Fine-tuning Garden Tools Help Makers Take On Tough Times

After some 50 years of steady industry and dedication, coupled with adopting a tried-and-true strategy of emulation via partnerships, technology transfers etc., garden tool makers in Taiwan enjoyed a golden age a few decades ago, with a handful still achieving enviable profits in certain segments, but times have changed. However and more importantly, these makers have, despite more volatile business climates, successfully accumulated invaluable technical know-how, as well as sharpened their professionalism, even gained a wider perspective through doing business with international clients, hence becoming more globally-savvy and ready to take their products across national boundaries, especially into less well-trodden markets where competition is more manageable.

The fact is that surviving in the global garden tool market is no longer as easy as in the past for most Taiwan-based makers, even the experienced ones. One reason is that garden tool manufacturing is a traditional industry that has relatively low technical, capital thresholds, which allow fairly easy entry by most enterprising makers in emerging nations. Also emerging makers, especially in third-world economies, are more motivated, will bear paper-thin margins, and usually won't think twice about copycatting or underselling just to attract buyers. Plus in recent years metal and oil prices have been climbing steadily to cause inflation and add to the cost of production and business operation, all of which make life for garden tool manufacturers in Taiwan tougher.

In the midst of intensifying competition globally, an often accepted rule-of-thumb in business is go upmarket, where profit margins are better, to ward off price slashers at the low-end who know only to compete by underselling. A few, especially the ones who have accumulated financial clout over the years, have adopted such strategy-applying substantial know-how, experience to develop and fine-tune garden tools to meet global demands for more innovative, stylish and practical products.

40-year Veteran

One supplier who boasts 40-plus years of experience in production and development of cutting tools is Winland Garden Tools Co., Ltd., founded in Taiwan's central county of Changhua.

Operating two factories in Taiwan with a workforce of more than 100, Winland offers a wide range of cutting tools, including ratchet pruners, fruit pruners, glass shears, garden knives, multi-function scissors, forged pruners, long-reach garden shears and related accessories on an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and ODM (original design manufacturer) basis.

Keenly aware of the marketing value of private label development to build brand recognition, Winland has spent 20 years to groom its own Winland brand. Emily Wu, assistant sales manager, notes that Winland-branded garden tools, which meet PAHs ((Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) requirements and GS standards, are particularly well-received in the U.S. and Europe.

Wu says that Winland's success is attributable to its longtime devotion to R&D: consistently fine-tuning cutting tools so they outperform competing models in function and quality, pointing out that ergonomics and multi-functionality are outstanding features of Winland's product lines.

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For instance, one notable product is the Ratchet Pruning Shear, which is remarkable with its multi-stage ratchet mechanism that enables better leverage-resulting in 50% easier shearing than conventional models. Also the "non-stick coated blades" and non-slip TRP (thermal rubber plastic) handles make for better operation, with removable lubrication sponges to keep blades from rusting. This product sells well in Europe for its innovative functions and reasonable prices.

Another product that has benefited from Winland's experience, dedication is the Auto-Rotating Bypass Pruning Shear. After studying user behaviors and dynamics, the company has built TRP-coated handles that swivel, which effectively minimize strain and fatigue. Also, the swiveling-handles make the shears suitable for both right-handed and left-handed users

"Winland is a very well-known, seasoned maker in the line. We have been competitive for 40 years due to our dedication to R&D," Wu stresses. "Also customers trust us because we focus on quality and on-time delivery."

Integrated Production

Another company whose dedication to garden cutting tools has eventually moved it to set up in-house integrated production lines to achieve stable quality is Yi Ying Metal Enterprise Co., Ltd., which was established in 1984 in Changhua County.

Yi Ying is a successful example of a manufacturing industrial crossover: the firm began making auto and motor parts and then applied its experience to produce and develop garden cutting tools on an OEM and ODM basis. Its years of devotion to the field has enabled the company to evolve into a highly competent supplier, whose product line includes cutting tools, shears, hedge shears, pruners and telescopic loppers.

Proud of his company's strong know-how and integrated in-house production lines, P.W. Lai, president, says, "Yi Ying can handle in-house mold development, product design and nearly all downstream production processes, which effectively enables the company to achieve production efficiency and turn out products fully meeting requirements." Having such well-rounded production capability also facilitates both Yi Ying and customers to develop new products.

Showing a prototype of its new bypass hand pruner, slated for launch next year, Lai says that Yi Ying fine-tuned the product to achieve more eye-catching looks and colors. Its streamlined body and dual tones of white and red, coupled with a single- button design allowing easy fixing of the two pivotally-connected handles, make for an excellent product. He adds that an innovative two-stage spring mechanism makes pruning far easier than conventional models, while coated, ergonomically-shaped handles effectively protect hands from injury, blisters due to repetitive use.

Full in-house development and production capability also helps Yi Ying to better control product quality and meet global eco-friendly standards. For instance, the company can fabricate SGS standard-compliant pruners as specified. And Yi Ying is noteworthy for being highly praised by some leading European brands.

After 20 years of steady progress in production capability, Lai says Yi Ying has grown into one of the most skilled pruner suppliers with independent R&D resources in Taiwan.

Versatile Manufacturer

A pioneer who deserves to be called a jack-of-all-trades in manufacturing is Sheng Yih Hardware Enterprise Co., Ltd. Established more than 30 years ago in 1976 in Changhua County, this maker not only turns out garden cutting tools, but is also capable of manufacturing a variety of household and industrial items.

Operating a factory of about 33,000 square meters, the company offers a wide spectrum of garden tools, including pruners, tree pruners, garden tools, handle tools, gardening peripheral equipment and parts, shovels, floral scissors, branch pruners, waterpipe shears and lawn shears. Being a versatile OEM (original equipment manufacturer) supplier, the company also offers hardware, household products, building materials, molds, forged and die-cast products, aluminum zinc castings, lighting fixture parts, household hardware, plastic products etc.

So far, Sheng Yih has successfully shipped products to Europe and Japan, building a solid reputation by being committed to quality and delivering cutting tools that perform well.

Company chairman J.T. Hsieh deserves ample credit for steering Sheng Yih towards success. He has tapped years of know-how and keen perception to spot imperfections in garden tools to improve such products, a feat that has enabled the company to go upmarket, effectively evading ruthless price-cutting rivalry in the global market.

Real-world Experience

Hsieh stresses that his company's garden cutting tools feature better functions and innovations than others, adding, "Only by engaging in R&D based on real-world experience can we optimize performance of a garden cutting tool." Such belief has been materialized in its newly developed ratchet pruning shear, which Hsieh shows, features superbly innovative dual-pivoting blades, which cut more efficiently and easily than single-pivoting models.

Furthermore, this dual-pivot design, already patented in Taiwan and Germany, makes the shear versatile-able to cut twigs and branches as thick as 20mm without needing to use heavy-duty tools. To respond to female-specific needs, Hsieh has adopted new materials to build lightweight garden shears; while integrating ergonomic handles, easy-to-use and portable features help to enhance added-value.

"We continue tapping practical experience to develop new products and steadily fine-tune items to attain optimal performance via real-world trials," Hsieh once again stressing his R&D concepts. "We simply aim to provide practical, useful garden tools that live up to and exceed users' expectation."