Established in 1980, the ISO9001: 2000-certified Sheng-E Enterprise Development Co. supplies a complete range of cylinders, pistons, and other engine parts and components for autos and motorcycles.

With strong development and manufacturing capability, Sheng-E last year began mass production of high-grade nickel silicon carbide (ceramic) motorcycle cylinders along with hot-forged pistons. The company's president, King (T.Y.) Hsieh, reports that the inner wall of the new cylinder model liners is electroplated with ceramic powder to provide a stronger and smoother surface. The company is so sure of its offerings that each unit comes with a five-year, 200,000-kilometer warranty.

In addition to greater durability, Hsieh says, Sheng-E's ceramic cylinders have other advantages that traditional metal models cannot match, including better heat resistance, improved heat dissipation, zero carbon accumulation and engine knock (thanks to more complete combustion), and heightened fuel efficiency.

To help get optimum performance out of its new ceramic cylinders, Sheng-E has also developed a series of hot-forged pistons to go with them. Hot-forged pistons have a much smoother surface than pistons made via other methods, Hsieh says, because of the high-precision processing utilized and the greater hardness achieved by special heat treatment. In addition, he goes on, the firm's pistons are much more durable and their quality much more stable than those of pistons made via the traditional gravity die-casting method because their ratio of cold shrinkage and heat expansion is much lower.

The president reports that his company has developed a complete range of ceramic cylinder/hot-forged piston sets for almost all 50cc to 250cc Honda and Yamaha motorcycles, and will be developing sets for larger bike engines as well as automobile engines. Sheng-E also offers custom-made design and manufacturing services to meet differing customer needs.

Other major items in the company's product line include piston rings, connecting rods, and crankshafts for motorcycle engines. The company currently 100% self-produces the products at three plants in mainland China, including one in Fujian Province (about 800 employees) and two in Guangdong Province (each with about 200 workers). According to Hsieh, Sheng-E's monthly output includes 30,000 to 40,000 cylinders, 500,000 pistons, 20,000 to 30,000 crankshafts, and about 100,000 connecting rods.

The products are shipped to both OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and replacement market customers in Southeast Asia (which takes about 60% of total exports), the U.S. and Europe (30%), and Japan (10%).

Sheng-E's plant in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, is dedicated to piston production. At this facility all design, manufacturing, quality- and inventory-control processes have been highly computerized to achieve the highest efficiency.

Hsieh claims that Sheng-E never stops in its efforts to become "better and stronger" in all areas, and the company's top priority is to provide customers worldwide with the best products, most competitive prices, and best services.