global trade

There is enormous latent supply of equipment and machinery in China across a wide range of industries. The amount of arbitrage happening in the China-to-US machinery and equipment space seems almost too significant to not be disintermediated. Why has no one been able to tap into it, especially the marketplace giants, Amazon and Alibaba?

High-Touch or Low-Touch?

One reason is the unique high-touch service needs of equipment and machinery industries. High-touch means that customer service issues are often more complex, but the business involves high value customers. In contrast, most consumer goods follow a low-touch customer model.

From operating call centers trained in technical advice and troubleshooting, to providing adequate after-sales maintenance and repair, the need for high-touch customer service from end to end is unavoidable in the world of big-ticket machinery and equipment purchases. Few Chinese manufacturers can afford to operate a dedicated US-based team to fulfill this for US customers.

If traditional cross-border intermediaries such as trading companies and OEM buyers can fill this need and profit handsomely, why couldn’t a horizontal marketplace platform step in and steal their thunder (along with billions of dollars of profit)?

As Alibaba and Amazon's marketplace platforms have been built out around consumer goods, these incumbent players follow highly entrenched low-touch service models. This because the relatively low value of consumer purchases prevent a high-touch model from ever being profitable. However, conversely, a low-touch model greatly limits these platforms’ ability to accommodate Chinese direct-selling of industrial equipment and machinery the same way they have – to an extent – for Chinese consumer goods.

One Man's "Innovator's Dilemma" is Another's...

It would go against Alibaba or Amazon’s core business models if they were to establish a dedicated after-sales service team to answer customers’ various technical industry-specific questions, much less provide on-site maintenance services. But that is exactly what is needed by Chinese industrial sellers in order to sell to the US.

A platform that provides high-touch English-language service is the very key that will unlock an enormous volume of latent supply. It is a key that may not seem intuitive at first due to the consumer models proven out by the giants, Amazon and Alibaba. But it’s one whose numbers make complete sense if you take a look at the US market from a buyer perspective, in conjunction with understanding the challenges and incentives from a Chinese seller perspective.

The event aimed to open discussions about cross-border business between the U.S.-China, while encouraging the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs within the community. 

Toolots Team attending Day 2 of the Forum.

September 30 and October 3, 2017-Toolots was a proud sponsor of the ShuiMu U.S.-China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum, a two-day conference held on last weekend on September 30th and October 1st. The conference was co-organized by Tsinghua University's Alumni Association in Southern California and LEAP Career Development, a nonprofit dedicated to career advancement and networking for young people in STEM. The event aimed to open a dialogue about cross-border business in the U.S. and China, with a focus on topics such as culture, economy, innovation, and technology. In addition to a forum for innovators and investors, the conference integrated a Venture Capital (VC) pitch competition, as well as a Youth STEAM Innovation Competition. Tsinghua’s strong alumni presence in Southern California provided the forum with a distinguished lineup of exceptional business executives and leading minds across a wide range of fields.

Dr. Jessie Ying Zhan speaking to attendees about how Toolots has collectively worked to achieved success.

Day 1

On Saturday, Toolots was pleased to host the events for Day 1 of the Forum which included an Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and the Youth 3D Design Mini Hackathon. Both events were held at Toolots' headquarter office located in Cerritos, California. The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp featured three distinguished keynote speakers from Tsinghua's Alumni Association, including Toolots’ own Dr. Ying Zhan (Jessie). Topics covered included risks and solutions in start-ups, the entrepreneur’s mindset, and how to win over investors. The speakers shared their collective experience as cross-border business leaders and investors before offering advice on leadership and entrepreneurship.

During the event, Jessie shared Toolots’ story and how the company was able to successfully garner VC investment. She explained that Toolots’ success, not only in its pitch but its overall trajectory as a start-up, could be attributed to its exceptionally strong board, its genuinely disruptive business model, and its ability to prove feasibility and user traction.

The second event, the Youth 3D Design Mini Hackathon, occurred on Saturday afternoon. Participants of the event were allowed to work in teams of two or three, including an adult coach, and were required to be currently enrolled in a school between 6th-12th grade. Winners of the "Explore Mars, Build the Future" theme were invited to attend the final pitch of Day 2's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition event. Facilitation of this event, and similar ones, is part of Toolots' initiative to actively support education and encouragement of youth in technology through attending, hosting, and sponsoring community education events, an ongoing partnership with the ABC Unified School District, and a new summer internship for high school students interested in the manufacturing industry.

