Quest manufacturing balance of Mills: shocking-balanced car, smart balance, Taobao-IT information
Yongkang station high-speed rail train station, after more than half an hour by car to suxi industrial area. Yongkang of spring, the weather is cold, the streets are lined with factories, the other side is the endless farmland, or some houses scattered around on the factory gate, mostly hung "XX industrial" "XX", "XX hardware" to their names.
Jinhua, Zhejiang Yongkang, is nationally renowned for its "hardware", flask of hot a few years ago, MOP thermal heating, security doors, skateboard car heat mostly from here. Now, the new craze has been formed – power balance. Statistics show Zhejiang about balancing truck production more than 210 companies, including nearly 200 in Jinhua area, more specifically, in Yongkang.
However, in early 2016, continuous balancing of spontaneous combustion, passenger hurt United States consumer safety Commission (CPSC) issued an open letter, saying that "United States balance of all the electric cars on the market are unsafe", United States Amazon, Toys r us, Target and other retailers have power balance of the car, balancing security risks highlighted in front of consumers.
IT Times reporter Pro-to Zhejiang Yongkang, visits here of more than balance car factory and wholesale market, survey results was shocking, these appearance dazzle cool, and seems hi-tech products of balance car, many from manual workshop, no line, five or six a people is a factory, charging discharge once, and in factory within run a circle is factory detection, then through electric business platform or line Xia channel flows national and global market.
Site hits
One day assemble 12 balance
In a between about 200 square meters of plant in, heap full has variety of balance car accessories and some abandoned of old car, these abandoned of old car in the, alone round car, and double balance car (that twist twist car) and lever type balance car are has, some has was split solutions, can see internal of controller and battery, and was factory of new car was shiny. Suddenly, an apron-wearing aunt riding a lever-balance car roared past from reporters, after stopping the car clean start packing-packing, very skilled.
Here is Yongkang suxi industrial zone of a balance Depot, factory boss Suzy (pseudonym) told reporter, factory in a began do alone round car, later modified do twist twist car, now main do lever type of balance car, a Taiwan balance car of wholesale price for 1280 Yuan, not containing tax, also not including logistics cost, in balance car of outside packaging and products body, and no any brand name. Prices of these cars reaching consumers are generally more than 2000 Yuan.
The depths of the plant, several workers are assembling a balanced car, was also in play boxes, desk covered in express form. Suzy said, that the goods are to be sent out the same day, a worker told reporters that one day he can assemble 12 balanced car, factory assembled about 50 a day.
"This car not very profitable, expected to cost 280 Yuan, motor has to be more than 170 Yuan, controllers are expensive, battery is their wholesale. "Suzy said, since there is no trade core technology, the factory is actually assembled, their only housing," in fact, you can go back to open an assembly plant, find five or six workers can do (factory). ”
Su XI industrial zone, and more than half an hour by car, is another industrial park--great wall industrial zone, Yongkang, there is also a lot of balancing the car factory. Reporter visits of another a electric balance car factory to production twist twist car mainly, head Xiao Gang (pseudonym) readily from plant in took out a Taiwan twist twist car to reporter site demonstrates, can just started, twist twist car is suddenly stopped has down, Xiao Gang figure a Flash, almost from car Shang fell down, "this car battery may didn't electric has", he of expression somewhat embarrassing. Plant dozens of twist pile in the car, said Xiao Gang, doing both assembled live, "660 Yuan a, if there are a large number of orders, prices and discounts. ”
One lap is in the factory inspection
In Yongkang, balance of car assembly plants abound. Relevant data show that Zhejiang about balancing truck production more than 210 companies, mainly gathered in Hangzhou, Jinhua, Lishui city, Jinhua area up, nearly 200 homes, and most firms in Yongkang. According to preliminary surveys of Zhejiang entry-exit inspection and Quarantine Bureau, these balanced vehicle enterprise sizes, but are mostly family owned and 7-8 enterprises. In addition to individual enterprises with independent research and development ability, and intellectual property rights outside, most enterprises are dominated by the Assembly, an Assembly business.
Suxi industrial factory, near the factory wall in the middle of a row of outlets, the writing on the wall "detection area", said Suzy balance factory production vehicle passes charging testing and aging testing, but testing, but will put off full. Xiao Gang said, each factory will twist car inspection, detection is running around the building in a circle.
