Case Study: Custom Zipper Tape for an Airline Catering Supplier in Ireland

Zipper Tape for an Airline Catering Supplier in Ireland

An Airline Catering Supplier approached us with a zipper tape requirement for the Ireland 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
• Shade drift between the approved lab dip and the bulk lot
• A spec that lived in an email instead of a tech pack

What we specified

How it was resolved

1. We rebuilt the specification around Zinc Alloy and locked the tolerance before bulk.
2. The finish was moved to Silicone Wash Finish after strike-off tests showed better durability.
3. A pre-production sample was approved and retained as the golden reference.
4. Production ran with in-line inspection and a mid-run photo report.
5. Cartons were packed to the client's own barcode and ratio specification.

Result

• 5,000 pieces delivered inside the 4-week window.
• Unit cost held within 4.5% 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?

Tell us the item, the quantity and the delivery window. We will quote it with the sub-processes named, so the lead time you approve is the lead time you get.