Sun Civic Enterprise Co., Ltd. Has long been dedicated to making unique, high-quality handcrafted household and decorative items, earning it a strong reputation both in Taiwan and abroad.

The company was founded as a maker of small wooden household items, mostly based on customer designs. The reliance on original equipment manufacturer (OEM) orders helped the company grow quickly during its early years without a heavy investment in R&D work.

Over the past several years, Sun Civic has shifted its focus to self-designed products as its R&D capability has grown. It currently supplies a wide range of stylish items, including jewelry, cigar, and stationery boxes.

The shift to own-design products has helped Sun Civic maintain profit margins in Taiwan, where rising wages have been a trouble for manufacturing concerns, by adding value to its products, says Eric Wang, president of the company. "We have to focus on product quality, better after-sale service, and creative designs to stand firmly in the international market," he says.

Sun Civic uses environment-friendly materials imported from the U.S. and Europe in its products, says Wang.

At present, Sun Civic uses solid wood, plywood, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) to roll out a variety of wooden handcrafts and practical household items. The company also imports some semi-finished wood from developing nations, like mainland China and Vietnam, for further processing in Taiwan to cut production costs.

"We don`t roll out our products overseas because we still have an advantage in design capacity in Taiwan, and design ability is our lifeline," Wang says.

Sun Civic employs sophisticated surface grinding and coating processes to keep its products smoothly surfaced and scratch-free. "Our products generally undergo a 13-step surface grinding and coating process," Wang says. "In some special cases, the number of processing steps can be as high as 16."

At present the company`s handcrafted items are aimed at the high-end gift market. "Our designs can meet customer requirements because we have a tight grip on world market trends," Wang says. "Our production model is hard to copy because we have a deep understanding of the materials, product characteristics and structures, and market tastes," he says.

Wang`s biggest worry at the moment is rising production costs, pushed up by soaring oil prices. Passing the higher costs onto consumers is difficult, he says, due to pressure from foreign buyers to keep prices down. The company has sought to overcome this problem and ensure reasonable margins by introducing new and higher priced products," Wang notes.

Recently the company rolled out a new line of pyramid-shaped boxes for storing jewelry. Originally the boxes were designed for cigars and equipped with a thermometer and an electronic device to keep internal humidity at a certain level.

"By modifying the interior space design, we were able to make a box for storing jewelry, watches, liquor, and men`s accessories," says Wang. He notes that the new item is difficult to make due to the complexity of firmly affixing the four sides of the pyramid, requiring special jigs and fixtures.

Sun Civic is now developing some new handcraft items made of the knots of walnut and beech wood. "Walnut and beech knots have beautiful grains, which we bring out in our new line of handicrafts," Wang says.

Currently the company exports 70% of its output. In Taiwan, the company sells wine boxes and food containers made from semi-finished materials from mainland China, says Wang.

"We have a flexible production facility in Taiwan, which allows us to offer products at high, medium, and low prices," Wang says. "Although our customers are mainly in the upper end of the market, we supply some cheaper items for other markets."

Over the past few years, the company has displayed its products at exhibitions in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Hong Kong.
(by Ben)