Garden Tool Makers in Taiwan Keep Building Innovative Features

One maker uses aluminum head in pruners for lightweight and excellent strength

By STEVE CHUANG

Just as Taiwan has become home to a few of the world's most popular bicycle brands, the makers of garden tools on the island have also built globally-renowned reputation as major suppliers over the past decade, which has been mostly achieved by a steady program of product improvement to enhance value-added functionality, a key advantage many insiders say help makers to build success and fend off underselling.

Driven by steadily recovering global economy, Taiwan turned out NT$13.56 billion worth of garden tools in the first quarter, for a 9% annual increase, with NT$12.63 billion in export, up 19.2% annually, according to statistics compiled by the Metal Industry Research & Development Center (MIRDC).

Despite the coming low season in the third quarter, some manufacturers in Taiwan who concentrate developing new products have continued to launch cutting-edge garden tools to further build global profile this year.

Long Reach Pruning Stick
A product with substantially improved features is the Long Reach Pruning Stick developed by Jiin Haur Industrial Co., Ltd.

Since such tool is meant to reach high places, users generally need lightweight without compromised structural strength. So the maker has built the pruning stick with an aluminum head for enhanced stiffness and durability compared to rivals with plastic heads, which can suffer fatigue in extreme cold, says the manger Grace Wu, who adds that that the structural design of the head is also improved for greater cutting efficiency.

With the actuating wires connecting the blades to the handle of stainless steel for longer lifespan and rust-resistance, the blades are of high-grade steel alloy imported from Japan, coated with PTFE and hard chrome to enable easy cutting of twigs up to 30mm in diameter without worrying about fouling by sap. The head also has an integrated, safety-shielded saw blade for added convenience, enabling occasional cutting of thick twigs before shearing.

The adjustable handle, with design patented in Germany, the U.S., Taiwan and Japan,

is of TPR for comfortable grip, has shank-integrated cutter retracting and locking mechanism. Simply turn the knob to loosen the handle and then depress along the shank to retract the cutting blades.

Popular in Germany, USA and Japan
Available in bypass, anvil and trimmer models, the pruning stick, debuted early this year, is popular among professional and DIY users in Germany, the U.S. and Japan. A notable feature of the anvil model is the specially grooved blade to firmly clamp twigs.

Founded in 1977 in Taiwan's central county of Changhua, Jiin Haur is a proven manufacturer of garden tools such as long-reach pruners, pruning shears, grass shears, tool racks, drop-forged pruners, razors and scissors, as well as a series of power tools such as battery-powered shears and cordless screwdrivers, all certified to GS, VDE, UL, and CE standards.

Ho Cheng

Grape farmers in Europe reportedly are finding very practical the Professional Pruning Shear launched by Ho Cheng Garden Tools Co., Ltd.

A product of the maker's consummate manufacturing capability and R&D, the shear features a cast aluminum alloy handle, with anodized surface, ergonomic-curvature and the blade ground to mirror-smoothness. Eric Huang, the manager, brims with pride as he shows the shear, saying the product amazes customers who are awestruck on first impression by its visual attraction and comfortable ergonomics. A sought-after feature is the lightweight due to the aluminum, while the handle is available in plastic and carbon fiber.

The striking finish enhances marketability by appealing to buyers' visual sense, with its innovative practicality enhancing the overall package. The blades are of specially developed high-carbon steel and annealed for extended durability, says Huang. For cutting efficiency, one blade has a specially-designed recess to firmly clamp twigs and helps to minimize sap residue, says Huang.

A notable feature of the shear is the specially-located central screw with a very practical lubrication orifice, says Huang. This feature makes essential maintenance much easier, with lubricants directed down the orifice along the screw thread to oil the gear, helping to conveniently achieve renewed cutting action. The multi-nationally patented design effectively lengthens service life.

Raving Compliments
"The shear was debuted at the end of last year in Shanghai and received raving compliments from local buyers. Even 15mm diameter twigs can be easily cut with the shear without support tools, and users are less fatigued with the ergonomic grip. The product has gained ground in Italy and France," says Huang.

Ho Cheng, established in 1971 in Changhua, is a veteran supplier of shears and garden tools with a globally solid name. Investing in R&D has enabled the company to phase out production of budget-priced products and successfully move upmarket to mid-to-high-end segments; while Huang claims the maker is currently the only garden tool maker in Taiwan to apply carbon fiber to products.

The company currently offers hedge shears, lopping shears, bypass pruners, bypass lopping shears, anvils, trowels, prong cultivators, transplanters, tree pruners, rakes, hoses and more, 90% of which goes to the U.K., the U.S., Italy, France, Japan and Germany as OEM and ODM orders.

4-in-1 Ratchet Pruning Shear & 2-in-1 Telescopic Mini Lopper
Another veteran garden tool producer, Winland Garden Tool Co., Ltd., has also introduced two new products this year: 4-in-1 Ratchet Pruning Shear and 2-in-1 Telescopic Mini Lopper.

The 4-in-1 Ratchet Pruning Shear has an upper blade of high-carbon SK5 steel and non-stick surface, with a stainless steel knife on the lower jaw as a multifunctional tool for both DIY and professional use. The handle is fully aluminum and jacketed in non-slip TPR for soft grip and lightweight.

The tool also has an easy locking switch on the handle for safety, enabling users to easily lock and unlock the cutter with one-finger operation. With the gear developed for optimal mechanical advantage, the shear cuts even 20mm diameter twigs and branches effortlessly.

Telescopic handles are the biggest feature of the 2-in-1 Telescopic Mini Lopper. The product is a bypass pruner when the handles are retracted, or a mini lopper when extended. For soft grip and safety, the handles are coated in PP and TPR, with the upper blade of SK5 steel and non-stick finished, and the lower blade of middle-carbon steel and chrome-plated, with cutting capacity up to 20mm diameter, ideal for DIY users.

The company is known for seasoned production capability and dedication to reliable quality and operates two factories in Taiwan with more than 100 workers, supplying a full range of garden cutting tools such as long reach pruners, flower shears, multifunctional shears, cutters, landscaping tools, edgers, telescopic loppers, garden tool sets and garden hardware.

Power Gardening Scissor
Power Gardening Scissor presented by Wise Center Industrial Group Inc. is also a living example of achievements in R&D by Taiwanese garden tool makers.

The lightweight power scissor is mainly based on a super miniature motor incorporating an advanced IC control unit. The company's president Thomas Lin emphasizes that the super mini motor, which took the company three years to develop in cooperation with foreign partners, can generate strong torque to drive the scissor to easily cut twigs of up to 30mm in diameter.

Worth mentioning is that the scissor also adopts the company's proudest "Non-stick Coated Blade," which, made of specialty steel jointly developed with China Steel Corp. and Metal Industries Research & Development Centre, is more rust-resistant and even 15-20% lighter than conventional blades.

In addition to the power scissor, which has earned raving compliments from grape farmers in France since its debut late last year, the company has also worked out a series of forged tools for professional users, Lin says, adding that these new products will help to boost his company's images and capabilities in the niche segment.

Globally prestigious, the company, founded in 1991 in Taichung County, central Taiwan, has been dedicated to production of garden tools and related accessories on the OEM and ODM basis for several years, operating two manufacturing plants in Taiwan and one packaging plant in China.