A insiders who asked not to be named told the reporters IT times, "detection of very small systems are lacking, especially for the quality control of raw materials. "Current procurement balanced low price channel has a lot of raw materials, on balancing the car one of the most important parts of the controller (motherboard), Alibaba wholesale prices have been as low as 80.
Detection of process from raw materials to products to a large extent to ensure a balance of quality, at the expense of quality is safe. "Balancing a lot of things on the car are relatively sophisticated, but the average consumer doesn't understand. To cite an example, such as circuit board welding head (PINs), expert men watch pins and they know the quality of a car about what grades, good pins are delicate and tidy, Assembly of shanzhai products pinouts is irregular, it will lead to instability of the current and voltage, easy to wrestle. ”
A domestic a well-known balance car manufacturers on reporter said, they of products factory zhiqian will do three a detection, a is parts detection, on mechanical devices will do strength, and size and appearance pieces of detection; and for each circuit board specifically making a rule with, for function integrity detection; II is semi-finished products function normal sex detection, "Dang finished assembled to 80% Shi, most function parts has installation in place, need detection all of function whether normal"; last is finished detection, finished assembled completed, OQC (ship inspection) testers need to do a complete functional tests, road tests and tests of violence, "tests are passing, to storage" when you send there will also be sampling.
Press enquiries
Front rear factory Taobao
Where did these balanced vehicles are sold?
Generally speaking, there are two main sales channels: export and domestic sales. Relevant data show that Zhejiang entry-exit inspection and quarantine area last year exported electric balance by about 2.1 million units, trading was about 2.3 billion yuan, Guangdong entry-exit inspection and quarantine area and balanced vehicle export volume has more than 10 million units.
Another channel is produced through offline sales agents, on the other hand, through its e-commerce platform. Taobao balance car sellers need to do is open a shop, pick orders, once the orders can be shipped directly by the factory.
In Yongkang, assembled a balanced car industry are already very mature. Not far from the industrial area, Gao Zhen, a business district, on both sides of the streets, many wholesale sales balance of raw materials, spare parts and machine shop. In a more than 10 square meters of facade, outer shelves of the balancing of various sizes, are placed in a sewing machine and scattered on the ground a lot just sew bags well balanced car, is a battery wholesale shop opposite. Shopkeeper the Studio (not his real name) said that the factory is a garden tool accessories, balance the car after the fire started to assemble a balanced car, "opposite the battery from the battery wholesaler, we (self) enclosures and connecting plates and low cost. Customers are mostly Taobao agent, many agents have orders come and get it. ”
"Our customers sell on Taobao also very much, if you a small amount, or you can direct orders to the factories, factory shipments. "Xiao Gang told reporters that none of the assembled a balanced car OEM, if the seller wants to OEM sales," can also be affixed to cards, send plants to help you. ”
There are factory direct stores on Taobao. The Times reporter on Taobao IT randomly asked the Zhejiang balancing more than 10 car sellers, they said their balance their cars are factory outlets, factory in Yongkang. Reporter visits the first balance factory opened a shop on Taobao, the store customer service told reporters what employees in the plant.
From cheap wholesale channel balance car parts required, factory assembled, through online platform and offline stores, quietly forming a gray industrial chain.
Who pays for consumer safety?
These electric balance through simple Assembly testing will go on sale, is it safe? United States e-commerce platform product off the shelf, whether there is a basis? Who was responsible?
"China's supervision of the power balance in blank, what kind of balance can be listed to sell and there is no clear standard. "Shenzhen standard incubation program Center strategy Minister, Zhan Wei told the Times reporter IT.
Guangdong is also electric balance vehicle production and exports of the province. In order to regulate the chaotic balancing market, Shenzhen took the lead in the establishment of the balance of the car industry and the creative Coalition, and published the first balanced vehicle safety requirements, and provides a balance of performance and safety, electrical safety, mechanical key attributes such as security requirements.
"The release criteria are intended to balance the car companies know from what angle to consider balancing the safety, but because it is not a mandatory requirement, companies do not do to rely enterprise self-discipline," Zhan Wei added.
