Part 1 – Project Overview
Lead Time
The collaboration between Shieldon and its French partner showed careful planning and execution throughout the OEM process.
The project started with designing an oyster knife that was both attractive and functional. Shieldon’s skill in injection molding was key to the project, ensuring the knife’s sharpness and quality by placing the mold closing line on the handle side.
Shieldon maintained open communication and addressed every concern about the mold’s accuracy and design throughout the discussions.
This included the detailed process of engraving the logo and ensuring the blade stayed sharp despite molding challenges. The mold closing line was adjusted to handle color variations, showing Shieldon’s focus on quality.
Both parties worked together to balance function and design. Shieldon provided visuals and samples to keep the French partner informed and satisfied with the progress. The discussions highlighted the need for smooth surfaces and the careful placement of mold lines to meet design and functional needs.
The partnership showed mutual respect for creativity and practicality, focusing on smooth collaboration. From the first design to mass production, the goal was to set a high standard for knife design and function.
The project highlighted both partners’ strengths and set the stage for future success and teamwork based on a shared commitment to quality and excellence.
How the project came
The project began by addressing the handle’s granular texture and ensuring a smooth finish. Adjustments were made to improve the mold’s precision and the blade’s sharpness, focusing on high production standards.
As challenges arose, both parties stayed committed to delivering a high-quality product.
Shieldon responded quickly to feedback, modifying molds and running tests to resolve issues, such as the blade’s coverage by the handle and sharpening methods. The goal was a functional yet aesthetically pleasing knife.
Shieldon kept the partner informed, providing updates on sample shipments and addressing concerns about packaging and engraving. Despite delays, both sides worked together to meet the timeline.
Ultimately, the project demonstrated a successful OEM partnership, with open communication and a commitment to quality, resulting in a product ready to impact the market.
Part 2 – Reason why the customer chose us
Supplied packaging design and printing
Shieldon provided packaging design and printing services, ensuring the product presentation matched its high quality. Despite unforeseen delays, such as mold adjustments, both parties worked together to overcome these challenges.
Through continuous updates and collaborative problem-solving, Shieldon ensured that samples were ready to align with the partner’s event schedule.
Despite unexpected setbacks, the focus remained on delivering a superior product, highlighting both parties’ commitment to excellence.
The project resulted in a functional oyster knife and showcased the strength of effective OEM partnerships in achieving shared goals and market success.
Supplied UPS and EAN code suggestion
Shieldon recommended UPS and EAN code solutions to improve logistics and ensure compliance with market standards. Despite challenges like material adjustments and timeline constraints, both parties remained focused on quality and efficiency.
The third-party perspective highlights the strength of the partnership, showing its ability to adapt and innovate.
This collaboration created a unique product and established a foundation for future projects, demonstrating the potential of successful OEM relationships.
Supplied molding sets’ implementation
Shieldon supplied the necessary molding sets, ensuring a smooth injection process. Despite challenges with air marks on the handles, the team worked diligently to reduce these imperfections, delivering a product that met quality standards.
Logistics were effectively managed, considering UPS and EAN codes, though the Chinese New Year holiday created scheduling challenges. Blade durability and design modifications were resolved successfully, keeping production on track.
This collaboration highlighted the strength of OEM partnerships, emphasizing adaptability and a commitment to quality.
The project concluded with a unique product ready for market evaluation, offering the potential for future improvements based on professional feedback.
The journey began with the innovative idea of creating an oyster knife, leading to design refinements, especially for the complex oyster handle. Although this increased production costs slightly, the result justified the effort.
Part 3 – Story of Manufacturing Process
Following the previous discussion, the customer and Shieldon focused on adjusting the grinding bevel. The initial prototype had a smaller bevel, but the customer requested a larger one. A larger bevel would help absorb the force when the blade was used to open an oyster and prevent breakage.
The customer explained the benefits, and Shieldon made the required modifications to the bevel.
Another issue was the blade’s tip. The prototype had a pointed tip, but the customer preferred a blunter one for safety and to ensure it could handle the pressure when inserted into the oyster shell. After modifying the tip, Shieldon shared updated photos and videos with the customer to confirm the changes.
Prototyping is essential in OEM projects, as it helps identify issues. With experience, potential problems become easier to spot.
The saying goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Shieldon was dedicated to supporting the customer throughout the process.The customer provided a design for the packaging, which illustrated how to use the oyster knife:
- Find a nick in the oyster shell.
- Insert the blade tip into the shell.
- Rotate the blade by rocking or swaying.
- Release the shell to open the oyster.
- Cut off the oyster’s root.
- Remove the oyster from the shell.
The product was nearly complete after six months of prototyping, which was typical for a perfectionist customer. Clear communication was crucial for the success of the OEM project.After the prototyping, the oyster knife was tested to see if it was more ergonomic and easier to use for opening oysters.
