Carimax is a large softside and hybrid luggage maker established in 2002 as a subsidiary of South Korea-based Carimax Corp. Last year, the company produced and exported 1.2 million pieces worth US$15 million.

Carimax mainly caters to ODM and OEM buyers. Patented luggage designs for Samsonite account for about 70 percent of export output.

The company manufactures only midrange and high-end models.

Products
Carimax manufactures luggage uprights in several sizes ranging from 45 to 80cm, with models standing 55 and 65cm as bestsellers. Depending on the type of material and components, prices range from US$15 to US$30 each.

Softside models are commonly made of EVA, 400 or 600d polyester, or 840 and 1682d nylon. Some versions can also be made of 200 or 1800d polyester. Hybrid luggage is typically made from a combination of ABS and nylon or polyester.

Different types of functional, breathable and water-resistant fabric are also used depending on buyers' specifications. Most fabric and synthetic materials are sourced from Taiwan.

Carimax has been able to develop an ABS and fabric-jointing technology that has decreased the weight of the finished product by 30 percent. The use of 360-degree rotating wheels for attachments make the luggage easy to pull and move around.

The company's R&D team develops countersamples within a week after receiving buyers' designs.

Manufacturing
Carimax currently carries out the combination of ABS and fabric into the luggage design at the company's mother factory in South Korea, where material development is also done. But with the increasing volume of orders, plans for installing the same technology and equipment in the Xiamen factory are underway.

A special machine from Taiwan that attaches plastic to fabric is now installed at a workshop close to the main building. In fact, the curved-shaped structure of the Xiamen factory adjoins all sections of the production process to facilitate the flow of work.

A team of QC inspectors checks the materials and sends those that pass to the cutting section, which has computerized machines.

Metal for the frame and trolley is molded in a separate section with four machines.

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