Electronics sourcing in China
Compliance, reliability, components: three words you verify on site.
Consumer electronics and connected accessories are sourced in the heart of the Pearl River Delta, around Shenzhen. The industrial density is unmatched; the rigour on compliance, less so.
Shenzhen and its ecosystem (Dongguan, Huizhou) concentrate components, PCBA, tooling and assembly at unmatched speed: a product can go from schematic to prototype in days. That speed has a flip side: how easy it is to re-grade components, to subcontract silently, or to apply a CE mark that was never tested.
In electronics, compliance is not declared, it is proven. We frame the applicable directives upfront, require the lab test reports, and have production checked before loading, by a third party when needed. A factory test costs a fraction of a recall or a hold at European customs.
- Connected accessories
- Small appliances
- Components & cabling
- Audio & mobility
- White label
CE marking, safety, compatibility: we frame the requirements upfront and have goods checked before loading, by a third party when needed. Better a test at the factory than a recall in Europe.
- CE marking
- Mandatory for the EU market: depending on the product it covers low voltage (LVD), electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and, for wireless, the RED directive.
- RoHS
- Restricts hazardous substances (lead, cadmium…) in electrical and electronic equipment.
- WEEE
- Collection and recycling obligations for equipment; to anticipate on the importer side (compliance scheme, declarations).
- Batteries (UN 38.3)
- Any lithium-battery product needs a UN 38.3 transport report, required for both air and sea freight.
- Technical file
- Schematics, bill of materials (BOM), test reports: a serious white-label supplier provides a technical file, not just a promise.
500 to 2,000 units depending on the product and level of customisation (casing, firmware, packaging).
Sample and tuning 4 to 8 weeks, production 30 to 45 days, then transport.
Re-graded or second-hand components, self-declared CE without testing, non-compliant firmware and neglected battery/charger safety. We require test reports and check before loading.
- Is the factory's CE marking enough?
- No. CE is the importer's self-declaration, backed by real testing. We request the matching lab reports and, when in doubt, have the product (re)tested.
- How do you avoid re-graded components?
- With a frozen bill of materials (BOM), named component suppliers, and in-production control. Re-grading is caught on the ground, not on a product sheet.
- Can I air-freight a battery product?
- Yes, with a compliant UN 38.3 report and approved packaging. Without that file, freight, air or sea, can be refused.