Student winners of Day 1's Hackathon attend Day 2's pitch competition.

Day 2

The second day was held at the Hilton San Gabriel in Los Angeles and featured a full day of events intended to bring together the business forum and the youth competitions.

The first discussion centered around the current environment for cross-border startups in China and the U.S. The panel mainly addressed the opportunities and challenges companies and business leaders in both countries must overcome to successfully do business overseas. During their dialogue, the panel also discussed innovation and cross-border entrepreneurship in both markets before noting that the legal environment has seen great improvements in China, and that IP protection has increasingly become a priority.

The second panel featured speakers with technology industry knowledge who addressed potential business opportunities with AI and machine learning technology. The panelists discussed the current AI landscape and various applications of AI, including security, healthcare, and autonomous driving.

Toolots CTO Bill Andreozzi speaking on the components of a good, successful pitch.

Following the conclusion of the panel discussion portions of the event, Toolots CTO Bill Andreozzi kicked off the pitch competition after giving an opening speech. During his speech, Andreozzi demonstrated parts of Toolots’ own pitch, while analyzing the key components to provide insight into the necessary elements of a good, successful pitch. He began with an analysis of the title, “Machinery of operational transformation,” explaining that it was an effective yet simple way to tell investors that Toolots essentially provides a collection of tools and gears that work together to provide disruptive solutions.

Andreozzi then gave an overview of the barriers SMEs going global often face: inefficiency, high prices, slow innovation. He elaborated by stating that products often don't go global until there is demonstrated market value, which results in slow innovation. Andreozzi stated that Toolots' platform and business model are intended to help SMEs overcome these barriers to expand their businesses and generate revenue.

During his speech, Andreozzi also highlighted the importance of clearly distinguishing your business from competitors when pitching to investors. He referred to Toolots' pitch, wherein the company contrasts their new, innovative business model with the traditional model that often results in manufacturers losing their branding rights when selling products like industrial equipment overseas. Overall, the traditional model increases cost to consumer, while decreasing revenue to manufacturer in China.

“Show the problem statement and then show what you do. What differentiates you? Break down specifics,” Andreozzi said, explaining a slide listing the comprehensive services Toolots offers its customers and vendor partners. He noted that at this point during the pitch, investors might ask whether Toolots really does all of this. The answer would be yes, because all the services are scalable, with the most important being after-sales services. Toolots has successfully built a network of service technicians with YuuTool, the Uber of service repair.

“Make sure both your business model and market are sustainable. What is gluing your customer to your product?” prompted Andreozzi, before offering a deep dive into how Toolots “glues” the customer: it manages all their daily operations, and its ERP is being built so that Toolots can put business intelligence around it. Toolots focuses on ERP and partners with others for supply chain, etc. With a majority of data integrated into its ERP, Toolots will achieve true transparency with regards to operations and supply chain that will allow vendor partners to make informed decisions, focus on revenue generation, and day to day operations.

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September 2017-Subsequent to Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, Guangdong, Sichuan, Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, Anhui and Hebei, the Toolots has continued its market expansion of merchant vendors in Northeast China. On September 20th, Toolots' Chief Executive Officer Jason Fu and Executive Advisor Dr. Peter Wei attended a business roundtable with their China team at the Shangri-La Hotel in Changchun City. The purpose of the event was to conduct exploratory market research along with a symposium on the topic of how Toolots, as a pioneering cross-border e-commerce company, can lead the small to mid-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) into the global market. Toolots' unique cross-border platform mutually allows the opportunity for Chinese manufacturers to enter into the U.S. market, and also allows U.S. manufacturers the opportunity to enter into the Chinese market. 

Attendees of the event included major stakeholders such as Deputy Governor of Jilin Province JinYuhui, top officials of Jilin’s Government, in addition to several key manufacturing enterprises in Changchun City. 

Scene at the symposium.

