Xeros Technology scores collaboration with Chinese washing machine manufacturer

Xeros Technology on Wednesday signed a licensing contract with Jiangsu SeaLion Technology Development, a subsidiary of Chinese washing machine manufacturer Jiangsu SeaLion Machinery.

The agreement will see SeaLion integrating Xeros' water saving technology provider’s proprietary technologies into its commercial washing machines and selling them through its distribution network in China on an exclusive basis.

SeaLion has offices in each of China's 30 provinces and in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing, serving customers in the hotel, industrial laundry, hospital and dry cleaning markets

The Chinese manufacturer will be the first partner to integrate Xeros’ new XDrum technology, which is a low cost solution for OEMs to incorporate its patented water saving XOrb polymer technology into their machine designs.

Mark Nichols, chief executive of Xeros, said: "We selected Sea-Lion given their market-leading position, extensive distribution network and our successful working relationship since 2013. We see significant opportunity in China across our portfolio of technologies, given both the scale of the marketplace and the central government's plans to improve sustainability and reduce water consumption."

Government objectives to keep control of water consumption stem from the country’s rapid urbanization and has been essential since China began to open up its economy to global markets in the 1980s.

Company research indicates that 27,000 commercial washing machines are sold in China every year and water rates are increasing significantly for industrial users across large parts of China.

Hong Chen, chairman of Jiangsu Sea-Lion Machinery, said: "Sea-Lion's machines using Xeros' technology will be the leader in offering both better cleaning to our customers and delivering laundry solutions which can radically reduce water consumption in support of the Government's sustainability objectives and green agenda."

Xeros Technology’s shares were up 9.43% at 72.50p at 1342 BST.