Chang Long Makes Wrenches With Built-in R&D
Easy to say but harder to do, R&D has long been one of the terms most frequently used to characterize Taiwanese wrench makers and differentiate them from their rivals in emerging countries. In the case of the Chang Long Industrial Co., everybody agrees that the term is appropriate when describing the company as one of Taiwan's best wrench makers and one that has used R&D effectively to build its sales and elevate its image in the global market.
Chang Loon, based in Taiwan's central county of Changhua, started out by making low-end hand tools on an OEM (original equipment manufacturing) basis in 1978. Since that humble beginning, the company has accumulated strong manufacturing and metalworking skills; now, after years of continuous improvements in its production capability, the company is capable of turning out middle- to high-end wrenches with designs, specifications, and torque ratings that measure up to international standards such as ANSI and DIN.
One of Chang Loon's function-oriented tools is its ratchet wrench series, made of chrome vanadium and hot drop-forged and heat-treated for prolonged life and good looks. But the most noteworthy feature that Chang Loon has built into the tool, and one that sets it apart from the competition, is a precise, practical 72-teeth ratchet mechanism.
Each small turn of the wrench moves precisely through five degrees, making it perfect for work in narrow spaces, such as repairing automobiles and doing construction and plumbing work. In addition, the improved 72-tooth ratchet also makes the wrench more efficient and skimpy in the use of energy.
More practicality is added by a highly sophisticated structural design and by the extremely precise tolerance that is built into the ratchet, a feature that allows users to work from one cycle to the next efficiently. The recognition of quality that foreign buyers afford this wrench has helped boost Chang Loon to a leading position in its sector in Taiwan.
R&D Emphasis
Chang Loon declares that it has survived and prospered by devoting itself fully to R&D and hammering out standard operating procedures to maintain consistent quality in the outcome.
To make sure the R&D procedures are properly carried out and in line with the latest information and market trends, the management and supervisory personnel form part of the R&D team and take an active part in every R&D decision.
For optimal utility and marketability, Chang Loon provides newly-developed hand tools to users on a trial basis and then, based on their feedback, tweaks the rough edges. This process continues until the tools are perfected and ready for launch.
Strict attention to packaging design is another factor that contributes to the success of the company's R&D strategy—a factor that is rare in the industry. The company offers ready-to-display packaging options to buyers as one of its value-added services. In many cases, clients decide to place orders with Chang Loon because of the attractive appearance and functionality of its packaging.
For example, one of the most popular packaging solutions that Chang Loon provides is transparent packaging that exposes each wrench—and its quality—to the eyes of consumers. Besides, the eco-sensitive company is also notable for offering packaging boxes that are made of recycled paperboard and very material-stingy, which is much appreciated by European buyers. This strategy has opened a new window for Chang Loon in the promotion of its high quality hand tools worldwide, helping it to stay ahead of the competition and ship more wrenches than any other manufacturer in Taiwan.
Chang Loon has had its ideas and inventions patented in the United States, Germany, Japan, mainland China, and Taiwan, which helps to enhance the value of its products. Religious adherence to R&D helped the company weather intense rivalry from mainland Chinese hand tool makers and the global financial tsunami, and to establish solid footholds in Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Canada, and the U.S.