Focusing on Creating Value Enhances Jann Yei's Competitiveness

The staple gun maker's sales actually rose during the downturn

Staple guns have come a long way since the days when people merely used them as household tools; but with the integration of air power, such tools are widely adopted by professionals in construction and carpentry. Taking staple guns and tackers beyond their apparently limited potential is Jann Yei Industry Co., Ltd., which has managed to tap innovativeness to create various staple guns for specific tasks, ones that exceed simple nailing of staples and tacks.

Founded in 1984 in Taichung County, central Taiwan, Jann Yei churns out varieties of staple guns, hammer tackers and electric staple guns, including low end to upscale models that are exported mainly on an ODM (original design manufacturing) basis, over 50% of which go to Europe and the remainder to America.

One of the company's hot-sellers is electronic staple gun that features plastic-coated bodies, compact design, and prolonged product life rated at over 40,000 repetitions, making it ideal for industrial use. Also, the company's JY 669 series cable tackers that can attach cables to surfaces with a plastic ring for safety are popular with DIYers for decorating Christmas trees.

In addition to functionality, eco-friendliness makes the company's products even more competitive. Being developed and manufactured to meet RoHS standards and tested by SGS, the line is recognized by some globally well-known tool brands.

Originally a subcontract manufacturer, the company is one of a few specialized makers of staple guns and tackers in Taiwan, mainly because most local producers are uninterested in such products that generate modest margins compared to other professional tools like ratchet wrenches. Such trend has not deterred Jann Yei from working hard on product quality and R&D, helping to put the maker on the global map of top-caliber staple guns and tackers.

New Products
Unfazed by the global meltdown of 2009, Jann Yei continued to engage in R&D, successfully launching this year a couple of new products with innovative, value-added functions to fully tap the economic recovery.

The company's managing director Chen Ton-yi introduced the JY2262 opposing staple gun, with its handle configured towards the opposite end from where staples are ejected. The design enables the user to more easily put pressure on the tool and drive staples more accurately, as well as reduces possibilities of wrist injuries. Besides, the staple gun has an improved recoil-absorption system, longer lifespan with higher number of cycles than competing models. “The tool also features better finish and exterior design and is available with customized designs,” says Chen.

Also, the company has launched a series of traditional staple guns upgraded with an improved trigger mechanism, enabling each staple gun to handle two to five different staples and tacks of either American or European standards, in contrast to typical models that can handle only a single sized staple. In addition, such mechanism also helps to prevent staple guns from being damaged by loading of wrong staples and tacks. Chen says that the improved trigger mechanism was developed in-house and multi-nationally patented.

Adding Value
A way to add value to products for the maker is to develop innovative staples and tacks, which also helps to set the company apart from rivals. A series of plastic staples in sizes from 1.15mm to 1.8mm have been launched this year. Chen says that the staples, made of special plastic, are hard enough to drive into solid wood, as well as being rustproof and resistant to weather and UV. The plastic staples are perfect for working on wood products.

The plastic staples are also economical alternatives to traditional metal tacks and staples, considering metal prices have spiraled. “Staples are expendable. Therefore, we try to create extra value for customers by providing cheap but sturdy staples,” says Chen.

But making such staples calls for higher manufacturing technologies and more advanced equipment, so the company has spent considerable resources and time to upgrade production capability and flexibility.

The downturn miraculously drove up sales in 2009, with the growth fueled by professional, higher-end staple guns and tackers. “This made us realize that professional demand thrives despite economic fluctuations, which is more reason to focus on creating value,” says Chen.