Case Study: Custom Two-Way Separating Zipper for a Hospital Procurement Team in France
Source:Fluorescent Light Tubes /
Time:2026-09-18
Two-Way Separating Zipper for a Hospital Procurement Team in France
A Hospital Procurement Team approached us with a two-way separating zipper requirement for the France market. The brief was specific: a defined look, a hard launch date and a unit cost that had to survive freight and duty. This case study records what was specified, what went wrong in sampling and how the bulk order was delivered.
The challenge
- Shrinkage that only showed up after the first wash
- Cartons packed to the factory ratio instead of the buyer's size ratio
- Reorders that quietly changed supplier and changed the hand feel
What we specified
| Item | Two-Way Separating Zipper |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Hospital Procurement Team |
| Market | France |
| Order volume | 10,000 pieces across 2 specifications |
| Base material | Zinc Alloy |
| Standard size | 5# Gauge |
| Finish | Sandblasted Finish |
| Sampling rounds | 3 |
| Delivery window | 8 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | Bluesign |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the specification around Zinc Alloy and locked the tolerance before bulk.
- The finish was moved to Sandblasted Finish after strike-off tests showed better durability.
- A pre-production sample was approved and retained as the golden reference.
- Production ran with in-line inspection and a mid-run photo report.
- Cartons were packed to the client's own barcode and ratio specification.
Result
- 10,000 pieces delivered inside the 8-week window.
- Unit cost held within 3.0% of the original quotation.
- Inspection-related rejection stayed under 1.0%.
- The specification is now on file, so reorders reproduce the approved sample.
What we would repeat
Fix the specification count early. Adding variants after production starts is the most expensive change a client can request.
Planning something similar?
Send the reference sample or tech pack and we will come back with a costed specification, a sampling timetable and the compliance documents your market requires.