Additionally, several top officials the city's correlational government departments in attendance included: Lihua Huang, Deputy Director of the Provincial Office of Foreign Affairs; Yugang Gong, Deputy Director of the Office of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce; Guohua Sun, Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Commerce; Yong Xu, Deputy Director of the Provincial Economic and Trade Bureau Office, Zhijian Liu, Division Chief of the Provincial Department of U.S. and Europe; Chengjun Tian, Division Chief of the Provincial Department of the U.S. Commerce; Wei Wang, Division Chief of the Provincial Department of Foreign Trade; and Peng Gao, the Division Chief of Provincial Department of the Economic and Trade Bureau. 

The symposium was presided over by Ms. Lihua Huang, the Deputy Director of Jilin Provincial Foreign Affairs Office. At the beginning of the meeting, Ms. Huang expressed a sincere welcome to the Toolots team:   

"The Jilin Provincial Government views the arrival of your company as highly important [due to the fact that] we’ve heard Toolots is a well-known cross-border e-commerce platform in the United States, and that the company has made numerous beneficial endeavors in the aspect of constructing a cross-border e-commerce platform for industrial equipment between China and U.S. Through this meeting, we are looking forward to gaining some valuable insights and recommendations from Toolots for our forthcoming cooperation, as well as deepening the understanding of the manufacturing industry in Jilin. [We] hope that Toolots will assist our manufacturing industry to capitalize on the development of the growing U.S. market." 

Deputy Director of Jilin Provincial Foreign Affairs Ms. Lihua Huang (middle) greets Toolots CEO Jason Fu (left)and the Board Advisor Peter Wei (right).

Deputy Director of Jilin Provincial Foreign Affairs Office Ms. Lihua Huang, presiding at the symposium.

Following roundtable discussion, Mr. Jason Fu provided a detailed introduction to the attending governmental officials regarding three aspects of the company: the positioning of Toolots platform, the innovation of the platform, and how Toolots will develop and advance its next five-year plan through cooperating with and growing the local manufacturing industry. 

Jason Fu stated:  

"We have 17 years of accumulated market penetration and experience, and when the shareconomy emerged in 2015 we were able to predict our ability to help SMEs by sharing our resources, including our pre-established market, customers, after-sales services, and more. The trade market between China and U.S. for consumer goods has already been saturated. However in recent years, there continues to be a 650 billion-dollar U.S. market for industrial products imported from China. Nearly 90% of this value is actually made by factories in China that are set up by foreign countries and regions in the world. The portion made by native China manufacturing factories is stills mall, yet to those native China manufacturing factories, this is a potential billion-dollar blue ocean market”. 

Toolots CEO Jason Fu (middle) gives an introduction about Toolots to the correlational governmental department officials in Jilin. 

With the revitalization and resurgence of the U.S. manufacturing industry, Chinese industrial supply companies have the opportunity to simultaneously enter the U.S. market and assist in the growth of global manufacturing by providing SMEs with quality equipment at competitive prices. As a vertical e-commerce online platform focused on industrial equipment and manufacturing, Toolots has consistently been devoted streamlining global trade and e-commerce through the expansion of its big data system. With its innovative business model, the company has shared numerous resources and services on its platform with partnered vendors including omni-channel marketing, warehousing and logistics, operational management plans, and more. Toolots continues to develop its shared economic platform through VF (virtual firm) technology, thereby allowing them to provide various shareconomy services including e-accounting, e-register, e-insurance, e-finance, in addition to other shareconomy services. 

In traditional distribution models, distributors maximize their own benefits and distribution rights despite the vendors’ interests. However, Toolots provides a unique cross-border e-commerce platform using a global shareconomy method to eliminate these profit-blockers and maximize the benefits for partnered vendors. 

During the symposium, the Director of the Foreign Trade Department of the Jilin Provincial Department of Commerce Mr. Wei Wang stated that for the past two years, Jilin Province has been strongly promoting the development of cross-border e-commerce business, in four aspects:  

First is to encourage current enterprises to fortify their business through cross-border e-commerce; Second is to have the enterprises that lack the experience in foreign trade to utilize cross-border e-commerce platforms for entering international markets; Third is to use cross-border e-commerce to attract and bring back any enterprises that have left Jilin for other provinces; Fourth is to attract foreign enterprises to Jilin for participating in their business development on cross-border e-commerce. 

