R&D Pushes Chang Loon to Top of Taiwan's Hand Tool Industry
2009/07/30 | By Steve Chuang | CHANG LOON INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.The Chang Loon Industrial Co. has been specializing in the development and production of hand tools ever since it was established in the central Taiwan county of Changhua back in 1978, making it one of the island's pioneers in the line. Today it is Taiwan's biggest exporter of ratchet wrenches, and a solid reputation in markets all over the world.
In its early days Chang Loon earned profits by making low-end tools for trading companies and large local contract manufacturers. But it was not satisfied with this mode of operation, and dedicated itself to the constant improvement of production capability and capacity.
The company soon realized that the only way it could compete globally was by focusing on quality and committing itself to R&D, and now it is recognized as a supplier of high-quality gear wrenches and bolt cutters that meet international standards such as ANSI and DIN.
Chang Loon's chairman, Chang Chih-ming, stresses that each product development project requires the participation of every manager and supervisor in the company. This dedication shortens product development time, assures the marketability of new products and, through feedback from buyers, helps guarantee that they meet the needs of users.
Among Chang Loon's hottest sellers is a ratchet wrench that is made of high-grade chrome vanadium and is hot drop-forged and heat treated to reinforce durability and appearance. What really sets this wrench apart from its counterparts, however, is a built-in 72-tooth precision ratchet mechanism that, after years of development and improvement, adds amazing functionality to the product.
This ratchet mechanism assures that each 5-degree turn is made with minimum noise and maximum torque. With a sophisticated structural design and extremely precise tolerance, it is perfect for use in confined spaces and for auto repair work, plumbing, and machinery maintenance.
Another product of Chang Loon's R&D work is a 3-in-1 bolt cutter with special heat treatment of the upper ends of its two arms for a strengthened structure and effective performance. It also has patent-protected serrated cutting edges that help the cutter grasp round bolts firmly and cut them effectively.
The bolt cutter meets the demand for light weight and sturdiness. It is also extra convenient to use, being able to cut wires, bolts, and cables without the use of any other tools.
Value-added Packages
Chang Loon is also known for its value-added packaging. Chairman Chang comments that his company is inspired by new trends in different sectors-fashion styling and stationery, for example-to design dye-catching, practical packaging that boosts the marketability of its products and helps speed them off the shelves of retail stores.
The company is fully in accord with the world's growing concerns about environmental protection and strives to design material-saving packages made of recycled corrugated paper instead of materials that might do harm to the ecology. The packages are especially popular with Europeans, who are known for their enthusiasm for the natural.
Chang Loon's persistent hard work on R&D has paid off by giving it a solid reputation in Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Canada, and the United States. Chang emphasizes that R&D is the company's bread and butter, and the chairman recognizes that devotion to it is the only way to remain competitive and fend off cutthroat price competition in the world market.