After several design changes over six months, the project was still in the prototyping stage. Shieldon sent the customer a final, updated structural image for approval before moving to production to speed up the process. This included all changes to the blade and handle shape, ensuring nothing was overlooked. Shieldon carefully reviewed all specifications, and the project finally passed the prototyping phase.
Shieldon used the final updated data to create a resin 3D sample for review to ensure no details were missed. Given the six-month prototyping phase and other ongoing projects, it was important to confirm every detail.
The 3D sample was passed through the sales, engineering, and production teams, with all feedback carefully collected and reviewed.
This process was repeated twice to ensure accuracy. This approach stemmed from a previous experience with a neck knife project, where overlooked details led to a failed prototype and wasted time. To avoid repeating this mistake, Shieldon marked all changes and carefully reviewed the sample before moving forward.
Different departments reviewed the final updated 3D sample for final confirmation.
The next step was confirming the handle material, which was changed to plastic (POM). The color was then confirmed using a Pantone color code to ensure precision and consistency in production.
The Pantone system is an international standard that facilitates clear communication of color specifications between teams. It reduces the risk of errors and ensures that the final product matches the desired color.
Pantone color codes help maintain consistency across different products and batches. They also improve quality control by providing a clear benchmark for color accuracy. The customer confirmed the Pantone color and chose an orange shade for the oyster knife. This vibrant, easy-to-spot color reinforces brand identity and stands out on shelves, making the product more appealing and easily distinguishable from competitors.
The workshop team shared the updated photo to confirm the blade production details. The structural images were passed around for double-checking as the project had been discussed for six months, and other team members were working on different projects.
Changes were highlighted, such as enlarging the blade grind bevel, thickening the blade, and slightly blunting the edge. The sales team repeatedly emphasized these changes are responsible for ensuring accuracy and maintaining the company’s image in the eyes of the customer.
The project began with the client’s goal to introduce a new knife design to a regional association. Challenges included the handle’s hollow design, which required an expensive mold and a 5,000-piece minimum order.
The client also wanted blade logos, but the handle material couldn’t support laser engraving. Grinding posed additional issues, with heat causing discoloration.
Despite these obstacles, both sides collaborated to find solutions, using feedback to improve future designs. The Chinese New Year deadline added urgency.
The production step began with the blades stamped and punched from steel plates. After shaping, the blades underwent polishing and heat treatment. Heat treatment involves heating and quickly cooling the blade to improve its hardness and durability.
Tempering is followed by reducing brittleness and balancing toughness. Polishing smooths imperfections removes oxidation, enhances corrosion resistance, and sharpens the blade for better performance. Before proceeding, it must meet quality standards.
After polishing and sharpening the blade, it was bead-blasted. This process creates a matte texture that reduces glare, making it ideal for tactical use. It also helps hide scratches and fingerprints, maintains a cleaner appearance, and improves corrosion resistance.
The subdued look of a bead-blasted blade is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Once finished, the customer’s brand logo was laser engraved onto the blades. The process ensured precision, with options for logo depth to affect visibility.
The plastic handles couldn’t undergo the exact engraving, so alternative branding methods were discussed.
Shieldon Technology guided the client through the plastic injection molding process for the oyster knife handle.
Plastic handles are ideal for complex shapes that other materials can’t achieve cost-effectively. The process starts with injecting plastic into a mold, then cooling and removing the handle.
The team focused on reducing defects like air marks and mold closing lines through controlled speeds and mold design. They also debugged the injection molding machine to improve quality and ensure consistency in mass production.
A video demonstrated the production of plastic handles via injection molding, though it wasn’t from the oyster knife project for confidentiality reasons.
The photo showcased the result of plastic injection molding, with the item’s appearance visible and matching the customer’s chosen Pantone color. The photo also highlighted a “tail”-like material, a common byproduct from the mold’s gate. This excess material is trimmed off after molding to ensure a clean finish.
Plastic injection molding is a process to produce parts by injecting molten plastic into a mold.
- Material Preparation: Plastic pellets are fed into a hopper and heated in a barrel.
- Melting:The pellets melt and become a viscous fluid.
- Injection: Molten plastic is injected into the mold cavity through a nozzle.
- Cooling: The mold cools the plastic, solidifying the part.
- Mold Opening: The mold opens to release the solidified part.
- Ejection: The part is ejected using ejector pins. Excess material, like “flash” or a “tail,” is trimmed.
- Finishing: Additional processes such as trimming, painting, or assembly are completed if needed.
Plastic injection molding offers precise, complex parts at high volumes, making it ideal for various industries due to its ability to produce intricate shapes and consistent quality.
