that segment. In recent years the company has diversified into gasket-kit products for Japanese heavy-duty truck engines with the aim of enhancing its one-stop-shopping attractiveness.

A third unique attribute for Tong Hong is strong product-development capability that adds at least 150 new gasket-repair kits every year. Product development is not limited to just copying standard models, Wu explains--every spec must be precision-designed, because the repair kits are used on old and/or damaged engines that require ever-higher safety and durability. To meet this requirement, the company uses top-end equipment for such tasks as material analysis, material inspection and testing, design, and measurement.

A fourth unique feature is top quality, which is achieved by numerous other factors in addition to in-house production. For example, the company takes great care with every detail of the production process, from design and mold development to manufacturing, with the aim of achieving the same product standards as those of OE parts. The company even uses identical materials whenever possible, and settles for substitute material only if the original is not available.

Please contact the company for more information at: No.1 Hsingyeh Rd., Kangchien Tsun, Hsinshih Hsiang, Tainan Hsien, Taiwan; tel: (886-6) 599-1711 (5 lines); fax: (886-6) 599-3077, 501-1996; e-mail: webmaster@tonghong.com; website: www.tonghong.com