Unveiling What Kind of Cup Can Achieve Both Plastic and Stainless Steel? Part Three

There’s a story in every cup, warmth in every life. Hello everyone, "Dong Dong's Cup Talk" is here. Over the years in this industry, I’ve had the opportunity to work on the design and development of more than 500 cups made from different materials, with different shapes and functions. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10521.htmlAmong these projects, it’s quite special when the same cup design needs to be realized in both plastic and stainless steel. The reason it’s special is that it involves many considerations, including whether switching materials is feasible and whether it would lead to excessively high costs.

Today, I’ll use some case studies to analyze this. Although I’ve been in this industry for many years, my personal ability is limited. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10521.htmlIf anything I share seems incorrect or mistaken, please point it out promptly. I hope my following insights can offer some help, especially to those who are new to the cup industry.

Now, let’s delve deeper into this "impossible mission." Using the same logic, we’ll thoroughly dissect this highly creative cup. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10521.htmlI’ll use specific data to explain why it simply can’t cross the barrier into stainless steel.

Comprehensive Cost Calculation (Staggering Figures):

- Estimated ex-factory price of the plastic cup:

After amortizing mold costs, the unit cost can be controlled at around ¥15. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10521.htmlThe market retail price could be set at ¥49-¥69, leaving a reasonable profit margin.

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Let’s do a rough calculation:

- Material and basic processing costs: Approximately ¥30 per unit (due to complex craftsmanship and high waste).

- Defective product cost allocation: This is the major issue. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10521.htmlAssuming a yield rate of 10%, producing one good unit means bearing the cost of 9 defective units. That is, ¥30 9 = ¥270. The cost allocated to each good unit would be as high as ¥300 (¥30 + ¥270).

Add in the high costs of equipment depreciation, labor, and management fees, and the ex-factory price for a single good unit would be forced to exceed ¥500! https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10521.htmlWould the market accept such a cup—heavy, prone to deformation, and of questionable practicality?

At this point, I can’t help but ask: What is the purpose of development?

After all these years in the industry, I’ve come to realize that product development is like "life." https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10521.htmlCreativity is the soul, materials are the body, and craftsmanship is the capability. Forcing a free-spirited soul (the creative idea) into a body (stainless steel) that cannot carry it is destined to lead to a troubled existence.

The advantage of plastics (like PP, Tritan, PC) lies in their "freedom of molding." They are suited for expressing complex structures, https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10521.htmldynamic lines, and convenient disassembly features. That two-half cup is a masterpiece of plastic materials.

The advantage of stainless steel lies in its "durable insulation" and "sturdy texture." Its aesthetic is one of simplicity, integrity, and seamless forming. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10521.htmlForcing it to mimic "building blocks" goes against the very nature of the material.