Deputy director of the Office of the Ministry of Industry of Jilin Province Yugang Gong inquired about the Toolots after-sales system during the symposium.

Jason Fu indicated that currently, the most applicable method for the cooperation of Toolots and the Province of Jilin is to establish model enterprises.  Toolots can start by choosing 2-3 products fields filled in Jilin, then cultivate 5-10 model enterprises. These model enterprises can then be used as sample cases in the following promotional stage in Jilin to directly promote a wider range of enterprises within the city.  

The Deputy Director of the Jilin Provincial Economic and Trade Bureau Yong Xu, showed immense interest in Toolots’ role in the future China-U.S. Industrial Park project. Essentially the industrial park will allow U.S. manufacturing SMEs to establish satellite offices, corporate branches, or manufacturing facilities within the city of Jilin to take advantage of a variety of benefits including distribution, market expansion, and more. The park will also provide a myriad of benefits for the city of Jilin ranging from increased jobs, strengthening relations within the global manufacturing community, and many more.  

After the meeting, the Deputy Governor of Jilin Province YuhuiJin, who oversees industrial businesses, as well as the top officials from the correlational governmental departments, hosted a luncheon for attendees including the Toolots team. The Governor warmly welcomed the participants event, and thanked them for their attendance before giving a full affirmation of Toolots’ business model. He concluded the event for the day by stating the provincial government would offer and provide their support for U.S. SMEs seeking to conduct business in Jilian, and cited Toolots as a pioneer company aiding manufacturing SMEs in their development and expansion. 

Deputy Governor of Jilin Province YuhuiJin (right) in discussion with Toolots CEO Jason Fu (left).

In Jilin, automobile manufacturing is its representative industry. The picture shows the Deputy Governor of Jilin Province YuhuiJin (right) offering a model car as the present for CEO of Toolots Jason Fu (left).

Group photo of the Jilin Province Governmental top officials and the Toolots team.

A Chinese version of this article is available here.

Xiuzhou Economic Development Delegation from Jiaxing, China visits Toolots and local SMEs

Tenghui Guo, Executive Deputy Governor of Jiaxing, giving open remarks to attendees.

CERRITOS, Calif – August 17, 2017 – Toolots was honored to receive over 40 prestigious guests Tuesday for an exclusive US-China Manufacturing Delegation held at its’ headquarters. The event aimed to gather US and Chinese government officials with expertise and experience in the manufacturing industry with local US manufacturers to discuss the importance of bridging the gap between the Pacific, how to improve trade relations, and the future of the industry as a whole. Attendees were given the unique opportunity to ask delegates questions regarding the industry and the importance of California and the Xiuzhou District.

The event began with with remarks by Toolots Founder Jason Fu and the Executive Deputy Governor of Jiaxing Tengui Guo, who stressed the importance of strong trade relations to streamline industrial commerce between the United States and China. Cerritos Mayor Grace Hu then delivered a proclamation certificate to Guo, to thank the delegation for choosing the city of Cerritos and its’ businesses to begin strengthening relations.

“California is open for business [and happy to] support our residents here within the district” Adam Galia, a District Representative for California State Senator Tony Mendoza, stated. Galia then presented the delegation with a certificate on behalf of the Senator for the 32nd District. “[We] commend your contributions to this form of helping  American businesses in advancing and improving relations between our two countries” Galia read, verbatim, from the certificate.

Lisa Zhou, President of the Chinese CEO Organization, followed Galia by presenting a certificate of recognition for contributions to the development of the Chinese-American business community, noting the Xiuzhou Economic Development Delegation’s commitment to improving trade relations. Desmond E. Thompson, Vice Chairman of the Board for the Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce, then discussed China’s role in international trade with the US. With over $600 billion in total trade with China in 2016, the Vice Chairman was thrilled that Toolots and the Delegation chose Cerritos as their headquarters and event location. “Toolots [is] helping expand the local opportunities for all businesses to play a role in this significant source of trade,” said Thompson.

Vice Chairman of the Board for the Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce, Desmond E. Thompson, discusses US-Chinese trade and the potential benefits for local SMEs.

