Tag: manufacturing

  • The Soul of Vaping

    The Soul of Vaping

    So Soul, the rapidly rising vapor brand that began in China in early 2021, has now gone global.

    By Timothy S. Donahue

    Luna Wang wanted to do something different. She was seeing the products that the vapor industry was offering in early 2021, and she could tell that the industry was changing. Disposable devices were becoming the most popular products to help combustible cigarette smokers quit, but the available devices didn’t offer the same flavor or vaping experience that one could get from an open system. Luna Wang wanted to create something better.

    Wang has been in the vaping industry for eight years through various projects. In mid-2021, Wang joined forces with another experienced vapor industry entrepreneur, Peter Zhang. Both also had previous experience working with Fortune 500 companies. Together, they started the So Soul brand in Shenzhen, China, the global capital of e-cigarette manufacturing.

    So Soul soon entered the Chinese market, where more than 300 million smokers reside, and quickly found success. While the company also produces refillable pod products, it was its disposable products that really began to boost So Soul’s sales.

    “So Soul is a creative and dynamic vape brand which believes that innovation could bring freedom of the soul. So Soul has been a maverick and an unconventional company from the beginning,” said Lisa Li, head of media relations for So Soul. “Our founder, Luna, and the rest of the company’s employees are often considered dreamers. We believe that you shouldn’t have to compromise style for substance.”

    So Soul began because its creators believed something was missing in the market. Aside from a device’s appearance, aroma and flavor were two areas that Wang and Zhang felt were lacking in the Chinese vaping industry. The company founded its own research and development laboratory, staffed by the world’s top experts in the field, to develop products that could meet Wang’s high standards.

    “Our line of products offers smokers and vapers alike a range of flavors that are rich, smooth and satisfying. Our designs are inspired by the latest trends in fashion, and we’re always looking for new ways to stand out from the crowd,” said Wang. “Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned vaper, we’ve got something for everyone.”

    The company devotes 60 percent of its profits to R&D in an effort to always be improving. It wants its products to stand out for their “combination of style, substance and soul,” explains Wang. “We are dedicated to providing our customers with products that are not only stylish and cutting-edge but also made with the highest quality ingredients and backed by extensive research and development.”

    During World Vape Expo Dubai, Wang told Vapor Voice that So Soul has perfected the art of flavor creation, and subtle “fragrances are at the heart of our products.” To accomplish the feat, Wang said that So Soul employs a team of expert mixologists that have years of experience in tobacco product development, and the company only uses the finest ingredients to create its unique flavor blends.

    “Our designs are inspired by the latest trends in fashion, and we’re always looking for new ways to stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned vaper, we’ve got something for everyone,” said Wang. “In a short space of time, we have already become one of the most popular brands in China. And now we’re bringing our products to the world. We strive to always be at the forefront of the latest technology. Our factory in Shenzhen employs over 1,000 professionals who share our commitment to quality and innovation.”

    An estimated 3 million customers worldwide have tried So Soul’s products. The company prides itself on being a one-stop-shop for all vapers from beginners to advanced nicotine consumers. Wang said that So Soul product users are stylish, creative and aim to present a safer, cheaper alternative to smoking cigarettes. So Soul offers vaping devices with an advanced mesh coil system and that range in volume from 2 mL to 5 mL of nicotine-based e-liquid.

    The company also offers devices that deliver from 600-plus puffs to 10,000 puffs, from bars to boxes and from sleek transparent design styles to designs with exquisitely crafted textures. Although disposable vapes are So Soul’s primary focus currently, Li said the company also provides refillable pod mod devices on demand for its customers.

    “So Soul also provides users with a wide range of flavors that are refreshing, sweet, savory and everything in between from Watermelon Ice, Mixed Berry Ice, Blueberry Ice, Spearmint, Blue Razz Lemonade, to Lemon Strawberry Pie, Pineapple Banana Coconut, Strawberry Watermelon Bubblegum, etc.,” said Wang. “There’s something for everyone. We expect to be responsible for offering the best vaping products to vapers at home and abroad and for pushing the entire industry forward.”

