Finding a manufacturer in China can seem like quite a daunting task, especially if you are doing it for the first time. Business owners who are intimidated by the enormous task at hand can take heart from (yes!) a Chinese proverb:
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“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
This is good advice. If you break up your task into little steps and focus on each one of them at a time, you will be importing your first shipment home from China before you know it.
So where do you start? This read will walk you through how to find a manufacturer in China.
You first need to build a shortlist of Chinese suppliers who manufacture the product you are looking for.
The internet: The internet is the default option for many people seeking to source products from China. More than a general Google, Bing or Yahoo search, hitting B2B platforms may be more helpful. These are online sourcing platforms such as Alibaba, Global Sources and Made in China, which connect buyers to Chinese manufacturers. Finding a supplier on these sites is as easy as typing in your requirements in the search bar. It helps if you are specific here. For instance, instead of “brass locks”, you could search specifically for “brass die cast drawer and cabinet locks”.
Since there are thousands of suppliers in China, you could filter them depending on reviews, and the platform’s rating process before shortlisting them.
Alibaba, for instance, gives its suppliers “gold” ratings, which purchasers see as a sign of trustworthiness. Similarly, Global Sources has a “verified supplier” category.
Look for manufacturers, not resellers or traders.
While these resources are useful to draw up a shortlist, it is important to remember that many businesses thrown up by search engines and sourcing platforms may be resellers, not manufacturers. While sourcing from such middlemen may be ok if you are buying products to retail such as beauty products, toys, clothes, or cheap electronics, when you require products that must meet specific technical requirements such as die casting, metal stamping and plastic molding manufacturing it is best to identify a manufacturer and source from them directly. Most importantly, this also reduces costs. You can weed out resellers while verifying suppliers (more on that later).
“Gold” or “verified ratings” are not the last word on trustworthiness. What you also need to remember is that any supplier who pays Alibaba an annual fee for premium membership can get gold supplier status, which increases the vendor’s visibility on the site.
Similarly, tags like “verified supplier” could simply mean that the supplier has been verified by a third party and the company physically exists. It does not necessarily mean that the B2B platform has checked if the company is what it is claiming to be – a manufacturer as opposed to a trader or reseller. It also does not mean that their stated manufacturing capabilities and production capacity have been verified.
These terms are therefore useful in filtering your search results but should not be taken as the last word on the trustworthiness of the companies you find on these platforms.
Industry network: Another useful resource is your own industry network. This could include recommendations from trade bodies, your business contacts in the industry and even other companies.
Trade fairs: If you are up to it, visiting a trade fair in China is an excellent way to find manufacturers or suppliers. But your ability to spend that amount of time and money will depend on the size of your business, the kind of products that you want outsourced and, of course, your budget.
Visiting such fairs will help you understand why China is called the world’s factory. It will also give you a sense of what is available in the market. Some global brands also visit the bigger fairs for the sole purpose of safeguarding their intellectual property, by identifying counterfeits displayed at these events and initiating action against their manufacturers.
China’s largest trade fair is the Canton Fair, which is held in Guangzhou (formerly Canton) twice a year, in April and October. This mega fair attracts close to 26,000 exhibitors and 180,000 buyers from across the world and is a good experience for those seeking to scope out the market, looking for new products to add to their inventories.
The Canton Fair has been described as “the trade show of everything” and this is precisely the reason it is a good starting point for how to find a manufacturer in China.
There are smaller fairs such as the China Diecasting fair, an annual exhibition that is being held in Shanghai. It brings together manufacturers, die casting foundries, suppliers of material, equipment and accessories under one roof and usually attracts some 450 die casting enterprises as exhibitors and 19,000 visitors.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to travel to China, you could look at trade fairs in America that attract manufacturers from China such as The National Hardware Show, which has a section on international sourcing. It is held every year in Las Vegas.
There is also the IMTS or International Manufacturing Technology Show, which is held every even-numbered year in Chicago. It attracts buyers and sellers from 117 countries.
At these exhibitions you could build contacts with exhibitors of products similar to what you are looking to outsource. But do remember, you are likely to find a limited pool of suppliers from China to choose from at such US-based events.