Toolots Chief Technology Officer, Bill Andreozzi then took the stage to provide guests an introduction to Toolots’ unique platform. Briefly, Andreozzi explained Toolots’ vertical approach to the market, and how after-sale services can disrupt traditional eCommerce models. The event concluded with an industrial equipment cross-border eCommerce platform signing ceremony, a group photo, and a networking luncheon.

Representatives from the Xiuzhou Economic Development Delegation from Jiaxing, China (嘉兴市秀洲区经贸考察团) included:

• Tenghui Guo: Executive Deputy Governor, People's Government of Xiuzhou District, Jiaxing City
• Chunfu Dong: Deputy Director, People's Republic of Xiuzhou District, Jiaxing City
• Xihua Xu: Director, Jiaxing Xiuzhou Bureau of Economy & Commerce
• Jianzhong Du: Deputy Director, Development and Reform Bureau of Xiuzhou District, Jiaxing City
• Yong Qian: Director, Bureau of Economic Development & Statistics, Jiaxing Xiuzhou National Industrial Development Zone
• Yanqin Ma: Project Manager of Service Investment Bureau, Jiaxing Xiuzhou National Industrial Development Zone (interpreter)

According to the Chinese government officials who attended, California’s role in global commerce is imperative. International contributions through trade and investment will provide significant benefits to the manufacturing community,extending beyond American businesses and their employees to assist the communities they operate in as a whole.  

Group photo of attendees of the US-China Manufacturing Delegation hosted by Toolots at their Cerritos, CA headquarters.

“Xiuzhou can help American companies to develop their businesses,” said Guo, Executive Deputy Government for the People’s Government of Xiuzhou in Jiaxing City. Guo was one of six members of the delegation who traveled to Toolots Cerritos headquarters for the event. He further added that the Chinese government wants to reinforce its national manufacturing reach by solidifying strategic partnerships with esteemed foreign manufacturers, like those located throughout the state of California. During a brief presentation, Xihua Xu, Director of the Jiaxing Xiuzhou Bureau of Economy and Commerce, discussed the manufacturing resources, potential partnerships, and investment or partnership opportunities in his city. While these partnerships are valuable to Chinese government officials, it’s also an opportunity for American manufacturers to broaden their market, invigorate production, and spark increased localized growth. “We think Toolots will become a bridge between companies in China and California, and elsewhere in the United States.”

The US-China Manufacturing Delegation is one example of Toolots’ ongoing ambition to increase engagement between the US and Chinese industrial communities to help promote localized economic growth in Southern California while also educating US SMEs on how to effectively export their products to the overseas market. Additionally, the Company’s streamlined global eCommerce platform makes it easy for manufacturers to sell their products to long-tail, or niche, markets.

Toolots differentiates itself from the competition by providing the logistical, financial, and personnel support to get new products in the hands of new customers in addition to comprehensive after-sales services. This affords small to medium sized enterprises the ability to focus on the quality of their products, while Toolots handles the heavy lifting. To learn more or to list your company’s products on our eCommerce platform, sign up at www.toolots.com.

Part of the company’s ongoing expansion, Toolots Taiwan will help serve international community

Toolots signed documents securing a new facility in Taiwan to better serve the global industrial machinery and equipment market

TAIWAN – April 20, 2017 – As part of the ongoing growth of Toolots, Inc., the company is expanding its global reach with the addition of a new facility in Taiwan. This week the company signed documents securing a new Taiwan office and creation of Toolots Taiwan, helping to better serve the international community and boost the marketing, sales and fulfillment of products from around the world, including United States-made industrial equipment and tools, throughout the region.

Toolots Chief Executive Officer Jason Fu said the new location will employ six full-time employees, adding, “They will work with our international team to build the Toolots brand and help to better locate, market, sell and deliver industrial products from all over the world, including the United States and Asia.”

Fu said, “This Taiwan office is a symbol that Toolots is growing fast, but we are growing intelligently. There is great demand in Asia for American-made industrial equipment and with this new location, and Toolots will be able better serve its international customers and fulfill orders for those in-demand products.”

Likewise, the Toolots Taiwan business development team will coordinate with leadership at the company’s California-based headquarters to identify Asian products that are in high demand within the U.S.

