New designs come in comfortable plush, fleece and microsuede. Some have detachable panels for easy cleaning.

China suppliers of pet beds, mats, kennels and carriers are emphasizing convenience in their latest releases to boost competitiveness.

Most fabric beds, kennels and bag-type carriers, for instance, adopt plush, fleece and microsuede with foam filling.

Some kennel and carrier designs feature mesh windows for improved ventilation.

To make cleaning easier, recent releases have removable parts. The roof and floor panels of some wooden kennels can be detached.

The bottom pads on most bag-type carriers from Quanzhou Sanfeng Bags Fty may be taken out. The covers of Tri-Tech Electric Heat Products Co. Ltd's pet mats, meanwhile, can be pulled off.

Other structural improvements include elevated floors for wooden kennels to prevent ground moisture and dirt from seeping into the board.

Bag-type carriers with head openings that allow pets to breathe better are also popular. Further, new models in this particular line have two padded shoulder straps for portability.

To this end, Suzhou Xiyuan Housewares Co. Ltd fitted its large pet beds with wheels. Moreover, the components have brakes to keep the product in place.

Leveraging in-house R&D efforts further, several makers are designing mats with warming, massager and infrared functions.

Tri-Tech offers UL, CE and PSE-compliant versions that double as a heater.

Lightweight fabric beds, mats, kennels and carriers currently dominate China's exports in the line.

For the first three categories, pile and nonpile fabrics are employed. In general, the former, which include plush, fleece and microsuede, cost more than nonpile types such as denim and canvas.

Priced from $0.60 to $40, fabric beds, mats and kennels can be plain or printed. Paw, dotted, striped and floral patterns are popular. Models going for $2 to $10 are the mainstream.

Beds and mats come in various shapes, including oval, round, square, rectangular, heart, boat, animal, fruit and slipper. Some beds feature a metal frame in fixed home-use or foldable camping designs.

Kennels are commonly available in box and house styles.

In the carrier category, oxford is the top material choice, although PU leather, denim and canvas are also employed. The detachable bottom pad is made of fiberboard, PP or EPE foam.

Bag-type carriers are priced from $1.50 to $15, with oxford and PU leather models going for $4 and above. Quotes for trolley designs start at $10.

Pockets, mesh windows with curtains and fleece lining raise prices by $1 per add-on.

Some beds, kennels and carriers from China are handwoven. They adopt natural materials such as willow, cornhusk, straw, rattan or bamboo. The fi rst material is preferred for its sturdiness, while cornhusk features a fi ne texture. Straw boasts both properties.

Products are usually offered in sets consisting of two to 10 pieces or more. The price for a woven bed starts at $1 each. A 10-piece kennel package can exceed $300 depending on the material.

In general, willow models go for 20 to 30 percent more.

Varnish raises quotes by 5 percent. Suzhou Xiyuan uses a variant that is compliant with the fire-retardant requirements in the US state of California. The substance comes from the US and increases prices by 10 percent.

Similarly, border trimming adds 2 or 3 percent to the base price of printed cotton pads.

Adopting foam and EPE filling pushes up quotes by as much as 15 percent.

Ridged-roof models dominate China's selection of wooden and plastic kennels. Most feature a balcony or a terrace, while some are also equipped with ladders or stairs.

Prices range from $10 to $100 each, depending on the material and design.

Wooden kennels typically adopt plywood, MDF and solid wood. Fir tops options for the last because it is lightweight, durable and easy to shape. Pine can be used as an alternative.

Most companies employ local materials. Specifically, timber procured in Fujian and Jiangxi provinces is utilized in low-end and midrange models.

Wood from Guangxi and Hunan provinces is relatively blemish-free and is less likely to warp or crack during production. It is often used in high-end designs.

Most wooden kennels are varnished and have UV-resistant properties. For enhanced aesthetics, the roof and edges can be painted.

Compared with wooden kennels, which may rot or be infested by insects, plastic versions have a longer service life. These also provide better insulation for pets in cold weather.

Going for $7 to $50 each, models under this category usually come in PP.

Due to the fragmented nature of the industry, it is difficult to estimate the total number of China makers offering pet beds, mats, kennels and carriers. The supplier base, however, continues to grow as more companies, including bag specialists, join the line.

A large number of enterprises can be found in Jiangsu and Shandong provinces. Known as key hubs for textiles and woven products, both are strong in fabric models. These areas also have the advantages of abundant natural resources and lower labor costs.

Another important sourcing province is Zhejiang, being home to several major suppliers of the line, including Hangzhou Tianyuan Pet Products Fty. The company has an annual revenue of $35.8 million.

Makers usually conduct fabric, wood and metal processing, surface treatment and assembly in-house. Weaving by hand is subcontracted to suppliers in Jiangsu and Shandong.

To ensure quality, companies have equipment for various QC procedures. Those offering fabric designs, for example, employ needle detectors.

Manufacturers also send samples of finished products to independent organizations such as Intertek and SGS for colorfastness, flammability and nontoxicity tests.

The US and the EU remain the primary overseas destinations, although some companies are also exploring business opportunities in areas less affected by the financial crisis.

This article "Pet beds: Line highlights convenience, utility" is originally posted in Global Sources.

Hangzhou Tianyuan Pet Products Factory
Shanghai Weijun Group Pet Products Manufactory
Suzhou Navigator Pet Products Co.,Ltd

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