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Published on December 1, 2007

Deputy managing director Kasem Inssaraphithakkul said the company planned to boost its proportion of exports to 30 per cent of sales.

Kasem said the company's optimism stemmed from a qualitative improvement that would meet the quality standards of its foreign customers. He explained the company had created a new formula for its brake pads using non-asbestos organic technology, which would give it an edge over its rivals.

In addition, the company spent Bt60 million to acquire a machine used for testing brake-system standards. Kasem said this would ensure that the company's brake products achieved quality standards.

"In 2008, we're confident of increasing our sales, following greater marketing efforts to push our new products," said Kasem.

He said the company would also expand its business into the original-equipment service market for its auto-manufacturing clients.

Asia Compact Industry now has a market share of 7 per cent for premium brake products and about 63 per cent for standard brake products.

Kasem said the company expected to increase its market share in premium products to 15 per cent next year.

The company is expecting only 2-per-cent growth in sales revenues this year, to Bt400 million, due to a 16-per-cent slump from last year in sales of buses and lorries. Rising oil prices are the main reason for the sluggish bus and lorry sales.

Asia Compact Industry has registered capital of Bt165 million and annual production capacity of 180,000 sets of brake products. The company plans to expand its brake-products capacity to 1.5 million sets a year.

Watcharapong Thongrung

 The Nation