    Currently, So Soul’s products are sold globally in North America, Europe and Asia. The So Soul XC650 (Vibe), Y650 (Box) and S600 (Peak) are some of the most popular devices in the U.K. and European Union, according to Li. Since So Soul X7000 and Y10000 were launched in early 2022, they have been growing a massive market presence and have become popular in the U.S. and Middle East markets, particularly.

    While it depends on how heavily someone vapes and how often they use the device, typically, a So Soul device lasts longer than 92.3 percent of the disposable vape pods in the market, lending to the brand’s popularity. One popular vape reviewer stated that the So Soul X7000 is one of the best disposable vaping devices on the market.

    “The retro look really sets them apart from other disposables but, of course, that’s not the only reason why you should consider them,” the reviewer stated. “The flavors that I tried are all very enjoyable to vape on, and that’s only three out of the 20 that they offer, so there’s plenty more to choose from if the flavors that I tried aren’t quite to your liking.

    “The tight MTL draw is certainly not what I expected, but it was a pleasant surprise. The draw is similar to a cigarette, and that’s going to be a big plus for anyone looking to use these to quit smoking. Add to the fact that these provide a very satisfying draw and up to 7,000 puffs, and you get a great value for your money.”

    One of the major challenges for building the So Soul brand is the varying rules for vapor products from country to country, according to Wang. Regulations in the vaping industry are constantly changing and evolving in nearly every country where e-cigarettes are sold. Those regulatory rules include everything from raising the minimum legal sales age for e-cigarettes in many countries from 18 to 21 and federal, state and local restrictions on flavored e-cigarettes as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently being given the authority to regulate synthetic products.

    Many countries, like China for example, have even unveiled technical standards for e-cigarettes that will go soon go into effect. In a public document, in April, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation listed the requirements for design, chemical compounds and the mechanics for e-cigarettes that domestic manufacturers must meet in order to sell their products.

    “In addition to staying current on the laws governing the industry, we will keep up to date on the relevant scientific literature concerning the use of vaping products,” said Wang. “We may also consult with independent external scientific and medical experts to lead technology and ingredients innovation, so that we can fulfill our mission of helping people have easy access to affordable, safe and effective alternatives to traditional cigarettes.”

    So Soul’s mission is to promote less risky options for the global tobacco industry. So Soul and its team members are working toward helping create a smoke-free future. Moving forward, she said that the vaping industry is constantly evolving, and So Soul will remain at the forefront of innovation.

    “We have a passion for what we do, and it shows in our products. So Soul is more than just a brand—it’s a lifestyle. It’s about being confident, feeling good and living life to the fullest,” said Wang. “So Soul is style, substance … soul. The perfect vape for those who want it all.”

  • FEELM Earns Chinese E-Cigarette Production License

    FEELM Earns Chinese E-Cigarette Production License

    One of the largest and most influential e-cigarette brands now has its production license in China.

    FEELM, the flagship atomization technology platform belonging to Smoore – the world’s largest vape manufacture, earned the e-cigarette production licenses after completing all the necessary requirements set out earlier this year by the Chinese government.

    The license was obtained from China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA), the country’s top regulator of tobacco products.

    In early 2022, China brought forward new national standards for electronic cigarettes, which required companies manufacturing vapor products to obtain a production license.

    Three Smoore factories, two of which are licensed under the FEELM brand, have been granted production licenses, with FEELM also receiving official approval to produce e-cigarettes as its own entity, according to a press release.

    Smoore welcomed China’s new policy framework, ensuring that all e-cigarette manufacturers operate in full compliance with the law.

    “It is Smoore’s aim to continue to use science and technology as the driving force behind its business model, actively promoting the long-term sustainability of the industry and supporting its global client and customer base,” the release states.