Sourcing agents: Businesses that are relatively new to outsourcing could team up with sourcing agents who will help them identify suppliers and guide them through the process step by step.
Sourcing Allies, for instance, has been helping companies in the US and Western Europe manufacture and source goods from China, India and Eastern Europe for over a decade, and has a proven sourcing process.
Our multicultural team consisting of British, American and Swedish expats living in China for years takes care of a lot of the research and due diligence that buyers must do while looking for a manufacturer in China.
Our team guides purchasers through the process of getting quotes from a supplier, reviewing the quotes, evaluating factories in China, resolving any issues that crop up, drawing up payment terms, managing the complexities of communicating your manufacturing requirements, quality control inspections, shipping and transportation, administration and ensure that the goods arrive at your desired location as scheduled.
China is huge and should actually be considered as many different regions rather than a single large one. A good sourcing agent will be able to identify low-cost regions that are the best fit for you. For instance, you will probably be able to find manufacturers that fit your needs in several Chinese provinces, but you will be more likely to find more consumer electronics manufacturers in Guangdong province while die casting and plastic molding manufacturers are found in great numbers in Zhejiang province.
You will need to put in work too, of course, but relying on experience within the sourcing field will help you avoid common mistakes and ensure that your outsourcing project is successful from the start. Once your sourcing partner knows your expectations and needs, the process to outsource your next product or component will be pretty straightforward.
Your initial searches will throw up a number of potential suppliers and you will need to cut this list down further. You can do this by contacting each of them, telling them your requirements such as:
You could also ask them for more information about themselves, which will help you with the verification process (more on that later). This could be details such as:
Here’s a pro tip: When you contact suppliers in order to draw up a shortlist, do create a separate to send out these enquiries as your inbox is likely to be be clogged by the responses many months after you first send them out.
You can shortlist potential manufacturers based on the responses you get. Assess them on a number of points. For instance, pick manufacturers who focus on making the kind of component you are looking for instead of a cornucopia of components, as specialised expertise is always valuable. You could also give preference to manufacturers in China who already supply to clients abroad because they would be acquainted with western quality expectations, nitty-gritty of customs requirements and the complicated logistics of international shipping.
You now need to verify their credentials. While some obvious information is available online and they may have supplied you with some information too, you need to evaluate:
There are many ways you can do this. Besides asking them for their business licences and other certifications, ask for the factory’s audited accounts, check its Value Added Tax invoice, and ask for product samples. You could also identify the factory’s Chinese name, its location and the local government office under whose jurisdiction it falls. This office will have the factory’s registration records, which you can use to verify the details they have provided to you.
Knowing which Chinese region specialises in the product you want manufactured is also one way of weeding out resellers from manufacturers. For instance, die casting and plastic molding manufacturers are found in great numbers in Zhejiang province. So, if you find that a supplier is based in another province, that company is more likely to be a reseller than a manufacturer and you may want to drop that name from your list.
Many people in the sourcing business would also recommend that you make a trip to visit shortlisted factories in China before you finalise on a manufacturer. It is common for buyers to combine such trips with visits to a trade fair or two so that they get maximum bang for their buck. Alternatively, a good sourcing agent will do this China factory verification for you.
This article was written with the assumption that you have already identified what component or part you want outsourced.
Just in case you are unsure what that is, here is what you must do before you even hit the internet to look for Chinese manufacturers.
First, take a close look at your full range of products and components. Not everything is suited for manufacturing in China or other low-cost regions across the globe.
You want to make sure that the products you want to move have large enough dollar value and quantity to make a difference on your financial statements. The products need to be mature and have plenty of product life cycle left. Prototyping and innovations rarely fit this description. You want the time and effort you put into outsourcing to be worth your while.
I suggest starting small with a narrow scope. Choose a very well-defined product or component with great, up-to-date drawings. You want to get a small, quick win so that everyone in your team stays motivated.
Make sure your product drawings and specifications are up to date. You know your products best and all that knowledge needs to be communicated to whoever is going to make them. If your drawings are full of red felt pen comments, it will be wise to get all of that into new drawing revisions. Keeping drawings and specifications in great shape is mandatory and will pay dividends in the long run.