About Toolots

Toolots, headquartered in Cerritos, California, offers an online marketplace and international distribution channel for factory-direct industrial tools, machinery, and technology. The user-friendly platform provides fast, easy access to high-quality, affordable equipment to manufacturers. Toolots’ comprehensive services streamline the purchase, delivery, installation and warranty of industrial technology, machinery and components, and uphold the quality of important goods through a vetted network of vendors and service technicians. The company’s dedication to fostering international trade relations passes on cost savings to the consumer, contributes to reduced downtime, improves productivity and expands a manufacturer’s reach. Toolots has strategically located warehouses, showrooms, and offices across the United States and China. For more information about Toolots, visit their website at www.toolots.com.

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Ningbo Pinyuan Electric Co. develops and builds commonly used industrial lights, perfect for retrofitters, construction, and industrial customers

Owner of Pinyuan Electric, Wensheng Jiang, is proud of the quality LED lights his factory produces in Yuyao, China

YUYAO, China – April 17, 2017 – As part of an ongoing trade mission to eastern China to meet with manufacturers of innovative and competitive industrial products, Toolots, Inc. and its executives, business development and public affairs team met with an LED lighting manufacturer in the city of Yuyao. Ningbo Pinyuan Electric Co., based out of the Zhejiang Province, produces a variety of different LED lighting systems catering to the industrial, construction and scientific/research markets.

“Originally, we made power supply systems for computers but recently, we’ve developed new LED products perfect for industrial applications,” Company owner Wensheng Jian said, speaking through a translator. “Our technology is better than anything you will find in any other factory."

Behind the curtain, Jiang said, are powerful technical support and special design teams who have continually improved the technology and its programming. Ningbo Pinyuan Electric Co. has manufactured power supply systems for more than a decade and has perfected the technology that supports these new lighting systems, he added.

The meeting between both companies included Toolots Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jason Fu, Chief Operating Officer Raymond Cheng, Director of Global Commerce Services Grant Montgomery, Director of Public Affairs Chris Foy and Engineer Gary Krause, as well as other representatives from the Pinyuan Electric.

When asked why he was interested in partnering with Toolots, Jiang said marketing and selling his products to American consumers would finally be simple and low maintenance, so he can focus on developing new product lines to cater to new customers. Without a partner like Toolots, he said, it is much harder to break into the American industrial market; he can now leverage the California-based company’s resources to do just that, Jiang added.

Ningbo Pinyuan Electric Co. sells LED lights geared towards the American industrial, construction and research markets. Their products are more affordable than similar products sold by global competitors, but Jiang is confident his technology is superior to any others.

“We have products for mobile industrial applications, like a construction site or a machine shop where direct light is needed,” Jiang said, adding they also produce stationary ceiling lights and magnetic, magnified lights perfect for factories, machine shops and research facilities.

One of the company’s signature products is a magnetic LED light that attaches to lathe. Another is the magnetic LED light with a built-in magnifying glass, perfect for laboratory and factory applications. There are four other lights for various applications the company produces, from large lights for ceiling installation to magnetic lights with extendable, bendable arms to attach to manufacturing equipment.

These highly engineered products have one thousand pieces within, Jiang said, yet are available at a dramatically lower price than competitors. Another product the Yuyao-based company offers is a three-color tower light for industrial equipment applications, indicating with different colors each stage of operation.

LED lighting typically has a life expectancy between five and thirty times longer than compact fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs, respectively. If run for eight hours each day, manufacturers state the average LED light will run for 15-17 years.

“We have powerful technology,” Jiang said. “We also developed the power supplies for these products, something we have perfected over 15 years since we opened this factory, so we're not new to these products.”

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Konger, based in Ningbo, China, manufacturers highly engineered machines

NINGBO, China – April 18, 2017 – Toolots, Inc. leadership and its business development and public affairs team visited with the operators of a manufacturing facility in China that produces highly innovative plastic injection molding machines - all made using the finest Austrian-built components. The meeting with Konger, based in the city of Ningbo, was part of an ongoing trade mission to eastern China to connect with new potential suppliers of industrial products to the American manufacturing market.