Zhan Wei, balance is the core of the product safety issues, enterprises in design, must do many active safety design on the motherboard, or selected high quality materials, "some of the smaller manufacturers may regardless of consumer safety, in order to reduce prices, with some low-quality materials, security risks greatly. ”
United States Amazon balanced off the car alarm for the balance of domestic car industry. Under the United States consumer product safety Association (CPSC) announcement: United States domestic production, imports, sale of balance must meet the latest security standards, including the UL2272 balance circuit system certification standards. Also, all balanced car batteries UN38.3 certification requirements must be met. Zhan Wei said, United States of standard out yihou, domestic developed standard of pace also in speed up, "once standard introduced, manufacturers of cost certainly will sharply improve, main is because manufacturers need on board for changes, on products of function security hardware and the balance car structure also will made design Shang of modified, again plus do detection and certification General to hundreds of thousands of Yuan, some no capacity of small factory Chamber of Commerce was eliminated, consumers also has according to identify balance car of bad. ”
Reporter's notes
Why Yong Kang
In the eyes of most people, Kang is an unfamiliar place names, this is located in the small city of Jinhua, Zhejiang is starting from a balanced car dealer interview. Balance of the veteran player told reporters at that time first removed the cottage feel, "How can such a balance on the road? "Yongkang" balance "of home.
Can prove that a set of data Yungkang balanced vehicle industry prosper. According to preliminary statistics, currently there are balancing vehicle more than 500 enterprises, Yongkang accounted for nearly half of the shares. However, in Yongkang, to see some balanced car, not reassuring.
Even more disturbing is that at home, cheap new balance has become many children toys, some businesses in the publicity campaign will highlight children like this selling point, and parents were quietly cut the pockets, the balance of these looks with a sense of science and technology, if not dismantled, even members of the industry are not difficult to determine the good from the bad, let alone the ordinary consumer.
