We're thrilled to share an exciting adventure with you. Some of our team embarked on a journey to China to visit one of our esteemed suppliers: Xhorse.
Xhorse: Innovating Through Technology
Xhorse is more than just a supplier; they pioneer product innovation and advancement. Their commitment to creating better tools for auto locksmiths is unwavering. Leveraging the latest technology, Xhorse designs and manufactures products that genuinely help professionals in their daily work. From key-cutting machines to key programming tools, remote testers, and immobiliser programmers, Xhorse's range of products is vast and impressive.
What Sets Xhorse Apart?
Wide Range: Xhorse produces an array of tools catering to various locksmith needs. Whether you're cutting keys or programming them, Xhorse has you covered.
Innovation: Always at the forefront of technology, Xhorse consistently pushes boundaries. Their commitment to staying ahead ensures that their products are cutting-edge.
Quality: Xhorse strikes a balance between innovation and quality. Their tools are priced reasonably without compromising on performance.
Trip to Ningbo
Members of the 3D Group team were invited to visit the new, soon-to-be-completed Xhorse factory in Ningbo, China, along with a selection of other leading Xhorse distributors from around the world, including India, Australia, Malaysia, Spain, and Italy, among many others. We were accompanied by Jack, the founder of Xhorse, Robin, their COO, and several other Xhorse employees. During the same trip, we also visited their current factory, which is near the new one.
"We have met Xhorse many times at their head offices in Shenzhen. However, this was the first opportunity to see their old and new factories. Both were extremely professional, well-organised and vast!
We had a great time strengthening our partnership with the fantastic team over at Xhorse. Jack (Owner of Xhorse) has a strong vision for the future of Xhorse and wants 3D Group to be a part of this amazing journey. We are excited to see what the future of Xhorse and 3D Group can bring to the UK in the near future." Dean Sanderson - 3D Group Director
The Growth of Xhorse
Despite only trading since 2012, Xhorse has grown rapidly, becoming one of the largest companies within the automotive locksmith sector.
The current Xhorse machine factory has become too small to cope with the production requirements needed to meet the market demand for their products. The new facility is massive—80,000 square meters (approximately 262,000 square feet)—dwarfing the current factory in the same region, which still measures an impressive 20,000 square meters (approximately 66,000 square feet)!
Custom-built accommodation for up to 500 employees is also available within the factory grounds. However, the factory has enough space to employ approximately double that number. Employees share twin apartments, with each having their own bathroom facilities. On the ground floor below the apartments, there will be a range of kitchen spaces, which will allow employees from different regions of China to cook their own cuisines separately, as many regions in China are known for their unique styles of food.
Green spaces surround the factory. Whilst we were there, gardeners were busy planting trees, grasses, and flowers to beautify the area. Some of the vegetation was even grown in Jack's own garden, especially for this purpose. At the front of the factory is an impressive piece of stone. This stone was placed to improve the feng shui of the site, and soon, it will be engraved, showing Xhorse's vision for the future. Walking around the grounds, we noticed that even the manhole covers were Xhorse branded. When we pointed them out, Robin explained that Robots would be used to regularly inspect the sewerage and drainage systems to identify any maintenance issues.
The facility's on-site security and access control systems are all Xhorse-designed and built. Facial recognition software helps keep the site and its content safe while giving the factory manager an overview of who is in the building at all times. At the factory entrance is a large glass security building with a vast range of monitors, allowing the security team clear visibility over the whole site.
Numerous machines within the facility were built by Xhorse, some of which have been created to build other machines required for either production or quality testing of products. These state-of-the-art machines utilise lasers to check measurement accuracy, and each batch of products is recorded using a QR code, allowing technicians to scan a product and access a myriad of related information. Strict QC within the factory includes checking components, soldering, and measurements, ensuring that every product that leaves the factory is of the highest quality.
Much of the machinery from the old factory nearby will be utilised at the new site. Still, an additional $10,000,000 worth of machinery will be added, increasing the number of CNC machines to approximately 100! This allows for efficiently producing many custom components that can be built on-site. Jack explained that his ultimate aim is to be fully self-sufficient so that the production of all parts can be monitored and controlled within the company.
A big step towards this occurred due to a shortage of processors during the pandemic. Xhorse decided to research and create their own, protecting themselves from market variances that could otherwise hinder the production of their tools and equipment.
We had a break from the tour to enjoy some coffee, locally produced tea, and locally grown fruit, some of which came from Jack's garden, much like the flowers mentioned earlier. During this break, we were invited to discuss various topics and Xhorse products and services, and Robin gave us a detailed presentation on Xhorse's past, present, and future. We also had the opportunity to view a range of exciting new products that we can't wait to share with you once they are closer to being market ready.
Building the Relationship with Xhorse
At 3D Group, we take immense pride in being a distributor of Xhorse products. Recently, we had the honour of joining Xhorse in celebrating the inauguration of their new factory. This event marked a significant milestone, and we are excited to play a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s future here in the UK.
Just as Xhorse visited our new headquarters late last year, each interaction provides us with an opportunity to strengthen our already excellent relationship. We look forward to continued collaboration and growth as we navigate this exciting journey together.