Toolots China Chief Operating Officer Mason Wang, Toolots US COO Raymond Cheng and Jerry Qi, Konger General Manager, discuss the company's latest machinery

Konger produces a wide range of lines of plastic injection molding machines. Their signature machine, part of the Konger Chameleon series, has the ability to mix two to three different colors in endless combinations and its injection technology reduces deferment within the mold itself, lending to much longer mold lifespan.

The high-tech factory has the capability to produce about 50 to 60 new machines per month, said Konger North America Sales Director Lawrence Song, adding that demand for these products is high; their customers come from all over the world, from the United States to Malaysia. Konger General Manager Jerry Qi said that he would put his machines up against any competitors, confident in their state-of-the-art technology and the highly engineered components within the injection system.

Konger GM Jerry Qi explains what sets his plastic injection molding machines apart from the competition

“Our specialty is producing machines using the latest technology designed in Austria,” Song said during the meeting, before taking Toolots through their production facility in the outskirts of Ningbo. The Chameleon Series, Song said, “mixes two or three colors so that each plastic product comes out in uniform size and shape,” but when complete each item comes out with a unique look unlike the others.

Toolots Plastic Injection Molding Engineer Gary Krause explains the function of a Konger machine

Toolots US Chief Operating Officer Raymond Cheng, Toolots China Chief Operating Officer Mason Wang, Director of Global Commerce Services Grant Montgomery, Plastic Injection Molding Machine Engineer Gary Krause, Product Manager Tony Chen and Director of Public Affairs Chris Foy attended the meeting, as well as other representatives from the Ningbo-based manufacturer. Konger is considering joining the Toolots online marketplace to specifically reach the American manufacturing consumer, providing quality machines at competitive prices using the latest European-engineered technology.

Toolots toured the company's manufacturing facility, inspecting each stage of the manufacturing process for a wide range of machines. Konger machines are capable of producing plastic products of all types and sizes, from handles for disposable razors that blend two-to-three colors to cups of various thickness and much more. As part of the company’s comprehensive testing process, machines are run dry through a transformer prior to packing to ensure operation is at peak levels.

Toolots continues to meet with industrial manufacturers during its trade mission to China, and will have additional announcements in the coming days about additions to the California-based online marketplace’s expanding product line.

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Toolots, Inc. on track to successfully add 100 U.S. manufacturers to its network by year's end

CERRITOS, Calif. - January 12, 2017 - Toolots, Inc., a California-based provider of factory-direct industrial machinery, equipment, and technology, announced early this month their projection to add 100 new United States-based companies to their network to sell and export their products to Asia in 2017, with additional domestic distribution. Within the two weeks following Toolots’ announcement, the company has successfully signed up three new U.S. based companies, and currently are finalizing discussions to add another three companies within the next week. Toolots Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jason Fu said by adding 100 U.S. based companies to their network in 2017, Toolots would be one step closer to achieving their goal to foster better relations between the U.S. and China, bridging the gap between manufacturers on both sides of the Pacific.

Toolots' Headquarters in California.

Thus far in 2017, the manufacturing industry has seen an overall rising trend following reports of the industry expanding at its fastest rate since 2009 in December 2016; major automotive manufacturing companies like Fiat and Apple planning to build facilities in the U.S.; and U.S. Steel reopening a facility closed after previous industry decline. More recently, Jack Ma, founder and chairman of the international trade enterprise Alibaba Group, met with President-Elect Donald Trump to discuss plans to focus on U.S. job creation, market expansion, and strengthening U.S. and Chinese relations by signing one million U.S. based smaller businesses to sell on their site.

This concept is not unfamiliar to Toolots, as Fu expressed similar sentiments in May 2016 to Industrial Distribution.com and again a few months later during a July 2016 interview with Cutting Tool Engineering Magazine. Fu explained that Toolots Inc. and Toolots.com are two vital tools that can be used to foster international trade relations and global benefits for both the U.S. and China specifically within the manufacturing industry. Since its establishment in 2011, Fu’s vision has always been to use Toolots to "help streamline industrial commerce between the United States and China and build lasting relationships that lead to economic growth" for all involved.

