Butterfly Kite

Flying toy suppliers push sport designs, premiums

Flying discs, boomerangs and kites can highlight either large logos or complex structures that enhance the play experience.

China manufacturers of flying toys continue to develop models for both promotions and recreation under efforts to widen market reach. Items differ in terms of structure, aesthetics and materials.

Premiums are often in basic shapes such as round discs, triangular kites, and L- and V-contoured boomerangs. They are normally designed with enough surface area for clients’ logos.

Images are silk-screened using up to two inks, costing $20 to $25 for each color. Stickers can be utilized to simplify the process.

Meanwhile, releases for play, including sports toys, come in more novelty and in-house designs. Heat-transferred geometric patterns and authorized cartoon character motifs are popular. A complete print in this method is $1,000 to $1,500 for a 1,000 to 20,000-piece order.

In terms of materials, higher-grade plastic and fabrics are adopted for recreational models since a longer service life is required. The inputs are 20 to 30 percent costlier.

Flying toys are a secondary category in China, accounting for 5 to 8 percent of total plaything exports. The line includes discs, boomerangs and kites.

The first dominates output. Most are round, measuring 6 to 14in. Traditional styles are made of injection-molded ABS and PP, but recent releases consist of polyester or nylon fabric held in a steel loop frame. These models may be folded and stored in a pouch.

Boomerangs are available in V, U, L and Y shapes. They commonly employ ABS or PP, with some adopting wood. Several sports versions are handcrafted to ensure better flight performance. Toys featuring flashing LEDs and changeable rotating patterns are also offered.

Low-end flying discs and boomerangs are $0.10 to $0.30, and utilize ABS, PP or polyester. Models are in basic shapes, ranging from 6 to 8in.

Priced at $0.35 to $1.50, intermediate releases are 8 to 12in. ABS, PP, polyester and nylon are the material options. Products can have flashing LEDs. Designs in this segment use silk-screened or heat-transferred patterns and logos.

Toys priced above $1.50 are considered high-end. ABS, PP or wood is employed. Releases are plastic-injected, or handmade and -polished. They are decorated with heat-transferred patterns. In addition, some items incorporate flashing LEDs.

The kite selection has more design variety than the first two products. Apart from basic triangle, diamond and square forms, there are novelty cartoon character, plane, butterfly, dragonfly and fish versions.

Suppliers carry single- or double-spooled models for amateurs and professionals, respectively. Most releases employ polyester and nylon fabrics, and fiberglass structures. Frameless variants are popular for promotional use. Double-stringed sports kites adopt carbon fiber and nylon for increased tear resistance.

The least expensive versions are $0.40 to $1, and come in polyester or nylon textiles, or inflatable PVC. These are single-spooled, and can be frameless or have fiberglass skeletons. At 20×45 to 45x60cm, basic square, triangle and diamond shapes are typical.

Upscale products are in polyester fabric, nylon ripstop, or PVC or PEVA sheeting. They may or may not be supported by fiberglass structures.

Quoted at $1.05 to $1.50, midrange items are single-stringed and span 45×60 to 100x120cm. In comparison, high-end kites are $1.55 to $3. The releases are 45×60 to 150x200cm and include double-spooled stunt versions.

Read the full report at Global Sources, a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with China manufacturers and India suppliers, providing essential sourcing information to volume buyers through our e-magazines, trade shows and industry research.

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Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with China manufacturers, providing essential sourcing information to volume buyers through our e-magazines, trade shows and industry research.

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