    FEELM’s products are already available in more than 50 countries around the world.

    In 2022, FEELM launched its innovative disposable vaping device, FEELM Max, along with the world’s first ultra-thin vaping device, FEELM Air.

    These new products will be available in the U.S., Europe, Africa and additional markets.

    FEELM now has a total annual production capacity of two billion devices and also has the first fully automated production line in the vapor industry with the ability to produce more than 7,200 atomizers per hour.

    “The high-quality production processes are centered on continual improvements to the customer’s vaping experience,” according to the release.

    According to Frost & Sullivan, Smoore is the world’s largest vaping device manufacturer in terms of revenue, accounting for 22.8 percent of the total global market share in 2021.

    Its global market share is bigger than the combined total of those companies listed from No.2 to No.5.

    Less than 50 e-cigarette related companies, including retailers and manufacturers, have met the new restrictions and received licences from the authority so far, STMA’s website shows.

    There are an estimated 1,500 companies involved in the vaping industry, according to calculations by the Electronic Cigarette Professional Committee of China Electronics Chamber of Commerce (ECCC) last year.

    However, more licenses are expected to be issued in coming months as regulators work through a backlog of applications, according to news reports.

     

  • Chinese Car Maker BYD Gets Vape Production Permit

    Chinese Car Maker BYD Gets Vape Production Permit

    Credit: Robert

    There has been speculation for a few years now that the BYD, one of the largest companies in China, had plans to enter the e-cigarette market with its own brand. Better known as a car manufacturer and battery producer, BYD Electronic shares surged on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong by as much as 12.5 percent Thursday after the company announced a subsidiary has been granted a license to produce vaping devices.

    “The unit has been granted a tobacco production business license by the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration [STMA],” BYD Electronic said on its WeChat account, according to YiCai Global. Such permits only started to be issued this year in accordance with new regulations. As of Aug. 4, more than 130 firms had been licensed, according to the STMA website.

    “The BYD subsidiary already has a full range of electronic atomization products ready to be patented and is investing in automated production lines, said BYD Electronic, which is the sister company of electric car and battery giant BYD Automobile,” the company stated in a release. “At present, BYD Electronics has completed the patent layout of a full range of electronic atomization products and the construction of automated production lines, fully integrating its own comprehensive capabilities such as new material research and development, precision molds, product design and development, and intelligent manufacturing, and is committed to becoming a Practitioners and leaders in the field of health harm reduction, providing users with excellent products of quality and peace of mind.”

    In 2021, BYD said its e-cigarette business was mainly based on brand OEMs, and “there is no independent listing plan.” BYD Electronics has operated in the e-cigarettes field since 2018. It launched the brand “Beem Core” for ceramic atomizing core technology in 2021.

    Once it starts full production, BYD will go head to head with industry leader Smoore International, which held 22.8 percent of global market share last year, according to Frost & Sullivan research.

    BYD Electronic was spun off from Shenzhen-based conglomerate BYD in 2007 to make cell phone components and printed circuit boards. Its business remit has since expanded to include smartphones, laptops, masks and now, e-cigarettes.

    BYD joins industry late-comer Luxshare Precision, a global designer and manufacturer of cable assembly and connector system solutions, and several other China-based manufacturing enterprises as new vaping industry players. 

  • Smoore Opens Full-Scale PMTA Testing Lab in China

    Smoore Opens Full-Scale PMTA Testing Lab in China

    Credit: Timothy S. Donahue

    Smoore has opened China’s first non-clinical full-scale testing laboratory for U.S. premarket tobacco product applications (PMTA).

    Operated by Smoore’s Analysis, Testing and Safety Assessment Center, the laboratory provides all non-clinical evidence required to bring a new nicotine product to market, including material safety, hazardous components and potentially hazardous components (HPHC’s), and toxicology testing.