Many suffered a sudden power loss, hurt balance car buyers and other issues, told reporters, at first wanted to get a statement, but then disappeared into obscurity. Without supervision, they don't even know which Department to find complaints.
Research analysis institutions Gartner released of emerging technology mature degrees graphs (Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies) in, put various technology according to technology mature degrees and expectations classification, respectively for "innovation Bud" "expects most vertex" "disappointed low points" "again enlightenment" "productivity platform" five a stage, in experts eye in the, balance car industry of development also will experience similar of stage, eventually to smooth.
But for the safety of consumers, hoping the trial and error stage shorter and shorter.
探秘制造平衡车的手工作坊：触目惊心 - 平衡车,智能平衡车,淘宝 - IT资讯
从永康南站高铁火车站下车，半个多小时车程后来到苏溪工业区。初春的永康，天气乍暖还寒，街道一边是一排排工厂，另一边则是一望无际的农田，间或有一些民居散落在周围，厂区大门上，大多挂着“××实业”“××车业”“××五金”等招牌。
浙江金华永康，是全国闻名的“五金之都”，几年前兴起的保温杯热、拖把热、滑板车热、防盗门热大多出自这里。现在，新的一股热潮业已形成——电动平衡车。有数据显示，浙江目前约有平衡车整车生产企业210余家，其中近200家在金华地区，更具体一点，是在永康。
然而，2016年初，连续的平衡车自燃、乘客摔伤事件让美国消费安全委员会（CPSC）发表了一封公开信，称“美国市面上所有的电动平衡车都不安全”，美国亚马逊、玩具反斗城及Target等零售商先后下架了电动平衡车，平衡车的安全隐患被凸显于消费者面前。
《IT时报》记者亲赴浙江永康，探访这里的多家平衡车工厂和批发市场，调查结果令人触目惊心，这些外表炫酷、貌似高科技产品的平衡车，很多出自手工作坊，没有生产线，五六个人便是一个工厂，充电放电一次、在厂区内跑一圈便是出厂检测，然后通过电商平台或者线下渠道流向全国和全球市场。
现场直击
一个人一天组装12台平衡车
在一间大约200平方米的厂房里，堆满了各式各样的平衡车配件以及一些废弃的旧车，这些废弃的旧车中，独轮车、双轮平衡车（即扭扭车）以及拉杆式平衡车都有，有些已经被拆解，可以看到内部的控制器和电池，而正要出厂的新车浑身锃亮。突然，一个穿着围裙的大妈骑着一辆拉杆式平衡车从记者身边呼啸而过，停下以后将车擦干净便开始装箱打包，动作十分娴熟。
这里是永康苏溪工业区的一家平衡车厂，工厂老板李茜（化名）告诉记者，厂里一开始做独轮车，后来改做扭扭车，现在主要做拉杆式的平衡车，一台平衡车的批发价为1280元，不含税，也不包括物流成本，在平衡车的外包装和产品身上，并没有任何品牌名。这些车到达消费者手中的价格一般都在2000元以上。
厂房的最深处，几位工人正在组装平衡车，也有人在打包装箱，桌上散落着一些快递单。李茜介绍说，这都是当天要发出去的货，一位工人告诉记者，他一个人一天可以组装12台平衡车，一天厂里能组装50台左右。
“这个车利润不多，套料成本要280元，电机也要170多元，控制器很贵，电池也是自己批发来的。”李茜表示，由于没有行业核心技术，工厂实际就是组装，自己生产的只有外壳，“其实你们也可以回去开一个组装厂，找五六个工人就可以办（厂）了。”
从苏溪工业区出来，车程半个多小时，是永康的另一个工业园区——长城工业区，这里同样有很多平衡车工厂。记者探访的另一家电动平衡车工厂以生产扭扭车为主，负责人萧刚（化名）随手从厂房里拿出一台扭扭车给记者现场演示，可刚启动，扭扭车却突然停了下来，萧刚身影一闪，差点从车上摔下去，“这车电池可能没电了”，他的表情有点尴尬。厂房里还堆着数十台扭扭车，萧刚说，自己做的都是组装活，“660元一台，如果有大批量订单，价格可以再优惠。”
在厂房里跑一圈便是出厂检测
在永康，这样的平衡车组装厂比比皆是。相关数据显示，浙江目前约有平衡车整车生产企业210余家，主要聚集在杭州、金华、丽水地区，其中以金华地区最多，有近200家，而大多数企业都在永康。根据浙江出入境检验检疫局的初步调查，这些平衡车企业规模不一，但大多是家庭作坊式的7-8人企业。而除了个别企业拥有自主研发能力和知识产权以外，绝大部分企业都以组装为主，属装配型企业。
在苏溪工业区的工厂里，靠近厂房中央的墙边有一排插座，墙上写着“检测区”，李茜表示工厂内生产的平衡车都会经过充电检测和老化检测，但所谓的检测，只是将电放掉再充满。萧刚也表示，每一台扭扭车出厂都会检测，检测的方法就是绕着厂房跑一圈。
