LC Fuel Tank aims for lasting reputation in classic car market
2022/10/25 | By CENS | LC FUEL TANK MANUFACTURE CO.∎ Dennis Hsiao
LC Fuel Tank is regarded as the top fuel tank maker in Taiwan. Thanks to its early entry into the industry in 1977 and as the oldest fuel tank company in Taiwan, LC Fuel Tank benefited from General Manager Chan Yu-Peng's foresight as it maintained its lead ahead of the competition for at least a decade in supplying and designing fuel tanks.
LC Fuel Tank furthered competitiveness by investing in the die (tooling) and production equipment. Clients do not need to design and produce their own molds, as the company has amassed and maintains over 3,000 dies. The strong product-mix flexibility and its tooling advantages allowed them to quickly become the one-stop supplier for fuel tank products among European and American market customers, eventually positioning LC Fuel Tank as the go-to shop for classic car enthusiasts.
For example, one of its clients in the U.K. is veteran maker of vintage fuel tanks and shows the traditional sensitivity towards non-handcrafted fuel tanks with high standards towards quality control. Yet, the company had chosen LC Fuel Tank as its primary supplier due to the company’s semi-automated production chain, which helps maintain consistent product quality, while addressing the labor shortage and bridging the knowledge gap.
A factor in maintaining consistent product quality is Chan’s decision to procure Japanese-manufactured machinery and prioritizing long-term preparedness over cutting back on costs, and short-term profits.
The company expects to see significant increase of its manufacturing capabilities going into 2023 as its new factory can house more inventory and its impressive die/tooling collection. For instance, the new equipment introduces a 25%-increase of efficiency for the powdered-coating process in the fuel tanks surface treatment stage.
The powdered-coating technology introduces better weather resistance properties and increases coating thickness three times more than the typical coating. In a nod towards sustainable business operations, the powered-coating technology features less pollution, addressing both environmental awareness and prioritizing employee health.
The new factory also allows LC Fuel Tank to follow the Build-to-Stock model by equipping the new factory grounds with production capabilities and space. For example, the company fitted an automatic overhead conveyor washing tunnel in the coating line to streamline the products' cleaning process and improve coating adhesion.
In the past, LC Fuel Tank normally worked with clients under a ODM/OEM basis, but Chan has expressed ambition in building a solid brand reputation under the “UN Fuel Tank” name. The company is currently looking to expand and deepen business contacts and operations in the North American market, regarded as the number one classic car sector due to the prevalent DIY culture and high reliance on cars as the primary transportation needs. The classic car industry has a huge potential in developing new products and LC Fuel Tank is best positioned to tap into that, especially with recent models becoming collectibles as well.
