CR-UNO Industries: Setting a New Benchmark in Protective Gear through Flexibility and One-Stop Service

Table 3-9 Introduction to CR-UNO Industrial Co., Ltd.

   Since its establishment, CR-UNO Industries has adhered to a quality-first, innovation-driven business philosophy, focusing on technological innovation and market development. In response to global market competition, the company not only provides high-quality products and services that meet market demands but also emphasizes building long-term, stable partnerships with clients. As an experienced company, CR-UNO Industries has maintained a solid position in the market through its flexibility and comprehensive service model, becoming a benchmark in the industry.

Target Customers and Market

   CR-UNO Industries initially focused on supplying raw materials to brand clients. As these clients grew, the company responded to their needs by establishing its own processing plant, allowing it to provide finished products. Over years of accumulated experience, CR-UNO Industries has greatly improved its technology and quality. Currently, sports and medical protective gear are the company’s core products, offering not only standard items but also custom protective gear with specialized materials for clients. Most of CR-UNO’s customers are international brands, with OEM and ODM services accounting for 95% of its exports, primarily targeting the U.S. market.

   The company customizes orders to meet the needs of different regions, offering versions of the same product tailored to various markets. Looking ahead, CR-UNO Industries plans to gradually increase the production of higher value-added medical protective gear, providing products with stricter quality and specification standards to expand its market presence.

Leadership and Management Strategy

   When Chairman Lin Mingwei took over CR-UNO Industries, the company was incurring losses and on the verge of bankruptcy. Through his efforts and reforms, Chairman Lin successfully revitalized the company, transforming it into a profitable enterprise. Lin leads by example—actively participating in business development and streamlining processes to negotiate directly with clients, which has significantly boosted sales. He also emphasizes a healthy work-life balance, respecting employees' personal time as long as tasks are completed on time and responsibilities, including problem-solving, are met.

   Chairman Lin also prioritizes factory modernization, both to strengthen clients' confidence in the company's quality and to improve the working environment, making it more attractive to skilled talent. Furthermore, the company views exports as a long-term growth strategy, particularly focusing on the medical protective gear sector. Lin actively promotes alliances with industry peers, encouraging both horizontal and vertical integration to build collective strength and enhance competitiveness in the market.

Key Technologies and Service Models

   CR-UNO Industries emphasizes a one-stop service model, handling every step from raw materials, design, production, and packaging to sales and global shipping. This integrated approach enables swift responses, cost control, consistent quality, and enhanced international competitiveness. Since 2018, the company has obtained several quality certifications, including ISO-9001, ISO-14001, and ISO-13485, while intensifying its focus on the medical protective gear sector. Although its products do not require strict medical device certification, the company ensures that all necessary quality inspections are completed, with final product certification managed by its partners.

   Another key competitive advantage of CR-UNO Industries is its high flexibility. The company customizes products according to clients' specific styles and specifications, accommodating small, varied orders, make-to-order (MTO) production, and lower minimum order quantities (MOQs)—a level of adaptability often unavailable from larger companies. This approach offers clients greater flexibility in ordering.

R&D Innovation

   CR-UNO Industries has a small-scale R&D team in the country, allowing for flexible operations while considering cost efficiency. With its focus on the medical protective gear sector, the company has recently invested in a Swedish medical brand, combining both companies' R&D strengths to co-develop new technologies and file for patents. CR-UNO emphasizes diversity in product design, especially customized designs tailored to different markets. The company continually experiments with innovative materials to enhance functionality, durability, and comfort, aiming to provide users with an optimal experience.

Brand Strategy

   CR-UNO Industries primarily collaborates with international brands through OEM and ODM partnerships, providing comprehensive production services at its processing plant. To avoid competing with clients' products and due to certification requirements for medical protective gear in various countries, the company has not actively developed its own brand. However, the adoption of its products by major brands often attracts clients who seek cooperation.

   Given the intense competition in the sports protective gear field, the company prefers to focus on exports rather than developing a brand. In the medical rehabilitation sector, however, CR-UNO plans to establish its own brand and independent distribution channels. By collaborating with domestic universities or medical institutions, it aims to promote patented products and expand its influence in the medical protective gear market.

Industry Challenges and Development Strategies

   CR-UNO Industries faces competition from large multinational corporations, industry peers, and Taiwanese companies operating factories in Vietnam and China. While China's quality control is relatively weaker, Vietnam lacks Taiwan’s strengths in raw material supply. Consequently, CR-UNO differentiates itself not through low pricing but by offering comprehensive one-stop services and producing high-quality, value-added products.

   Additionally, CR-UNO encounters challenges in recruiting talent, particularly professionals interested in protective gear. To address this, the company has actively implemented automation to reduce reliance on manual labor, although some processes still require a significant amount of manual work, making full automation challenging. To boost employee morale, CR-UNO has upgraded its facilities and improved compensation packages. The company also hopes the government will ease restrictions on hiring foreign workers in traditional industries to help alleviate workforce shortages. Furthermore, tariffs affect the company’s competitiveness. In response, CR-UNO is preparing to apply for a bonded factory designation, which will allow goods to be reprocessed and exported without incurring duty fees, thereby enhancing its stability as a transshipment center.

Conclusion

   CR-UNO Industries is dedicated to fostering a corporate culture rooted in proactivity, innovation, and integrity. By leveraging technological advancements and flexible market development strategies, the company achieves steady growth amid intense competition. It emphasizes production flexibility and a one-stop service model, collaborating with multiple satellite manufacturers to expand its market through strategic alliances with industry peers. Looking ahead, CR-UNO will continue to enhance the value of its products, deliver the best offerings to clients, and create greater value for customers, employees, and society, all while maintaining its leadership role in the industry.