The plastic injection machine fixed the blade without the need for screws or gel, and the cost of the plastic handle was lower than that of a wood handle. The quality of the product depended on attention to detail, ensuring the oyster knife met high standards despite the use of plastic.
The customer’s feedback regarding the handle’s feet was considered. Plastic molding automatically rounded the feet, eliminating the need for manual grinding. This process saved time, ensured consistency, and reduced costs. Refined molding sets achieved a cleaner, smoother finish, enhancing the handle’s premium appearance.
The blade edge was initially too thin for effective oyster opening. After testing, the customer acknowledged the issue. Modifying the blade edge during production required involvement in the workshop. A decision was made to leave a little bevel space for better functionality, and output was paused to adjust the design. The customer agreed to the modification but expressed concerns about the production release date.
If the blade was not thick enough or the bevel too narrow, the edge could chip after opening several oysters. This issue was linked to the design, not the quality of materials. The customer acknowledged the explanation but emphasized the need for a swift solution.
Shieldon prioritized maintaining high standards throughout the OEM process to ensure flawless products. Satisfied customers lead to more referrals, reinforcing Shieldon’s commitment to quality and reputation.
The updated specifications for the blade edge, including bevel width, thickness, and tip angle, were confirmed to ensure all changes are precise; the knife production industry relied on workers’ experience to guide steel milling, often without exact data. Shieldon revolutionized this approach by documenting every change in precise terms and numbers, ensuring clear communication across all experience levels, and eliminating outdated practices.
Shieldon Technology worked closely with a client preparing for a seafood trade fair in Saint-Malo, ensuring timely delivery of a high-quality knife batch. The company adapted to the client’s feedback and proactively adjusted the blade edge during production to improve durability and prevent potential damage. This collaborative effort ensured the final product met the client’s expectations and adhered to Shieldon’s standards.
Shieldon presented detailed views of the pre-production sample to the client, confirming that all design data had been finalized. The client expressed appreciation for the work and gave final approval.
This nine-month project, from design to production, marked a significant milestone. It resulted in a unique customized oyster knife, enriched the team’s production experience, and broadened their horizons.
The prototyping phase involved testing and refining the design, offering opportunities for innovation and creative problem-solving.
After modifying the blade, Shieldon communicated the changes to the customer, using previous products for comparison as no sample could be sent. Photos were shared to demonstrate the blade’s sufficient thickness for oyster opening, and the customer agreed.
Production resumed, completing the 5,000-piece order without difficulty. Despite challenges such as the Spring Festival holiday, preparation ensured smooth progress. Production temporarily halted during the holiday as most workers took leave to reunite with their families.
Following the Spring Festival, Shieldon resumed work on packaging design and printing. To avoid errors, they emailed photos to confirm details with the customer.
The packaging design was straightforward, but the customer’s French market required careful review for spelling accuracy.
Once the customer confirmed, printing began, and the 5,000 boxes were completed in 20 days. The items were packed after cleaning.
Prototyping extended to the packaging box to ensure correct colors and wording.
Shieldon noted a slight discrepancy between the design and the printed box. The customer was informed that the product’s shape had changed during production, requiring an update to the packaging design.
The customer appreciated this attention to detail. Shieldon’s proactive approach to managing the complexities of color matching and packaging adjustments ensured the project’s success, highlighting their commitment to precision.
Shieldon presented a black box with a UV finish as an option for the customer’s packaging branding.
A small plastic sheath was recommended to the customer for blade protection during packaging.
Part 4 – Shipment and Summary
The project started with design confirmations, which included adjustments to logo engraving and handle textures. Despite challenges with injection molding, particularly with air marks, the team continued refining the process to ensure product quality.
Despite a tight timeline, all parties remained committed to meeting deadlines, taking proactive steps to address potential disruptions, such as holiday schedules affecting delivery.
The collaboration emphasized the importance of clear communication and flexibility in managing OEM projects. The successful production and shipment of the initial batch fulfilled market demands and paved the way for future partnerships, showcasing a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. This project is a model for practical OEM cooperation, highlighting the value of meticulous planning and execution.
In this OEM collaboration, Guangdong Shieldon Technology Co. Ltd worked closely with the client to create a specialized oyster knife. Communication was key to navigating the development and production stages.
The project began with refining designs, including logo placement and packaging. Despite injection molding challenges, the team focused on resolving issues like air marks to ensure product quality.
The collaboration demonstrated the importance of flexibility and continuous feedback, ensuring smooth transitions from design to production to shipping. The successful delivery of the initial batch met market demands and established a foundation for future partnerships, underscoring the commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
This project exemplifies practical OEM cooperation through careful planning and execution.
Related Reading：
Multi-Mission Customized Oyster Knife Project Highlighting Shieldon’s OEM Flexibility (Part 1/3)
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