Fancy keychains

	This PVC keychain from Beijing Stronger Rich of mainland China can be used as a photo frame.

Nontoxic PVC, electroplating and ink, and acrylic are employed. Products come in various shapes and patterns.

Suppliers of fancy plastic keychains in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong are using better materials and widening the range of designs.

In the mainland, companies are employing environment-friendly and nontoxic PVC. Nickel- and chrome-free electroplating may also be utilized on upscale models. The materials of the fobs and key rings meet international restrictions on lead content levels. The ink has only 200ppm of this heavy metal.

Many products from the mainland come in novelty shapes, or are trimmed with beads or ribbons. A number boast themed patterns or engraved metal plates.

The majority of Taiwan makers are increasing output of acrylic models. These have appearance and durability superior to alternatives. The use of this material, which also delivers excellent tactile feedback, allows suppliers to get a firmer grasp on costs.

Products from the island are available in various designs. Some releases hold dried flowers in their center, while others are made for holidays or special occasions. In addition, companies are applying two or three layers of ink during printing in an effort to improve appearance.

Suppliers in Hong Kong are strengthening their ability to create keychains based on buyer specifications. This is a response to growing demand in major markets for unique models. Many of the latest releases from Hong Kong feature 3-D patterns with various effects. These come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

	Mainland China's K-Pro offers this PVC keychain in an angel motif.

K-Pro International (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, for example, employs nontoxic PVC in products exported to the EU. This is necessary for meeting requirements of the EN 71 standard, including a lead content not exceeding 200ppm.

Upscale versions from Beijing Stronger Rich Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd are also made of this material, which does not contain chrome.

In addition, the company utilizes lead- and nickel-free electroplating for key rings. Testing for toxic content is usually performed by SGS or Intertek.

Similarly, components from Top Jewelry Fty may bear this type of coating. For better safety, the company uses plastic without chrome content and azo-free ink for printing.

Aside from PVC, mainland models come in polyresin, acrylic and PP. Key rings are usually made of iron and are composed of a split ring with four smaller parts.

New products are offered in novelty shapes, multicolor cartoon motifs and with paillettes or ribbons.

The latest releases from Wenzhou Taishan Printing Co. Ltd are made of soft PVC and feature brightly colored cartoon patterns. Others bear heart or square shapes and can be used as a photo frame.

The best-selling fancy plastic keychains from K-Pro are 2 and 3-D designs. The former are double-sided and come with attractive patterns. The 3-D versions have raised figures with machine- or handpainted details.

The company is currently producing licensed models for the 2010 World Expo and the 2010 World Cup. These feature designs created in-house. OBM orders are expected to account for about 20 percent of total output in 2008.

Beijing Stronger Rich has developed promotional keychains with gel centers. Motifs employ translucent backgrounds that highlight the material’s texture.

To add value, some of the company’s releases include utility features such as photo frames or LEDs.

Top Jewelry’s best-selling products have colorful patterns or combine materials for more variety. Measuring 12cm in height, many of the latest versions come in pastel colors of green, pink and blue.

In 2007, the company procured CRM software to maximize the efficiency of its flow processing. L’Oreal, which is a major customer, has audited Top Jewelry’s factory for compliance with the SA8000 standard.

Mainland suppliers apply logos and patterns through PVC injection, machine and handpainting, or printing. Of the last type, the heat- and water-transfer methods are commonly used.

PVC costs increased by about 8 percent over the previous year. Due to this and the revaluation of the yuan, prices of fancy plastic keychains are expected to rise in coming months.

Even so, export sales are projected to grow by 10 to 20 percent as companies increase shipments to the EU and the Middle East.

The mainland is home to about 2,000 exporters in the line, most of which are based in Shanghai, and Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces. These companies contribute nearly 30 percent of global supply, amounting to about $1 billion each year.

The major overseas markets are the US, the EU, Japan and Australia.

PVC fancy plastic keychains are offered at various price points. Low-end models, which have smaller dimensions and thin fobs, are $0.10 to $0.20. Midrange versions can reach $0.70. These are larger and feature colorful patterns.

High-end releases can top $1.20. Products have complex patterns and textured or dimensional designs.

Polyresin, acrylic and PP keychains are available from the mainland as well.

	Taiwan's Been Jeou has released the 1007 model, which comes in acrylic and utilizes lithographic printing.

The key rings are made of stainless steel or chrome-plated iron. Nickel is not used because of its inherent toxicity.