    This is the first PMTA testing laboratory to open in China, and will allow Smoore to further improve the safety of its products, and help the brands they work with to successfully pass PMTA certification.

    Prior to Smoore opening its new laboratory, vaping companies wanting to enter the U.S. would need to use third-party partners to complete their PMTA testing, which can be a costly and time-consuming process. With the new China facility, Smoore’s brand partners can more easily complete their PMTA certification and improve their accessibility to the US market.

    “The FDA is very concerned about HPHCs and has set out a list of 33 substances which must be tested for,” said Dr Long, the director of Smoore’s new Safety Assessment Center, in a statement. “Our new laboratory can do all this and more, and has the capacity to test for 37 substances; we are the only facility in China whose testing capabilities covers the full range of HPHCs substances.”

    According to Smoore, the laboratory tests against a world-leading new database of HPHCs, developed by Smoore and derived from international toxicity databases including those maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

    Advanced computational toxicology software is also used to predict for unknown and potentially hazardous ingredients not included in these databases, further increasing Smoore’s safety assessments.

    Since establishing its first research institute in 2017, Smoore has continued to lead the industry in evidence-based research. Its Safety Assessment Center has raised safety standards to medical grade, and works to constantly review product safety.

    A total of eight products have been approved for marketing by the FDA, many of which are manufactured by Smoore.

  • China Authorities Give Production License to RELX

    China Authorities Give Production License to RELX

    RELX vaporizer
    Credit: RLX Technology

    RELX Technology has joined a small but growing number of vaping product manufacturers that have received a manufacturing license from China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA).

    On Nov. 26, 2021, China’s State Council amended the country’s tobacco monopoly law to include vapor products, giving the STMA authority to regulate the sector.

    The STMA license, which is valid until July 31, 2023, allows RLX Technology to manufacture 15.05 million rechargeable vaping devices, 328.7 million cartridges and 6.1 million disposable e-cigarettes per year.

    Since the first quarter of 2022, Chinese authorities have issued a series of implementing rules and guiding opinions to strengthen oversight of e-cigarette products and regulate the e-cigarette industry. These rules and opinions set forth that all e-cigarette manufacturing enterprises must obtain a license from the STMA.

    “This license represents an important milestone in our strategic roadmap as we strive to comply with the new regulatory requirements in a timely manner,” said Ying (Kate) Wang, co-founder, chairperson of the board of directors and CEO of RLX Technology, in a statement.

    “We believe that we are well-positioned to achieve compliance in our operations according to schedule. To adapt to the new market dynamics and ensure business development, we will, and will urge our business partners to, continue making efforts to comply with all applicable regulatory requirements, including, but not limited to, obtaining requisite licenses and regulatory approvals, developing products that meet the mandatory national standards, and processing all transactions via the National E-cigarette Transaction Platform when it is implemented.

    “We will remain committed to providing high-quality products that deliver superior performance and safety in strict compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, while exploring new growth opportunities in the industry.”

  • Vaporesso Gets Chinese Special Production License

    Vaporesso Gets Chinese Special Production License

    Vaporesso, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Smoore, has obtained a production licence from China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA), the country’s top regulator of tobacco products.

    The license gives Vaporesso products lawful status in the country, Hong Kong-listed Smoore said in a statement on Wednesday. The license will be valid through July 2023, according to the South China Morning Post.

    Smoore, the largest e-cigarette manufacturer in the world, is among the first group of companies to comply with China’s tightened rules for the e-cigarette industry, which recently became regulated as a traditional tobacco product.

    In March, STMA published final guidelines for the industry, which require that manufactures comply with certain technical standards, including permitted ingredients and additives.

    Licensed manufacturers must also trade with downstream wholesalers on a transaction platform overseen by STMA, according to the rules.

    Licensed manufacturers must also trade with downstream wholesalers on a transaction platform overseen by STMA, according to the rules.

    Less than 50 e-cigarette related companies, including retailers and manufacturers, have met the new restrictions and received licences from the authority so far, STMA’s website shows.

