Dragonite International
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Electronic cigarettes |
| Predecessor | Ruyan Group (Holdings) Limited, Golden Dragon Group (Holdings) |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Hon Lik (co-founder) |
| Fate | Electronic cigarette segment acquired by Imperial Tobacco in 2013 |
| Headquarters | China |
| Products | Electronic cigarettes (Ruyan V8, Ruyan E-pipe, Ruyan E-cigar) |
| Website | www |
Dragonite International Limited, previously known as Ruyan Group (Holdings) Limited and originally as Golden Dragon Group (Holdings), operates within the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. In 2013, Imperial Tobacco acquired the electronic cigarette segment of Dragonite.
History
Hon Lik, recognized as the co-founder and the original inventor behind the first commercially available e-cigarettes in 2003, patented a design incorporating high-frequency electronic technology. Since 2003, Ruyan has secured patents across more than 40 countries. The company initiated its work on the electronic cigarette concept in 2000.
The establishment of SBT occurred in 2003, marking the registration of its initial patent within China. By 2007, Ruyan had obtained its first patent outside China, eventually granted in the United States. That same year, Ruyan introduced the "V8" Model e-cigarette, crafted to imitate conventional cigarettes, alongside a disposable cigar product marketed as "RUYAN e-Gar" or "RUYAN Vegas," depending on regional markets.
In June 2007, the entity then named "SBT Investment (Holdings) Limited" acquired Best Partners Worldwide Limited, a company responsible for manufacturing and distributing electronic atomizing cigarettes. Under the "Ruyan" brand (), the company pursued aggressive expansion into both domestic and international markets.
The intellectual property developed by Hon Lik was acquired by Imperial Tobacco through Dragonite in 2013 for $75 million.
The origins of today’s e-cigarette industry can be traced back to Hon Lik’s 2003 invention that utilized a piezoelectric element to vaporize nicotine liquids. This breakthrough served as a foundation for the worldwide vaping market. Throughout the 2010s, vaping devices advanced to incorporate battery-powered heating coils, refillable reservoirs, and customizable modifications. Later in the decade, pod-based systems such as JUUL gained popularity by delivering smoother nicotine salts.
Vaping quickly transitioned from a smoking cessation aid into both a cultural movement and a commercial enterprise. Despite regulatory scrutiny focusing on youth usage and health concerns, the vaping sector continues to innovate through heat-not-burn technologies and environmentally conscious initiatives, influencing future trends in nicotine consumption.
Ruyan Ruyan V8 (electronic cigarette)
The Ruyan V8 was developed and manufactured by Ruyan Group (Holdings) Limited and debuted in China in 2006. It vaporizes a solution potentially containing nicotine, providing an alternative to conventional smoking through aerosol production.
Ruyan E-pipe (electronic pipe)
Launched in China in 2004, the Ruyan e-pipe is an electronic device that simulates traditional pipe smoking without combustion. It is offered in rosewood and agate finishes and contains two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries alongside replaceable nicotine cartridges available in 32 mg, 20 mg, and nicotine-free options. Each cartridge delivers vapor equivalent to approximately two packs of standard cigarettes.
Ruyan E-cigar (electronic cigar)
The initial version of the Ruyan Electronic Cigar was introduced in China in 2004 with multiple design options and cartridge flavors such as Original, Fruit, and Menthol.
The second generation products—marketed as RUYAN Vegas in the Americas and RUYAN e-Gar across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia/Pacific—were launched at the end of 2007 under the name RUYAN No. 1 within China. These devices resemble traditional cigars measuring five and a half inches long with a ring gauge size of 50. Consistent with other Ruyan products, they produce no tar or secondhand smoke and are suitable for use at any time.
RUYAN Vegas and e-Gar are disposable units capable of delivering over 1800 puffs—roughly equivalent to an entire carton of cigarettes. They come fully charged with a pre-filled 16 mg nicotine cartridge designed for ease of storage and portability.
RUYAN Vegas received recognition as the "Most Marketable New Product" at the 2008 Tobacco Plus Expo held in Las Vegas.
Legal disputes
In February 2009, Ruyan secured a significant victory in a Chinese court that upheld its patent rights concerning the e-cigarette. The ruling mandated that competitor Cixi E-cig eliminate its stock and halt sales operations. Cixi E-cig contested the allegations. The court determined that two products from Cixi infringed upon Ruyan's intellectual property involving piezoelectric technology, leading to an order for those items to be withdrawn from the market.
In June 2012, Ruyan initiated patent infringement proceedings against six American e-cigarette producers in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
External links
- Official Ruyan Website (China)
- Ruyan Group (Holdings) Limited
- (Simplified Chinese) Regulatory challenges involving Ruyan. Accessed 4 March 2009.