Sunleda of mainland China offers the KE5010 model, a PVC luggage tag shaped like a human figure. The product comes in various colors.

Suppliers of luggage tags in mainland China and Taiwan are launching attractive models in durable materials.

As demand grows for personalized luggage tags, makers are releasing a variety of models to suit different tastes. This comes as users seek colorful, novelty designs to make it easier to distinguish their luggage at the airport carousel.

Companies from both sides of the Taiwan Strait are also competing in terms of design under efforts to penetrate the midrange and high-end segments.

Luggage tags shaped like airplanes, sports shirts and animals are growing in popularity, even as simpler versions in rectangles, circles and squares continue to account for the bulk of output.

While rubber, PS and PVC remain widely used for low-end designs, makers are now adopting high-impact PS, or HIPS, for increased durability. Metal such as aluminum, stainless steel, and aluminum and zinc alloy are also being utilized.

High-end models come in calfskin and other types of genuine leather.

To boost their competitiveness, suppliers in the mainland are optimizing R&D capability. This includes

investing in design software such as Pro/E, Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw.

Makers in Taiwan aim to gain an edge by releasing a wider design range.

Rising production costs and sluggish sales have been pushing small companies in the island to close down their factories or venture into other product lines. Several have moved their manufacturing bases to the mainland where operating costs are lower.

Among the mainland suppliers interviewed for this report, Brother Plastic Products Co. Ltd invests 2 percent of annual sales in R&D. The four-member R&D team launches more than 100 models each month using AutoCAD, Pro/E, CorelDraw and Adobe Illustrator.

The supplier's luggage tags are mostly in PVC.

At Sunleda Stationery & Gift Co. Ltd, Pro/E and AutoCAD software is utilized in creating models in PVC, PS, aluminum and stainless steel. The product development team has 10 members.

The company makes its molds in-house. Silk-screening, and laser and sublimation printing are subcontracted to specialist factories.

Hermes Economic & Trade (Hong Kong) Ltd uses Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw. Its latest models are shaped like airplanes.

Specializing in metal accessories, the company uses mainly aluminum, zinc alloy and stainless steel. Designs have shiny or matte finishes, or are plated in gold, silver and black colors.

Models from Beijing Stronger Rich Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd come in aluminum alloy, andPVC and PU leather. Logos are embossed or silk-screened.

The company is planning to send its R&D team to trade shows overseas to widen knowledge of industry trends. It exports to the US, the UK, Australia and the Middle East.

In Taiwan, luggage tags in stainless steel, aluminum and zinc alloy are considered high end and can reach $8 each. PVC models are from $0.12 to $3.

ISO 9001:2000-certified Taiwan Maygrand Ltd offers luggage tags in copper, zinc alloy, stainless steel, aluminum and iron. Prices range between $1.80 and $3.

The supplier's 60,000sqm mainland factory in Guangdong province has 800 workers. It can produce up to 5 million pieces monthly.

Taiwan Maygrand exports mainly to the US and Europe. Disney, Macy's and Coca-Cola are among the clients.

Hao Dy Development Corp. offers animal-themed luggage tags made of rubber, PVC, PVC leather and HIPS. Products are inspected at SGS to ensure quality.

The ISO 9001:2000-certified supplier has factories in Tainan and Guangdong. Apart from luggage tags, it manufactures refrigerator magnets, keychains and garment labels. The US, the UK and Japan are the main markets.

Exporting mostly to Japan, Europe and the US, Biao Zhi Enterprise Corp. utilizes calfskin, suede, and PVC and PU leather. Models shaped like clothes and animals are the best-sellers.

The company's factories in Tainan and Guangdong have laminating and laser-printing machines.

Luggage tags from Cheng Chua Enterprise Co. Ltd come in PVC and HIPS, with prices at $0.15 to $0.20. Exports go mainly to the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The supplier sends its products to SGS for testing. Besides luggage tags, it offers plastic rulers, bookmarks, promotional magnets and beverage holders.