The situation of producing according to foreign brand samples and drawings has been completely reversed

From the initial extensive production to the awakening of independent brand awareness and the technological level reaching or approaching the international leading level, the Chinese thermos cup industry has undergone rapid development and iteration in the past few decades. According to data released by research firm Zhiyan Consulting, insulated cup products sold in China are mainly divided into three levels: high, medium, and low-end. Among them, high-end products are dominated by internationally renowned brand products, and domestic production enterprises have not yet formed direct competition with internationally renowned brand merchants. Mid end products are mainly occupied by leading domestic brands and mainly distributed in economically developed cities and regions. Market competition is mainly reflected in product quality, functionality, style, sales channels, cost control, and other aspects. Low end products are mainly produced by small-scale enterprises in the industry, and the consumer market is mostly distributed in economically underdeveloped small and medium-sized cities and rural areas.
To stand out in the fierce market competition, comprehensive innovation is needed, including but not limited to manufacturing innovation, sales model innovation, design innovation, technological innovation, and guiding new consumer concepts. Innovation is not just about drawing a blueprint, but about achieving breakthroughs in many aspects. When it comes to the competition between Chinese insulated cups and foreign brands, Lv Zhengjian believes that the current production process of stainless steel insulated cups is relatively mature, and there is almost no difference in insulation function between different products. Products in various price ranges on the market can generally provide long-term insulation (12 hours of effective insulation). Therefore, whether in the domestic or foreign market, the consumption of thermos cups has shifted from functional consumption to fashionable consumption. In market competition, brand influence and innovation capability will become key.
When the reporter visited several thermos cup companies, he could deeply feel their emphasis on innovation. In the finished product display room of Ansheng, the reporter saw a large number of insulated cups manufactured using different processes. According to Wu Cunjun, the head of Ansheng Intelligent Manufacturing Department, the company has industry-leading research and development capabilities, especially in surface treatment processes. "Our project team can develop nearly a hundred surface treatment processes every year.
When introducing the factory production line to reporters, Wang Jiajun also mentioned that Aodu has a complete product intellectual property system and new product research and development system, with an annual investment of over 25 million yuan in the research and development center. He also showed the reporter the product laboratory of Oudu and multiple quality testing instruments for thermos cups. Xiongtai, which has the only fully automated production line in the country, has also insisted on independent research and development since the beginning of its entrepreneurship, investing over hundreds of millions of yuan in high-tech equipment.
Among the numerous technological innovations of Yongkang thermos cup enterprises, the titanium cup developed by Zhejiang Feijian Industry and Trade Co., Ltd. is particularly noteworthy. The chairman of the company, Xia Feijian, stated that the birth of pure titanium insulated cups marks a significant breakthrough in material application in China's cup and kettle industry, paving the way for a distinctive path. The application of titanium in high-end insulated cups (pots) has improved the functional characteristics of the product and opened up new market space.
China's manufacturing industry has transitioned from simple imitation and processing to an innovative research and development stage with independent intellectual property rights and patents, "said Lv Dache." In the past, we often produced according to samples and drawings provided by foreign brands, but now the situation has completely reversed. We are not only able to independently research and design products, but also provide more solutions and references for sales companies and brands, which greatly enhances the value of our products. In the future, with the continuous expansion of our autonomy, we are expected to develop in a more proactive and innovative direction, which will bring more opportunities to China's manufacturing industry