Sports bands

	India's Freewill offers football shin guards with exterior panels made of PVC or PU.

Therapeutic and promotional models are increasing. For conventional lines, user safety and comfort top R&D priorities.

Suppliers of body padding and guards in mainland China, Taiwan and India are implementing various strategies to boost their competitiveness in the global market. Amid rising costs, makers are trying to attract more orders to achieve economies of scale, which will keep price adjustments at a minimum and provide better margins.

On both sides of the Taiwan Strait, many companies are expanding into the premiums and medical industries as part of efforts to boost sales. Consequently, besides preventing injuries, the latest designs can be used as therapeutic or promotional devices.

Models that are being marketed for their medical properties are generally designed to control motor function, improve balance and ease pain.

Mainland-based Yiwu Shengjun Sports Goods Co. Ltd, for instance, manufactures joint supports with a magnetic device that improves metabolism and blood circulation.

Models for the elbow, knee, neck and waist are available.

Medex Medical Supplies Ltd, a Hong Kong-invested supplier with a factory in Guangdong province, offers knee supports that can promote stability during a sports activity and aid in postoperative rehabilitation. The company also produces elbow bands that are designed to prevent overstrain injury and aid in the treatment of lateral and medial epicondylitis.

Sports guards from Taiwan Creations Joe L Co. Ltd emit negative ions that ease asthralgia or pain in the joints. The products are suitable for people with arthritis and back problems.

At companies marketing their models as premiums, efforts revolve around increasing the number of colors and patterns they can provide. Features such as QA or digital watches are also being incorporated to add value to mature products, including head-, finger- and wristbands.

Among the mainland companies that have moved into the premiums segment are Kingspeed Sport Product Fty, Nanhai Chaoqun Travel Product Fty and Sincerity Industry Co. Ltd.

Kingspeed is offering polyester-cotton wristbands with QA or digital watches. Priced between $0.10 and $0.30, these are designed primarily for the low-end and midrange segments.

The products comply with GB 18401-2003. Patterns can be embroidered, hot-transfer printed or silk-screened.

Sweatbands from Nanhai Chaoqun are also provided with QA and digital timepieces. Buyers' logos and other patterns can be embossed on the models.

Arm and leg guards from Sincerity come with hottransfer-printed patterns. The company has more than 100 machines for the process.

In Taiwan, Leader House Enterprise Co. Ltd is offering wristbands with digital LED watches.

For conventional sports-specific body padding and guards, suppliers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are using lightweight and comfortable materials that can provide adequate protection against impact and injury. Releases also feature closures and other add-ons that make them easier to use.

In the mainland, Wuxi Happysport Co. Ltd is offering arm, finger, leg and waist supports in neoprene, which is good at retaining body heat. The products are meant primarily for the midrange and high-end segments of North America and Europe.

Medex also adopts neoprene for its protective bands and supports. Models come in wraparound designs that have fabric fasteners which can be adjusted to accommodate a range of sizes.

Ningbo Mingshi Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd has released knee support model HX-724 with hook-and-loop straps that allow users to adjust the tension. A hole in the kneecap area provides ventilation.

Taiwan's B-Link Sports International Corp. employs PP or PE for the rigid panels of its body padding and guards. The cushioning material is typically in nylon, polyester, foam or Lycra mesh.

At present, the company's selection includes chest and rib protectors for high-impact team sports such as football and baseball. A series of protective gear for skating and other winter sports activities is slated for release this year.

Well Lands Enterprise Co. Ltd, another Taiwan-based supplier, pads wristbands with EVA foam for comfort.

In India, makers of body padding and guards are strengthening their position in segments where they have the advantage of experience. The industry is focusing on models for hockey and cricket, which are relatively new lines to other production hubs.

Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Germany, France, Holland, the US, Canada and Singapore are the target markets. Several makers have also set their sights on entering South America, the West Indies and Africa in coming months.

To ensure the salability of their models in these locations, suppliers are consulting with professional athletes, coaches and physiotherapists at the product development stage. Machines are imported and customized according to each company's product and cost requirements.

The latest protective gear from India comes with high-density foam padding as cushioning material. The exterior shell is in molded PU or PVC, with the former typically employed in high-end models because of its strength and durability. PVC is commonly adopted in products that are designed to compete with low-priced imports.

The Vampire Fibre hockey shin guard from Beat All Sports, for example, has a PVC outer shell. Its high-density foam padding has a canvas back.

The company adopts PU in its midrange and high-end designs. Models in this material are provided with beading for an attractive look.

Hockey shin guards from Sports Specialists have PU or PVC outer shells. EVA foam serves as the cushioning material, with the thickness depending on the target market or intended price point.

Chand Legguard Works offers the Megalyte cricket leg guards with PVC exteriors and EVA interior layers. Priced at $23 per pair, the products are positioned in the midrange.

Models suitable for professionals are made of PU and cross-linked EVA sheets. These are sold for more than $30 per pair.

The Vapour football shin guard from Freewill Sports Pvt. Ltd uses exterior panels made of PU. A two-toned surface treatment gives it a metallic look.

The product has a detachable ankle protector. Its EVA padding is molded for a comfortable fit.

Another model, Speedy, comes with a molded PVC exterior. The padding is made of EVA foam that is 4mm thick.