Fu stated, "I have always wanted to use this company to increase domestic opportunity here in the U.S., to sustain and create new American jobs, and expand domestic manufacturing resources and profits in manufacturing. We do this through exporting products to manufacturing companies in China and East Asia who demand U.S. manufactured products and goods."

About Toolots

Toolots, headquartered in Cerritos, California, offers an online marketplace and international distribution channel for factory-direct industrial tools, machinery, and technology. The user-friendly platform provides fast, easy access to high-quality, affordable equipment to manufacturers. Toolots’ comprehensive services streamline the purchase, delivery, installation and warranty of industrial technology, machinery and components, and uphold the quality of important goods through a vetted network of vendors and service technicians. The company’s dedication to fostering international trade relations passes on cost savings to the consumer, contributes to reduced downtime, improves productivity and expands a manufacturer’s reach. Toolots has strategically located warehouses, showrooms, and offices across the United States and China. For more information about Toolots, visit their website at www.toolots.com.

Toolots has announced the addition of a new vendor, CTD Machines, to our E-Commerce marketplace and Global Commerce Services initiative. Based in California, CTD Machines “produce high quality, precise, industrial cut off saws for the modern manufacturing plant.” (CTD Machines). CTD Machines' products will be available on Toolots.com mid January 2017 for sale to customers located domestically in the U.S. and internationally in China.

All CTD Machines products are “proudly made in the USA” since the company’s establishment in the 1950s as Commercial Tool & Die, when they began manufacturing custom machines and industrial chop saws. Since then, CTD has been “committed to constant evaluation and upgrading of our products, while always remaining faithful to our fifty year dedication to superior customer service” (CTD Machines). Toolots is pleased to offer our domestic and international customers quality industrial cut off saws, parts, and supplies through the inclusion of CTD Machines. For purchasing information, visit CTD Machines’ marketplace on Toolots.com.

Toolots’ current projection for 2017 includes the addition of 100 new U.S. based companies to their network to sell and export their products to Asia

CERRITOS, Calif. - January 3, 2017 - Toolots, Inc., a California-based provider of factory-direct industrial machinery, equipment, and technology, is starting the new year with plans to induct 100 U.S. based manufacturing companies join their network. Expansion of Toolots’ industrial online marketplace will double their product offerings from four lines to at least eight in the first few months of 2017. Furthermore, Toolots’ industry products within their marketplace will see an expansion in green energy, medical research and equipment, automation, material handling, and food production categories.

Toolots’ announcement comes during a global shift in the political climate within which the U.S. is focused on profitability from exporting goods to countries, like China, who are eager to import quality products. This change allows U.S. companies to expand domestic resources and jobs to match the demand for imported goods in foreign markets.

Jason Fu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Toolots Inc., stated Toolots’ aim has always focused on “fostering international trade relations amongst businesses and by adding 100 U.S. based companies to our network we increase domestic opportunity by creating jobs here in the U.S. and by expanding domestic manufacturing resources and profits through product exportation.”

One contributing factor to the success of Toolots’ plan is their upcoming role as the organizers for a June 2017 conference in Ningbo, China. The US-China Medical Device Summit will include two days of panels and networking for major U.S. and Chinese players in the industry, followed by a third day for tours of the manufacturing industrial parks. Fu stated success would be accomplished through the culmination of the company’s “hard work and efforts.”

Toolots’ announcement follows the launch of their companion smartphone app YuuTool in December 2016, the completion of their inaugural Manufacturing Summit hosted locally in Cerritos, CA August 2016, and their expansion to a larger facility this past July 2016.

About Toolots

Toolots, headquartered in Cerritos, California, offers an online marketplace and international distribution channel for factory-direct industrial tools, machinery, and technology. The user-friendly platform provides fast, easy access to high-quality, affordable equipment to manufacturers. Toolots’ comprehensive services streamline the purchase, delivery, installation and warranty of industrial technology, machinery and components, and uphold the quality of important goods through a vetted network of vendors and service technicians. The company’s dedication to fostering international trade relations passes on cost savings to the consumer, contributes to reduced downtime, improves productivity and expands a manufacturer’s reach. Toolots has strategically located warehouses, showrooms, and offices across the United States and China. For more information about Toolots, visit their website.