From a thermos cup, we can see the Made in China brand going global in terms of environmental depth

Editor's Note: The Chinese love to drink hot water is engraved in their bones, and "soaking medlar in a thermos cup" once became a hot topic on the Internet. In fact, besides being able to "keep warm", more overseas consumers also use insulated cups to "keep cold". Data shows that China is currently the world's most important producer and exporter of thermos cups, while Yongkang City and Wuyi County in Zhejiang Province, as well as Jieyang City in Guangdong Province, have emerged as a group of thermos cup OEM factories and gradually formed industrial clusters after years of development. Based on excellent quality and considerable production, the brand awareness of Chinese thermos cup enterprises has begun to sprout, transforming from OEM to cultivating independent brands, and going global through cross-border e-commerce platforms and other channels, gradually making Chinese thermos cups go global with a branded appearance. A reporter from Global Times recently visited Yongkang City, Zhejiang Province, the largest producer of thermos cups in China, to gain a deeper understanding of how "Made in China" civilian products, represented by thermos cups, can build national brands and establish a foothold in the international market.
China contributes over 60% of the global production of insulated cups
Producing a thermos cup requires dozens or even hundreds of processes, and different styles of thermos cups require different processes. Yongkang, which is in the rainy season, has to endure the baptism of rainwater every day, but this has not affected the workers' enthusiasm for production. In the production workshop of Zhejiang Ansheng Technology Co., Ltd., a Global Times reporter saw that the automated robotic arm accurately stretched pieces of 304 stainless steel material into the prototype of insulated cups. Subsequently, these prototypes are transported to the precision production line for fine polishing and finishing, removing burrs. Afterwards, they undergo processes such as welding, vacuuming, automatic coating, and packaging, ultimately becoming beautiful and practical finished thermos cups.
Yongkang is known as the "Capital of Chinese Cups", and there are many such production lines in this county-level city managed by Jinhua City. In 1994, Zhejiang Yongkang Mastercard Company brought back samples of Japanese insulated cups from the United States and developed their own stainless steel vacuum insulated cups through research and experimentation. As a result, the thermos cup industry started in Yongkang. Almost every resident of Yongkang has relatives and friends who are in the water cup business, "a local citizen told reporters. Yongkang's thermos cup factories are very dense. Data shows that China contributes over 60% of the global production of thermos cups, reaching approximately 800 million cups annually. It is said that one out of every three thermos cups in the world is produced in Yongkang.
Ying Xujun, Deputy Director of the Economic and Information Technology Bureau of Yongkang City, introduced that Yongkang is the largest production and export base for thermos cups (pots) in China, and the manufacturing capabilities of well-known enterprises are no less than international high-end brands such as Tiger Brand and Food Demon Master. Insulated cups (pots) are currently one of the pillar industries of the eight traditional hardware industries in the city, with an annual total output and export volume accounting for more than 70% of the national total. There are 17 enterprises in the industry that have obtained 20 "Made in Zhejiang" certification certificates, 1 listed company, 188 enterprises above designated size, 62 high-tech enterprises, 15 provincial-level high-tech enterprise research and development centers, 1 well-known Chinese trademark, 8 Zhejiang export famous brands, 5 provincial-level intelligent factories (digital workshops), and more than 2500 supporting enterprises. The first stock of Chinese thermos cups, Hals, was born here.
More well-known than the "City of Mouth Cups", Yongkang is also known as the "Capital of Hardware" in China. Stainless steel is one of the most important upstream raw materials for insulated cups, and a stable and large amount of stainless steel raw materials can ensure the stable production of insulated cups. Lv Zhengjian, Chairman of Ansheng Technology Co., Ltd., told reporters that the vast majority of insulation cups exported from China to foreign countries are manufactured in Yongkang. The reason for this is that Yongkang and surrounding areas have a complete and efficient supply chain and corresponding technological accumulation. The same cup, produced in Yongkang, has low cost, high efficiency, and good quality, which is also an important reason why top foreign brands flock to cooperate with local thermos cup enterprises.
After quickly occupying the global market with the advantage of cost-effectiveness, more and more Chinese entrepreneurs have realized that brand is the strategic asset of enterprises, and owning independent brands is the best path to open up the market. Standing in the factory of Zhejiang Aodu Daily Products Co., Ltd. with an area of over 90000 square meters, the company's general manager Wang Jiajun told Global Times reporters that the company was founded in 2017 and is a young company with an annual production capacity of over 40 million insulated cups. It is currently one of the four professional stainless steel cup manufacturers in China that produces all key processes except silicone and packaging materials in their own factories. Aodu still mainly engages in OEM business, but its ultimate goal is to create its own brand.
Xiongtai Home Furnishings Co., Ltd., which has been committed to building its own brand since the early stages of its entrepreneurship, also attaches great importance to the construction of its own brand. Lv Jiechi, the vice president of the company, told reporters that fundamentally, developing its own brand is the foundation of the enterprise. He said that the Chinese thermos cup industry has strong strength, and is at the forefront of the world in terms of manufacturing technology, materials, and industrial and supply chains. In fact, many European, American, and Japanese brands are produced and branded in China, and the quality of "Made in China" has even exceeded Western standards. It is even more important to use their own "names" to go global.
Lv Dachai's viewpoint has been confirmed by overseas consumers. Polish student Ko Wei, who used to study in China, told reporters, "Insulated cups have become a fashionable item for contemporary young people. I am currently using a Stanley water cup, which sells very well in Europe. It is said that this water cup is 100% made in China, not only can it keep warm but also prevent ice from melting, which makes me unable to put it down. I have also used Hals' insulated cup, which I purchased for 40 yuan when studying in China. I think Chinese made water cups are characterized by stylish appearance, durability, and high quality, which are not inferior to brands such as Boardman. That water cup has accompanied me for 3 years and can still keep warm now