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Product Magazines: Product Trends |
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An alien landing on Earth could be forgiven for thinking that push-button technology is as necessary to man's existence as the atmosphere or fresh water. Convenience is such a powerful lure to consumers that remote-controlled devices are hot items on the shelves of stores all over the word. None less so than King's Mfg Co Ltd's remote-controlled clock radio, which can be hung on a wall or placed on a desk.
"We introduced this in January 1995 and have had a good response," says Kenneth Lo, manager of King's electronics department. "We think we are the first to come out with a remote-controlled radio. It is very practical -- people can change stations without having to get up to tune it."
The remote control unit itself has buttons for on/off, volume control, scanning and reset functions. "When you press reset, it starts you at the first station and allows you to scan station by station through the entire FM band," explains Lo. "We have an integrated circuit for the FM stations right now. But we are developing a model with AM/FM bands that will be available later this year."
King's, a specialist clock and radio manufacturer, has concentrated on design as well technology to make the device attractive. Black and elliptical in shape, it measures 300x60x180mm. Another model features a clock only. On both, the clocks have silver hour and minute hands, and a red second hand; other colours can be substituted. "We put a lot of effort into the design. We are known for our hi-tech style," affirms Lo.
Prices for the units are available upon request. Each comes with its own built-in stand for desktop use; screws are provided for wall mountings. The units can be operated with four D-size batteries or plugged into an AC adaptor -- neither the batteries nor the adapotr is included.
Minimum order is 500 units with deliveries shipped in 50-60 days. The 30-year-old company's major markets are currently Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy and Spain. Some units are also sold in the US.
Written by Andrea Pawlyna
The answer is always right at your fingertips with the Eva Mousepad Calculator. For double-checking figures or making calculations, without interrupting work, the touch-sensitive calculator is ideal since it is conveniently built into a mousepad.
The solar-powered calculator, manufactured by Dah Sun Calculator Mfg Co Ltd, has all the basic arithmetic functions of a normal calculator with an eight-digit LCD. With over 20 vibrant colours to choose from, the Mousepad is fun and lively and will brighten up any office. The flexible, lightweight pad measures 260x202x5mm.
Marketing manager Banny Chan points out that he designed the Mousepad, as well as a whole range of other novelty calculators. The handy computer accessory was launched in July 1994 and has been well received in North America and Europe. "Our clients are not only computer-related companies," Chan says. "They are very varied including, for instance, a well known fast-food chain."
The mousepad offers plenty of room for logos and eye-catching designs, which makes it a perfect premium item or gift. If the client provides the artwork, Dah Sun will make up the films and produce the Mousepad complete with a logo in full colour.
For those who want to try before they buy, delivery of samples takes just 10 days. For a consignment, delivery is guaranteed anywhere in the world, after sample approval, within 40 days of placing an order. Freight is easy to handle -- one carton, which contains 50 individually-boxed units, weights 8.5kg.
The calculator comes in two display sizes. the small display, measuring 28x10mm, costs US$2 FOB Hong Kong per unit and the large display, at 40x14.4mm, has a price tag of US$2.2. With a logo, the additional cost is US$0.08 per colour per unit. Minimum order is 500 units. For orders over 10,000, prices are negotiable.
"We use the US quality standard AQL and we are seeking the EC quality standard approval as well," concludes Chan.
Written by Carol Holmes
Watching video cassettes is one of the world's most popular pastimes nowadays. What better video accessory, or premium item, then than a hand-operated video cassette rewinder? So thought Sun Keung Plastics Mfg Co Ltd, which launched its eco-friendly rewinder in April 1995.
"The rewinder is very easy to use and it is also environmentally friendly because it conserves energy," explains Ricky Leung, a director of Sun Keung. To operate, users need only mount a VHS tape on the plastic housing and turn a hand crank to rewind or fast-forward the tape.
"It takes very little time to do and causes no damage to expensive VCR heads. Rewinding tapes by hand saves wear and tear on VCRs," Leung stresses. It takes only about three minutes to rewind an average two-hour type. "It can be used by anyone. It is suitable for all ages," he says.
The brainchild of the company's owner, the small, lightweight device measures 120x125x40mm, weights 100g and is ideal as an advertising or premium item. Leung believes that it is the first hand-operated rewinder on the market. A second model, for 8mm tapes, will be introduced at the end of 1995. "We wanted to start with the VHS model because that is the dominant tape system," he explains.
The rewinders sell for US$1 FOB Hong Kong and come in a choice of colour schemes, including two-tone models in yellow/red, and white/black, and in solid white or black. "Black and white are the most popular colours, but we can produce whatever colours customers want," Leung says.
Minimum order is 5,000 units and deliveries take 14 days. The 16-year-old company, which also makes clocks, plastic gifts and stationery items, produces 100,000 rewinders pre month and expects sales to be worldwide. Sun Keung's current markets include Germany, France, Greece and the US.
Written by Andrea Pawlyna
A fast, accurate, easy-to-use LCD digital fever thermometer has been a popular seller for Electronic Creation (Int'l) Co for the past two years.
The company's top-of-the-line model, the CT-888, provides digital displays to two decimal places in either Celsius or Fahrenheit. It measures temperatures from 32-42.99 C (89.60-109.38 F) with an accuracy of +/-0.05 degrees between 36 C and 38 C ; and of +/-0.1 degrees between 32C and 36 C, and 38 C and 43 C.
The unit, which has a stainless steel sensing probe attached to a one-metre cord, is suitable for oral, underarm or rectal use. "There are no worries about broken glass or mercury poisoning and it doesn't have to be shaken down like a conventional thermometer. It takes one second for the temperature to be displayed on the LCD screen," enthuses Edmund Ku, Electronic Creation's marketing manager, "The thermometer is safe for adults or children."
When the temperature reading reaches its peak value, the unit emits a beeping sound. The numerical display stops flashing and holds steady. "The display is quite large and easy to read," notes Ku. The temperature remains on the screen until the device is switched off or the reset button is pushed.
The unit operates with one 1.5V DC button battery and is equipped with a battery check function. "When the battery is low, a T appears on the LCD screen," adds Ku.
The CT-888 measures 40x76x13mm, weights 120g and costs US$3.80 FOB Hong Kong. Minimum order is 500 units and deliveries are shipped in 30 days.
The main markets for the thermometer are the US, the UK, Japan and Eastern Europe. Five-year-old Electronic Creation manufactures 10,000 of the units per month. Thirty per cent of sales are under the company's own ATM brand, while the rest are private label sales. The unit is guaranteed for one year.
Written by Andrea Pawlyna
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