Case Study: Custom Elastic Cord for an Airline Catering Supplier in Kenya
Source:Permanent Glass Markers /
Time:2026-09-18
Elastic Cord for an Airline Catering Supplier in Kenya
An Airline Catering Supplier approached us with a elastic cord requirement for the Kenya 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
- Lead time quoted without the plating or dyeing sub-process
- A trim that passed sampling but failed in-line because it was never cycle tested
- An interlining that bubbled after the first press
What we specified
| Item | Elastic Cord |
|---|---|
| Client type | An Airline Catering Supplier |
| Market | Kenya |
| Order volume | 5,000 pieces across 4 specifications |
| Base material | Stainless Steel |
| Standard size | 8# Gauge |
| Finish | Powder Coating |
| Sampling rounds | 3 |
| Delivery window | 4 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | REACH SVHC Screening |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the specification around Stainless Steel and locked the tolerance before bulk.
- The finish was moved to Silicone Wash 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
- 5,000 pieces delivered inside the 4-week window.
- Unit cost held within 1.5% of the original quotation.
- Inspection-related rejection stayed under 0.5%.
- The specification is now on file, so reorders reproduce the approved sample.
What we would repeat
Approve a pre-production sample made from the actual bulk base material. Substitute material behaves differently in finishing.
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.