    There are an estimated 1,500 companies involved in the vaping industry, according to calculations by the Electronic Cigarette Professional Committee of China Electronics Chamber of Commerce (ECCC) last year.

    However, more licenses are expected to be issued in coming months as regulators work through a backlog of applications, according to news reports.

  • Report: China’s ENDS Exports to Reach $27 Million in 2022

    Report: China’s ENDS Exports to Reach $27 Million in 2022

    Credit: Zapp 2 Photo

    The Blue Book of Electronic Cigarette Exports released on Tuesday estimates that the China’s electronic nicotine-delivery product (ENDS) exports will reach 186.7 billion yuan ($27.82 billion) this year, with exports for the first quarter already totaling 45.3 billion yuan.

    According to the Blue Book, produced by the Electronic Cigarette Industry Committee of the China Electronics Chamber of Commerce, the exports of ENDS in China was 138.3 billion yuan in 2021, an increase of 180 percent year-over-year. Among the over 1,500 e-cigarette businesses in China, more than 70 percent are export-oriented.

    The Blue Book counts the scale of China’s ENDS exports in different markets in the first quarter of 2021. Among them, the U.S. market is the largest destination with 58 percent ($73.3 billion), followed by the European Union and Britain, which account for 24 percent ($34 billion), then Russia with 8 percent ($9.7 billion). Southeast Asia and the Middle East account for 5 percent and 4 percent, respectively.

    “Although there has been some controversy in the development of e-cigarettes, many still want to consider the industrial value and explore the harm reduction technology that comes along with the new business model,” according to Pan Daily. “In 2021, there were more than 1,500 domestic e-cigarette manufacturing and brand enterprises, more than 190,000 e-cigarette retail outlets, and nearly 100,000 e-cigarette supply chains and merchandise service enterprises. The domestic e-cigarette industry directly employs about 1.5 million people and indirectly employs 4 million people, totaling about 5.5 million people.”

    In March this year, China began to enforce its Measures for Electronic Cigarettes Management and the National Standards for Electronic Cigarettes. The regulations put forward clear standards and requirements for compliance operations in production, wholesale and retail, as well as strengthening the protection of minors.

  • China: E-Cig Manufacturing Licensing Rules Explained

    China: E-Cig Manufacturing Licensing Rules Explained

    Photo: Taco Tuinstra

    The law firm Kelller & Heckman has published an article summarizing the requirements for obtaining an e-cigarette manufacturing license in China.

    The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) has now published a rule outlining the process for Chinese e-cigarette manufacturers to obtain the required manufacturer license. This rule applies not only to manufacturers producing e-cigarettes for the domestic Chinese market, but also to the manufacturing of e-cigarettes solely for export.

    According to Keller & Heckman, manufacturers will have to prepare many materials for their license application. Among other information, they will have to provide proof of suitable funds, production and sales information, including the balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement and production and sales statistics.

    E-liquid manufacturers will have to supply a license for operating dangerous chemicals and identify the sources of nicotine used in the past three years. Applicants for export must submit materials explaining the export business and the scale of export, including the customs declaration forms for the past three years

    Remarkably, the rules require companies manufacturing exclusively for export to obtain trademark registration in China. Although Keller and Heckman considers it unlikely that the STMA intended to impose the Chinese trademark registration requirement on exporters, the law firm advises clients to seek clarification from the authorities.

  • China Drafts Guidelines to Control E-Cigarette Production

    China Drafts Guidelines to Control E-Cigarette Production

    Credit: Vege Fox

    Draft rules to strictly control e-cigarette production were released by China‘s tobacco regulator on Monday, as the country continues to tighten its oversight of the industry.

    The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration said it would “reasonably” control the scale of e-cigarette production capacity to prevent overcapacity, according to a Reuters report.

