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Product Magazines: Product Trends |
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Vol. 1, 2004
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Company Profiles Kitchen Whiz Rising To The Challenge Fine China |
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Merry Chance Industries Ltd
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Innovation is one of the strengths of Merry Chance Industries Ltd, which experiments with different combinations of materials |
When confronted with complex engineering and manufacturing puzzles, senior executives at Merry Chance Industries Ltd, a major Hong Kong manufacturer of kitchenware and houseware, cherish the challenge.
The achievements of the company's engineers and designers are mirrored in several innovative products made at its 300,000-square-foot factory in Shenzhen on the Chinese mainland.
Managing director Steven Kwan says the company's technological capabilities are its core strength.
"We have a strong and experienced engineering team. Unlike in the past, we can't just simply manufacture the product. We have to be able to provide right solutions for customers who design a product and ask us whether we can make it," he says.
One challenge was to produce a range of stainless steel measuring cups with a see-through window made of a composite material. Designers had to ensure the stainless steel forming the cup would bind with the composite material used for the window, so that the seal would not leak, recalls assistant general manager K.Y. Ko, who oversees engineering aspects.
Another product design requiring some engineering mastery was a stainless steel cooking oil dispenser with a transparent window.
"Innovation is a strong point in our operation. We experiment with different materials and try out combinations of materials to make the best product," Ko says.
Set up in October 1989, Merry Chance achieves a monthly turnover of US$2m-3m. It manufactures an extensive range of products: kitchen tools and gadgets, bar sets, serving items and barbecue sets made of materials including stainless steel, hard and soft plastic and silicone rubber, all processed in-house.
There is also a series of cleaning items for the kitchen and bathroom, such as brushes made of one piece of plastic, ones with stainless steel handles and replaceable plastic heads, or others with soap-dispensing features.
In addition, the company makes soft-grip handles for tools such as wire-strippers and pliers, and also handles for industrial tools such as drills, paintbrushes and cleaning equipment.
The company has even developed an innovative range of tiny candy boxes for a Japanese customer.
"To make such a diverse product range, research and product development is essential. Besides, the products have to be functional, not just well designed," Kwan says.
Half the product range is made according to customer designs, while the remainder is designed and made by the company's team on the Chinese mainland. The various manufacturing processes, including metal stamping, tooling and silicone moulding, are handled in-house.
The largest share of the products is shipped to Europe (50%), while 40% goes to the US, with the rest exported to Japan and other countries. Some products are made for well-known European, American and Japanese kitchenware and houseware companies.
What matters most is that Merry Chance has a long-standing partnership with its customers, and such a bond could not be maintained without a commitment to innovation, Kwan says. He adds that the company's manufacturing and engineering capabilities have improved over the years.
After all, the company's products are meant for the middle and high-end markets.
WRITTEN BY KAPILA BANDARA
Merry Chance Industries Ltd
Rm 316, Hope Sea Industrial Centre,
26 Lam Hing St, Kowloon Bay,
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2755-9233
Fax: 852-2751-9865
Email: info@merrychance.com.hk
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