Plastic manufacturing:
The term “plastic” includes material composed of various elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, and sulfur. Plastics typically have a high molecular weight, which means that each molecule can contain thousands of atoms bonded together. Naturally occurring substances such as wood, horn, and rosin are also composed of high molecular weight molecules. Manufactured plastics are often designed to imitate the properties of natural materials. Plastics, also called polymers, are manufactured by converting natural products or synthesizing primary chemicals, usually coming from oil, natural gas, or coal.
The world’s top 10 largest plastics manufacturing companies continue to grow for the high-performance plastic products industry. How big is the plastics industry? By 2027, the global plastics market size is expected to reach USD 754.3 billion and grow at a CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period. Leading this growth are Dow Chemical Company, Liondale Basel, and ExxonMobil, the largest plastics manufacturers. The top exporting countries of plastic goods are China, Germany, and the United States.
Custom Plastic manufacturing in Asia:
You have a proposal for a custom plastic manufacturing product, and you need a manufacturer to process it for you. But you are on a budget, so sourcing in China is a good idea. You know that there are many low-cost manufacturers in China. But how do you find one right for you?
Potential Asian Manufacturers:
The first thing that you should be doing to get a hand on Asian manufacturers is to get a list of from where you can get information of the best manufacturers.
The list includes:
- Your industry’s trade association can be a potential helper to get you in link with a good manufacturer.
- Your business contacts or offline networking groups can also help you connect with some good plastic manufacturers.
- Every area has a small business development center. Those centers could be beneficial in giving you a list and guiding you to select the correct manufacturer according to your needs.
- Expo meetings and international trade shows are also excellent platforms to land a reasonable and reliable plastic manufacturer.
All of the above-mentioned processes can lead you to your choice. But it is wise to get started with more than one process so that you can land on your plastic manufacturer in no time.
Listing down your needs:
Once you are done with the starting procedure and get a list of manufacturers, you need a list of your own that includes what you want from the manufacturer. This may consist of what kind of manufacturer you are looking for.
Here are some of the bullets you should consider before choosing your manufacturer.
- Expertise similar to your product idea:
Ideally, you want a manufacturer specializing in this type of product, making it a sideline. Some small-scale Chinese manufacturers will offer to make almost anything—but that means the quality can be poor.
- Reviews and rating:
Search the internet and look at ratings and reviews online to see what others say about the manufacturer.
- Export to foreign countries:
These Asian manufacturers will generally have high-quality standards and have proven that they can meet Western importers’ expectations in terms of compliance with product safety, labeling, and packaging regulations. They are likely to have more experience with the logistics of shipping products internationally as well as a more extraordinary ability to receive your products through red tape. But some of them may not be ready for that kind of commitment yet or have no experience regarding international shipping. So if you are to export your products overseas, you should get this point verified.
- Reputable and honest:
Reputable Asian manufacturers should be prepared to provide you with their business license, documentation of their quality control system, and any relevant certifications. This can save you from a scam and get you easy access to your products once they are ready, and in case of a disaster, you can claim insurance with the help of this information.
After you have shortlisted your manufacturers, you should always get them to sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding your products to avoid any kind of scam or disaster with your sales. This helps your design to remain off-market before release and contains its uniqueness. Almost all of the manufacturers are okay with this agreement and sign it. But if any of them is not ready, you have your answer.
Questions you should ask:
Once the manufacturers have agreed to non-disclosure of your idea, your next move is to get a request for quotation (RFQ). You will send them images of your product prototype with details such as what materials you want to use, the size of the product, and anything else they’ll need to know in order to make the item.