Make sure that potential issues in manufacturing are identified. Any problems you have now will rarely disappear when being made in a low-cost environment across the globe. Do not get me wrong. There are tons of very capable manufacturers out there, but they need to know what you know and you must highlight potential issues to address them.
Your products do not need to be labor intensive for you to move to a low-cost manufacturing environment, but outsourcing labor intensive products is more likely to have a greater impact on your cost savings. The value-add in your products makes a difference too. For instance, sending an I-beam to China for a few holes to be drilled into it does not make much sense. However, outsourcing the manufacturing of products and components that require extensive machining can provide substantial cost savings.
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Sourcing Allies is a team of expert China sourcing agents that has helped western customers manufacture and source products from low-cost regions since .
As we all know, China is the world’s largest manufacturing country, affected by the epidemic, WPC products are sought after by consumers, people use WPC decking, WPC wall panels, WPC fences, etc. to improve their houses and gardens, making their living environment more comfortable and pleasant. As a result, the purchase volume of foreign buyers reached a new high in recent years, many Chinese manufacturers said foreign orders are full, each factory is constantly catching up with work. If you also want to seize this windfall and join the procurement army, it is especially important to choose the right supplier.
This will help you find the right supplier to provide you with quality products that will help you open up sales and generate substantial profits.
Today we will analyze these outstanding suppliers & manufacturers in China.
Anhui Sentai WPC Group Co., Ltd. was founded in , whose registered capital is up to 88.66 million RMB. The headquarter of Sentai Group is located in the Economic and Technological Development Zone of Guangde County, Anhui Province, China.
As a national high-tech enterprise, Sentai is engaged in research, development, production and sale of biomass thermoplastic composite materials.
The main product of Sentai is WPC board, which is mainly applied in wood replacement, integrated house building, automobile interior decoration, etc. Since the characteristics of WPC are recyclable and eco-friendly, Sentai product is considered as the typical representative of circular economy in environmental protection products. At the same time, Sentai Group plays an import part in the strategic emerging industry of 12th Five-Year Plan and 13th Five-Year Plan.
Years of devotion to production and downstream market development of WPC products has accumulated rich experience for the company. At present, Sentai has become a leading manufacturer in WPC decking industry in China market。
It’s strenth product are wood plastic composite outdoor decking and other customized wpc products .
KR Building Material was founded in to meet the growing need for sustainable materials.
They have a deep commitment towards innovation and providing customers with products of high quality that will last through time, no matter what KR’s latest flooring accomplishments are–from international certification by authoritative agencies like EU CE & FSC globally recognized brands today!
The company is located in Xuancheng, Anhui Province, and has a modern production plant with 50 imported production lines and 120 workers, including 25 R&D staff, 12 quality control staff and 10 sales team.
Their WPC is a much more elegant, classy and sustainable option than plastic. The beautiful aesthetics of their select timber grain appearance makes it superior to wood with less propensity for rot or cracking in the long term. They have many different colors available that you can mix together to create your own style refrain from any preconceived notions about what color scheme would look best on your project!
KR product range as below :
They have a professional sales team that can calculate the correct quantity and accurate price according to customer’s project needs. They also offer all sorts of solutions for their clients’ questions, making them one-stop solution providers!
All their products are exported all around the world, main market as below :
KR has always been the go-to brand for affordable and high quality products. They provide tailored services to customers who want something in a hurry, without sacrificing style or design aesthetics. The company motto says it all: “KR Strong.”
KR’s advantages are that they offer a variety of options to suit your needs. They also have fast delivery, customizations on demand and affordable prices– all at the factory direct level! As an added bonus for customers looking forward to starting their business with low MOQ requirements free samples can be provided as well so talk directly from designer who will provide after sales guidance too if needed remotely through or calls.
New techwood is a pioneer in the development and manufacture of composite decking , siding , deck tiles , railing and other outdoor products , since it’s beginning in .
They have been on the cutting edge in wood plastic composite technology , to develop products that brings beauty and practicality to space worldwide.
Guofeng is a listed company, established in , with a registered capital of 70 million RMB, its predecessor is a state-owned enterprise, mainly undertaking various government orders, and is a large manufacturer of outdoor decking.
