Dongguan Jian's Trolley Coin keychain model is made of iron. Colors can be applied on the surface of the coins, which could be 22 or 25mm in diameter.

Suppliers of metal keychains in China are using alternative metals and alloys to lower production costs and broaden design options.

Popular materials include zinc alloy, iron, copper, brass, bronze, aluminum, aluminum-zinc alloy, aluminum-tin alloy, tin alloy and stainless steel.

Zinc alloy and iron are preferred because they are less expensive than other metals. Stainless steel and brass, which are high-quality materials, are more costly and only used on buyers' requests.

In addition, China makers have launched R&D efforts to improve the designs and colors of keychains so they will appear like new even after several years.

Aside from the cost of metal, companies also consider whether color can be applied easily on the material's surface. In this case, stainless steel is not ideal for the production of colored keychains because suppliers find it hard to paint colorful designs on its surface.

Instead of stainless steel and bronze, suppliers prefer brass as it blends easily with the color of items such as keys and zippers. Brass is also known for its suitability for different finishes.

Most suppliers are combining materials to help lower prices and create more novelty-looking products.

In response to the increasing cost of brass, companies such as HK Junee Enterprise Ltd and Dongguan Jian Plastic & Metal Products Ltd have started using zinc alloy and other kinds of less expensive metals as alternatives, a trend that is expected to strengthen.

The growing preference for zinc alloy has been attributed to its high malleability, which enables designers to mold 3-D finishes easier.

Further, the cost of electroplating materials is also increasing. Electroplating makes up about 25 percent of the total production cost of a keychain.

Some suppliers are combining metals with other materials in producing decorated models. Recent releases are partly made of plastic and leather, adding complexity to the keychain's appearance.

Shenzhen Smartocean Industry Ltd specializes in producing keychains that have an imitation jewelry design. The company's low-end keychains are made of alloy and acrylic, midrange items use alloy and imitation jewelry and high-end designs come in brass and zirconium.

Minhou Yifengyuan Arts & Crafts Co. Ltd uses components such as weaving bands and other novelties.

Some of the latest releases feature different country flags and colored coin attachments. Dongguan Jian, which offers products made of bronze and iron, has launched keychains with changeable coin attachments.

To meet demand for more colorful keychains, companies are investing in R&D efforts that focus on new processing techniques. An example is multicolor electroplating, which allows for the application of more vivid colors on the product's surface. R&D members are also concentrating on keeping colors embedded to the keychains, guaranteeing buyers that the colors will not fade even after several years.

For buyer-specific designs such as company logos and slogans, the common methods are alloy electroplating, two-tone electroplating, punching, silk-screening, laser engraving, painting and basic sticking.

The choice of technique usually depends on the design's complexity and pattern details. For models with a simple structure and color pattern, silk-screening is preferred. For more colorful finishes, painting and sticking are done.

Being OEM-dominated, the keychain industry in China centers mainly on buyer-specific designs. For companies such as Shanghai Village Gift & Ornament Co. Ltd, Golden River Mfg Ltd and Dongguan Jian, OEM orders take up 50, 80 and 100 percent of total output, respectively.