一位不愿具名的业内人士则向《IT时报》记者透露，“很多小厂缺乏系统的检测，尤其是对原材料的品质控制。”目前采购平衡车原材料的低价渠道已经很多，就拿平衡车重要部件之一的控制器（主板）来说，阿里巴巴上的批发价已经低至80元。
从原材料到产品组装过程中的各类检测从很大程度上保证一辆平衡车的质量，牺牲品质的代价是安全。“平衡车里的很多东西都是相对高精尖的，但是普通消费者根本不懂。举个例子，比如电路板的焊头（针脚），内行的人一看针脚就知道车的质量大概在什么档次，好的车针脚很细腻整齐，山寨厂商组装的产品针脚排列不整齐，这样会带来电流电压的不稳定，人容易摔跤。”
一家国内某知名平衡车厂商对记者表示，他们的产品出厂之前会做三个检测，一是部件检测，对机械器件会做强度、尺寸和外观件的检测；并针对每个电路板专门制作一个治具，进行功能完整性检测；二是半成品功能正常性检测，“当成品组装到80%时，大部分功能部件已经安装到位，需要检测所有的功能是否正常”；最后是成品检测，成品组装完成，OQC（出货品质检验）测试员需要做完整的功能测试，路面测试和暴力测试，“测试都通过，才能入库”，出货时还会进行抽检。
记者调查
后方工厂前方淘宝
这些平衡车都卖到了哪里？
通常来说，销售渠道主要有两种：出口和内销。相关数据显示，去年浙江出入境检验检疫局辖区出口电动平衡车约210万台，贸易金额约23亿元，而广东出入境检验检疫局辖区内平衡车出口量已超过1000万台。
另一个渠道则是内销，一方面通过线下代理商销售，另一方面则通过电商平台。淘宝平衡车卖家需要做的就是开店、接订单，一旦有了订单，可以直接交由工厂发货。
在永康，组装一台平衡车的产业链已非常成熟。离工业区不远，有一个名为高镇的商业区，两边的街道上，不少是销售平衡车原材料、零部件和整机的批发店铺。一家十几平方米的门面里，靠外的货架上摆满了各种尺寸的平衡车，靠里则摆放了一台缝纫机，地上散落着很多刚刚缝制好的平衡车包装袋，对面是一家电池批发商店。店主高梅（化名）说，工厂原来生产的是园林工具配件，平衡车火了以后开始组装平衡车，“电池就来自对面的电池批发商，我们（自己）做外壳和连接板，成本低。客户大多是淘宝代理，很多代理有了订单就过来拿货。”
“我们的客户在淘宝上卖得也挺多的，如果你量不大，也可以直接把订单给工厂，让工厂代为发货。”萧刚告诉记者，这些组装的平衡车都没有贴牌，如果卖家想贴牌销售，“也可以把要贴的牌做好，寄过来工厂帮你贴。”
也有工厂直接在淘宝上开店。《IT时报》记者在淘宝上随机询问了十几个浙江的平衡车卖家，他们均表示自家的平衡车是厂家直销，工厂均在永康。记者探访的第一家平衡车工厂在淘宝上便开了一家店铺，该店客服告诉记者，自己就是厂里的员工。
从低价渠道批发平衡车所需的各个零部件，到工厂进行组装，经过线上平台及线下店销售，一条灰色的产业链悄然成形。
谁来为消费者安全买单？
这些通过简单组装检测便上市销售的电动平衡车，是否安全？美国电商平台将产品下架，是否有依据？谁该为此负责？
“目前我国对电动平衡车的监管处于空白状态，什么样的平衡车可以上市售卖并没有明确的标准。”深圳标准孵化工程序中心战略推广部部长詹炜告诉《IT时报》记者。
广东同样也是电动平衡车生产和出口的大省。为了规范混乱的平衡车市场，深圳率先成立了平衡车产业与创新联盟，并发布了国内首个《平衡车安全要求》，规定了平衡车的性能安全、电气安全、机械安全等关键属性的要求。
“发布标准的目的是让平衡车企业知道应该从什么角度去考量平衡车的安全，但因为不是强制性要求，企业做不做，只能靠企业自律，”詹炜补充道。
在詹炜看来，平衡车的核心是产品的安全问题，企业在设计时，必须在主板上做很多主动安全的设计，或者选用高质量的材料，“一些小厂商可能会不顾消费者的安全，为了降低价格，用一些质量低劣的材料，安全隐患很大。”
美国亚马逊下架平衡车事件也为国内的平衡车产业敲响了警钟。根据美国消费品安全协会（CPSC）的公告：美国本土所生产、进口、销售的平衡车必须要符合最新的安全标准，包括UL2272平衡车电路系统认证标准。同时，所有平衡车电池必须符合UN38.3认证要求。詹炜表示，美国的标准出来以后，国内制定标准的步伐也在加快，“一旦标准出台，厂商的成本肯定会大幅提高，主要是因为厂商需要对主板进行改动，对产品的功能安全硬件及平衡车结构也会做出设计上的修改，再加上做检测和认证一般要几十万元，一些没有能力的小厂商会被淘汰，消费者也有依据辨别平衡车的好坏。”
记者手记
为什么去永康
在大多数人眼中，永康是个陌生的地名，关注这座位于浙江金华的小城市是从一次对平衡车经销商的采访开始。当时这位资深平衡车玩家这样告诉记者第一次拆山寨平衡车的感受，“这样的平衡车怎么能上路？”，而永康便是“这样的平衡车”的故乡。
一组数据可以证明永康平衡车产业的繁荣。据初步统计，目前全国有平衡车整车企业500多家，其中永康占据了将近一半的份额。然而，在永康看到的一些平衡车，无法让人安心。
更令人忧心的是，在国内，低价平衡车已经成为很多孩子的新潮玩具，一些商家在宣传时都会突出孩子喜欢这个卖点，而父母也为此乖乖掏了腰包，这些外表充满科技感的平衡车，如果不拆解，连业内人士也无法难判断其好坏，更遑论普通消费者。
多名曾遭遇突然断电、摔伤以及其他问题的平衡车买家告诉记者，一开始还想要讨个说法，但后来都不了了之。没有监管，他们连投诉都不知该去找哪个部门。
研究分析机构Gartner发布的新兴技术成熟度曲线图（Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies）里，把各类技术按照技术成熟度和期望值分类，分别为“创新萌芽”“期望最顶点”“失望低点”“重新启蒙”“生产率平台”五个阶段，在专家眼中，平衡车产业的发展也会经历类似的阶段，最终走向平稳。
但为了消费者的安全，希望这个试错的阶段短些再短些。