Main products they can do is 1st generation WPC ( normal PE WPC ) , 1.5st generation WPC ( Co-extrusion for WPC + WPC ), 2nd generation WPC ( co-extrusion for PE+WPC ) , 3rd generation WPC has been finished, And also for PP or PVC WPC .
They have owned 40 patens for wood plastic composite products .
Incorporated by Professor Xu Kaihua in Shenzhen on December 28, and made its IPO on Shenzhen Stock Exchange in January (stock code: ), GEM Co., Ltd. represents Green, Eco, and Manufacture. By the end of , the company had witnessed a total share capital of 4.784 billion shares, a net asset of 13.6 billion Yuan, an annual output value of more than 20 billion Yuan, and nearly 5,100 registered employees. As China’s first listed company in urban mine resource exploitation, GEM ranks the 58th among top 100 best companies in Shenzhen, and is one of the top 500 manufacturing enterprises in China, one of the top 500 patent-driven enterprises in China . It is a globally leading company in the cemented carbide material industry and the new energy material industry, also a world-leading waste recycling enterprise and a globally-advanced and representative enterprise in the green and low carbon industry.
GEM strengths
They mainly focus on the development and production of raw materials for wood and plastic products。
GEM include the Davos “Global Circular Economy Multinational Award” and the “Paulson Prize for Sustainability – Green Innovation Award”. It has been recognized as one of the globally leading green and low-carbon enterprises as a remarkable and typical practicer for the development of China’s recycling society and green concept. By doing this, GEM lifts China’s capacity in recycling economy to a world level and makes positive contributions to the construction of a recycling society and a green and low-carbon industrial mode.
Nanjing Jufeng Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. is a national high and new technology enterprise specialized in manufacturing WPC material with the registered capital of 30 million yuan. Based on the unique and most advanced imported WPC production line in China, our company has taken on multiple scientific and technological projects including the 863 Plan, and was titled as “Jiangsu Enterprise Academician Workstation”, “Jiangsu Private Hi-tech Enterprise”, and now it is the “Organizer Unit of Making WPC National and International Standard”.
Jufeng WPC is green and eco-friendly with wide applications which can replace wood raw material (without maintenance cost and has over 15 years’ service life); with the annual capacity of 30,000 tons, our production and sales rank top in the domestic and is the leading enterprise as for its engineering projects rank first in China.
Their wood plastic composites decking usually used by domestic projects , such as road , garden and hotel .
Huasu New Material Science & Technology Co., Ltd. is a professional manufacturer of new eco-friendly wood plastic composite products in China. They have more than 10 years experience providing WPC. Over those years, they have grown into a Large Enterprise and one of the big players in the WPC market with more than 60 extruding lines and 150+ employees.
They can produce wood plastic composites decking , wpc wall panels,wpc fences, wpc deck tiles , etc., and are available in a wide range of colors and models.
HaoYun Plastic Bamboo & Wood Material Co,.Ltd is a professional Wood/Bamboo-Plastic composite manufacturing company integrating R&D, marketing. Located at Zhejiang , China , The company covers an area of 30,000 square meters with annual production capacity nearly 15,000 tons
This company specializing in the production of “HaoYun”brand wood/bamboo plastic composite. Products include: outdoor decking,PVC integrated wall panels, PVC corners and fittings, DIY deck tile, railing, planter, leisure stool chair, other series of outdoor and garden products. Applicable outdoor balconies, walkways, steps, courtyards, small garden ornaments and so on.
They produce this new wood/bamboo plastic composite profile by modern biological technology together with some special additives. Has the double advantage of nature wood and plastic material. This is a new type of green environmental material, possesses some superior characteristics like waterproof, anti-corrosion, pest resistances, high strength, easy processing, free maintenance, free of paint and many other features. Their main market in Asia.
Each factory has its own strengths and weaknesses, so you can choose the right supplier for your needs in terms of product style, color, price, quality and quantity.
If your procurement volume is large and your price requirement is not very high, then choose a listed company with large production capacity, so that the delivery time and quality will be guaranteed.
If you have a medium volume of purchases and need cost effective products, then choose a new company like KR. The price of their products and their services are currently more competitive in China.
If you have a small purchase volume and need a low price, it is better not to choose these suppliers because they may not have time to process your order.
In short, the supplier that can match your needs is the best.
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