Achieving high standards in plastics parts production

"No company today can afford to sit back and just wait to catch the wave of a new trend." ?Ms. Nancy Wang, General Manager, Ho Lee Co., Ltd.

Taiwan's Ho Lee Co., Ltd. has been in the business of mass high frequency welding parts for a wide range of PVC inflatable products since 1973, the year in which it opened its first plastic injection factory in the historic port town of Danshui. A 100% export business, Ho Lee has been a traditional family owned company but with a distinctly global outlook. International Plastics News for Asia (IRNA) correspondent, David Monson, talked to General Manager, Ms. Nancy Wang, on the company's directions and efforts to enhance its export products. IRNA: Ho Lee produces a wide range of plastic products. Are these intended for the export markets or only for the local market? Wang: If we start talking about the plastic parts themselves we could still be here long after one of our famous Danshui sunsets. We turn out an almost endless list of parts for complete products that themselves form a big part of outdoor life, recreation and lifestyle. Everything -- from air valves, plastic grommets and water plugs, kayak paddles, oarlocks and rope holders to electric, power and battery pumps of various sizes. Not to mention all those handy little rigid or soft PVC connectors you use in garden hosepipes and a new wood ?plastic composite (WPC) outdoor pool that is taking off in the United States. Although the current economic downturn has put a brake on exports to the US, sales to Europe, Japan and Latin America have remained consistent. The company sees huge future potential in Latin America and while China might not be our main market now, Ho Lee still eyes this 慴ig pie?that cannot be ignored. IRNA: Are there specific production trends that the company is currently monitoring? Wang: While high frequency welding parts have been the mainstay of our business over the years, nowadays we also focus on different types of heavyduty plastic and electric pumps. About eight years ago we became part of the new trend for inflatable and more mobile products ?for instance, pumps that are either battery operated or rechargeable that can be taken or used anywhere. The outer part of an indoor/outdoor inflatable Spa pool is stacked with board made from wood/plastic composite and is more or less synonymous with an American lifestyle product, especially when fitted with bubble jets and heaters to perk up the excitement and control the temperature. IRNA: Are all manufacturing done in Taiwan? Do you have other facilities outside Taiwan? Wang: As our business grows, so did the demand and the pressure on lead-times. Since you can抰 keep customers waiting, we relocated our factories to China in 1990. Two ISO-certified factories were set up in Dongguan Chang An, and in 2004 we opened another plant in Shanghai Jading to expand our manufacturing capability. Our new signature Zhejiang factory came on line a few months ago. Operating in China poses a number of challenges for us ?starting with the infrastructure, mainly on shipping. We also face stiff competition as far as sourcing raw materials and prices are concerned. In the north, companies tend to be more aggressive on price issues. In the south, makers are more quality conscious. As a globalized Taiwanese company, we relate to this. So our first factory in Dongguan became our main manufacturing base. The infrastructure was already well developed and administrative matters were easier to take care of from Taiwan. We also found that it wasn抰 practical trying to serve our customers in the north from Dongguan so we applied for a domestic license to set up a second factory in Shanghai. IRNA : Like so many other companies, Ho Lee must have felt the economic pinch ?orKD VIII Elite High