    Foreign investment in the retail sector of the e-cigarette market would be banned, the regulator said, and it would review foreign investment in production, requiring e-cigarette firms that want to list in China or abroad to obtain pre-approval. It has long been expected that China would not allow outside competition into it local vaping market.

    China has in recent months been tightening its scrutiny of e-cigarettes, and last year amended its tobacco monopoly law to include vaping products. Since then, it has ruled that e-cigarette and vaping companies may only sell their products through authorized channels, and barred vendors from selling e-cigarette flavors other than tobacco.

    Earlier this month, China unveiled technical standards for e-cigarettes and vaping products.

    China’s cigarette industry operates under a state-run monopoly directly controlled by the tobacco regulator, which dictates pricing and distribution for brands and generates tax income for the government.

  • China: Vape Exports Must Comply With Destination Rules

    China: Vape Exports Must Comply With Destination Rules

    Credit: Maksym Yemelyanov

    China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) regulations for e-cigarettes are strict. The country will begin enforcing the license management for e-cigarette production, wholesale and retail entities starting from May 1, according to a translated version of updated regulations. They apply to all hardware and e-liquid products, including all components and ingredients. The announcement follows preliminary draft rules authorities issued in December 2021. 

    “The administrative department in charge of tobacco monopoly of the State Council takes charge of national supervision and management of electronic cigarettes, and is responsible for the formulation and organization of implementing electronic cigarette industry policies,” the regulations state. “The administrative department in charge of tobacco monopoly of the State Council shall organize professional institutions for technical review of electronic cigarette products based on inspection and testing reports and other application materials.”

    Rules for products being produced for export could be market changing, and crushing for destination countries. China states that all products produced for export must comply with the regulations and laws in the destination country. If a country does not regulate e-cigarettes, China’s rules for vaping products would apply to those exports, including bans on flavors and synthetic nicotine.

    “Electronic cigarette products not sold in China and only used for export shall comply with the laws, regulations and standards of the destination country or region,” the rules state. “If the destination country or region does not have relevant laws, regulations and standards, they shall comply with China’s relevant laws, regulations and standards.”

    One industry expert with knowledge of China’s vapor industry said that China may choose to not enforce its export rules, however. “China doesn’t want to crush vaping exports,” he said. “They could choose to hold back enforcing the export provisions.”

    The most critical changes locally in China’s rules is the country will now ban all non-tobacco flavors. China will also not allow for the sale of open systems, only closed pod systems will gain marketing approval. The importation of any vaping related products, such as pre-mixed e-liquids, must also be approved by Chinese authorities, according to the regulations.

    Any company that produces e-cigarettes in China must now get a license. If a company wants to expand its production or product portfolio, the company must garner approval from the STMA. All nicotine must be tobacco derived and purchased from approved sellers in China, the regulations state. Chinese regulators will also establish a unified e-cigarette traceability system to strengthen the whole-process management of vaping products.

    “Electronic cigarette wholesale enterprises shall not provide electronic cigarette products to units or individuals that are not qualified to engage in electronic cigarette retail businesses,” the regulation states.

    The rules also state that “enterprises or individuals that have obtained the tobacco monopoly retail license … shall purchase electronic cigarette products from local … wholesale enterprises, and shall not exclusively operate the electronic cigarette products sold on the market.” One industry expert explained to Vapor Voice that the statement means all retail outlets must sell multiple brands and not just a single brand. Traditionally, stores such as RELX, the largest vaping retailer in China, only sold its own brands.

    Additionally, authorities will establish a “unified national electronic cigarette transaction management platform” that e-cigarette industry businesses that have obtained tobacco monopoly licenses must conduct all transactions through. It is unclear if China will also begin cracking down on manufacturers of counterfeit products for export, however, the rules do encourage the reporting of these and other illegal manufacturers.

    “Rewards will be given to units and individuals who have made meritorious deeds in reporting cases of illegal production and sales of electronic cigarette products, e-atomization material products and electronic cigarette nicotine,” the rules state.