Spray-painting is the most commonly performed type of pattern application. Prints made through this method have high wear-resistance and are more colorfast than those done through alternatives.

All of Vivid Gift Co. Ltd’s output in the line comes in acrylic. Among the latest models are versions that can double as photo frames. These have circular, square or rectangular shapes.

The company has also developed fancy plastic keychains suitable for special occasions. These include products in wedding, birthday, and Valentine’s and Mother’s Day themes.

Nearly all releases from Kyplastic Enterprise Co. Ltd are made of scratch-resistant acrylic.

To satisfy demand for innovative designs, the company offers versions that incorporate dried flowers, and have heart, circular, oval, square and rectangular forms. Most are transparent and do not have colored backgrounds. The price is about $0.70 per piece.

Kyplastic is currently developing products that are capable of releasing fragrance.

The company utilizes plastic injection in making fobs. It also performs designing and assembly in-house, while outsourcing mold construction.

Acrylic and PS are the choice materials at Sheng Kang Enterprise Co. Ltd. Keychains in various plant and animal themes are available.

The SK-9103 model comes in various fruit shapes, while the SK-9108 keychain has a dolphin figure in PS.

Eighty percent of Sheng Kang’s output is machine-made, with the remainder done by hand. About 20 percent of shipments bear customer-specified designs.

The latest releases from Been Jeou Co. Ltd come in acrylic, stainless steel and aluminum alloy. These are available in sizes of 3.2, 3.5, 4, 5 and 6cm. Red and black are the popular colors.

Nontoxic ink that meets the EN 71 standard is employed for patterns. Offset and computer printing, and silk-screening are the company’s primary methods of logo application.

While PP and PS products are available from Hsinhai Enterprise Co. Ltd, acrylic versions such as the HH-99 model constitute the bulk of output. The keychain is priced from $0.70 to $0.80, depending on pattern complexity.

The company creates designs in-house. Logo application is usually done through offset printing or silk-screening. Hsinhai’s releases have a length of 2.3 to 6cm.

Taiwan is home to about 30 exporters in the line. These makers ship about $300 million worth each year, accounting for 10 percent of world supply. The US, Europe and Japan are the key overseas markets.

Suppliers on the island are based mainly in the northern and southern regions. Many have moved their production facilities to the mainland’s Guangdong province in a bid to reduce operating costs.

	The CK681 model from Hong Kong's Patrick is made of PVC and has a dimensional seashell motif.

The latest fancy plastic keychains from Hong Kong are made of PET, PVC, PP and HIPS. Materials are sourced from the mainland, Taiwan, the US and Japan. PVC or other transparent plastic coatings may be applied.

All of Finewell Universal Ltd’s products are made of PVC. A specialist in the line, the company has released versions in diverse themes.

These include animals and sports balls.

Finewell’s 117,500sqm factory is located in Guangdong. The plant houses 24 plastic-injection machines and eight assembly lines.

Widening functionality, some models from Hong Kong allow use as photo frames or flashlights. These come mainly in dimensions of 50x30mm.

Hong Kong’s suppliers of fancy plastic keychains are experiencing an increase in OEM orders. In response, they are beefing up their capability to reproduce customer specifications precisely.

D4D Technology Development Ltd has procured die-cutting equipment that allows shapes more complicated than the basic circular or polygonal versions. Models come in a range of sizes.

The latest releases from this company feature lenticular patterns, with moving objects and blossoming flowers among the most popular. A variety of effects are available, including flipping, morphing, zooming and exploding. Up to six layers may be utilized for better appearance and quality.

Aside from fancy plastic keychains, D4D offers coasters, collectible cards, badges and luggage tags. Its 3,000sqm factory in Guangdong is equipped with printing and laminating machines.

The company can deliver the minimum order of 5,000 pieces within 14 days. Its product development team takes one week to finish buyer-specified samples.

At Patrick Mfg Ltd, models are generally offered in bright colors such as red, yellow, blue and green. These come in various shapes, including head, leg, shoe and animal. Releases are made of PVC and boast 3-D die-cut graphics. The company is a licensed supplier to Disney and Warner Bros.

Patrick has two factories with a total area of 200,000sqm. These plants are equipped with plastic-injection, ultrasonic welding and milling machines.

Prices of fancy plastic keychains from Hong Kong are determined mainly by the size and materials used. Quotes generally range from $0.10 to $0.80.

The main markets are the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Exporters shipped about $750,000 worth last year.