A New York federal judge recently granted Vaporesso parent, Shenzhen Smoore Technology a $5.4 million default judgment and permanent injunction against over 100 defendants accused of selling counterfeit Vaporesso and other Smoore brand products.
The default judgment is for $50,000 dollars per defendant. Smoore filed the complaint in October alleging trademark counterfeiting and infringement against the defendants located mainly in China but conducting business in the U.S.
In the same lawsuits, Smoore settled with a significant number of defendant sellers who paid compensation for infringement and cooperated to identify their sources for the counterfeit products. The litigation demonstrates Smoore’s determination to protect its intellectual property rights in the jurisdiction of the United States.
Smoore has undertaken the lawsuits as part of an overall anti-counterfeiting program in the United States that includes cooperation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to seize counterfeit products. The damages may not be completely enforced, but Smoore is planning to enforce the default judgment in order to collect compensation.
Smoore International is defying numerous challenges. The world’s most-valuable vapor company has overcome a pandemic, a trade war and tightening regulations to report a huge increase in profit.
Smoore International Holdings, based in Shenzhen, China, posted a 40 percent year-on-year jump in underlying net profit on Monday for the first half of 2020, to 1.3 billion yuan, according to the South China Morning Post. Revenue rose 18.5 percent to 3.88 billion yuan. Last year Smoore posted a 16.5 percent share of the $763 billion global vaping devices market, up from 10 percent in 2018, according to Smoore’s chief financial officer Wang Guisheng
“In the year’s first quarter, our sales dropped 8.8 per cent year-on-year, as the pandemic curtailed our production capacity for a month,” said Wang Guisheng on Tuesday. “We quickly resumed normal operation, with second-quarter revenue doubling from the first-quarter, and rising 38.9 per cent year-on-year.”
While only half its production capacity was used in the first six months, the company is undergoing phase one expansion that it says will double it next year. Phase two expansion will boost production by a further two thirds by 2023. Smoore just recently joined the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
“The expansion will further drive down our unit production cost through automation,” said chairman Chen Zhiping, according to the release.
The US made up around half of Smoore’s sales, while 18.6 percent came from mainland China and 12.5 percent came from each of Japan and Europe. Chen said the company had made a filing to the FDA for one of its self-branded products, and has been assisting with its US customers’ filings.
Since 2018, its US customers have had to pay a 25 percent additional import tariff as part of the fallout from the trade spat between Washington and Beijing. The firm said the tariff has not stopped US demand from growing since its products are “technologically superior”.
Vaporesso received an acceptance letter for its first round of premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Aug. 20, 2020.
The acceptance letter came three days after the company submitted its PMTAs. The application received positive comments from the FDA on its preparation, according to the company’s U.S. scientific CRO agent.
“A successful acceptance has boosted the confidence of Smoore to keep investing in bringing more vaping products into PMTA in the future,” the company wrote in its press release. “Our commitment to vapers in the USA remains the same: We will make vaping as easy as possible, and we will consistently provide high-quality vaping experiences for vapers all over the world. So the first round of application accomplished by Smoore is merely the start with more products to come.”
Smoore International Holdings becomes the first vapor company to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
By Timothy S. Donahue
It was only a matter of time. It took more than a decade, but China finally has its first billion-dollar vapor company. Smoore International Holdings, parent to Shenzhen Smoore Technology, which houses Vaporesso, Feelm and several other house brands, is also the first vapor company to be listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (HK6969). Smoore is now the most valuable vapor company on the planet.
On July 10, its first day of open trading, Smoore’s stock rose by nearly 150 percent above its initial public offering price of hkd12.40 ($1.60). Closing at hkd31, the success places Smoore’s valuation at hkd178 billion, or nearly $23 billion, according to Forbes. By comparison, Altria Group in January reduced the value of its investment in Juul Labs to around $12 billion, almost 70 percent less than the $38 billion that Altria assigned to the company when it bought Juul in December 2018.
Smoore had locked in 10 cornerstone investors, which accounted for $340 million of the total raising, according to its prospectus. The largest of those investors were Huaneng Trust, which took $80 million worth of stock, and Prime Capital, which took $50 million. A prospectus is filed when a company is considering offering stocks, bonds and mutual funds.
Smoore’s stock surge also created two new billionaires. Chairman and CEO Chen Zhiping, 44, held a stake worth nearly $8 billion; shares held by executive director Xiong Shaoming, 49, were worth $1.2 billion at the stocks’ close on its opening day, according to Forbes.
“As the global leader in offering vaping technology solutions, Smoore’s mission is to build the world’s leading vaping technology platform to bolster the innovation and development of vaping technology with a wide range of applications,” a Smoore spokesperson told Vapor Voice. “In the next three to four years, Smoore plans to invest more in improving production capacity and upgrading equipment, including setting up new manufacturing facilities and a research institute of group level as well as installing automated production lines and IT equipment.”
Chen first became involved in the manufacturing of vapor devices and research and development of vapor technology when he joined Shenzhen Simoer Technology Co. as minority shareholder in 2007. He then gradually increased his shareholding to 85 percent.
Chen soon established Smoore in September 2009 through an entrustment arrangement as a platform to provide research and development of vapor and heating technology services together with manufacturing and in-house sales and marketing functions under ODM (original design manufacturer) and OEM (original equipment manu- facturer) business models, according to the prospectus.
Smoore’s Chairman and CEO Chen Zhiping
Since then, business has been principally conducted through Smoore and has been growing with a diversified product port-folio and an expanding international footprint. To streamline operations, Chen deregistered Simoer in November 2012 and directed resources to Smoore for its business development and expansion, according to the prospectus.
According to Frost & Sullivan, a business consulting firm, Smoore is the world’s largest vapor device manufac-turer in terms of revenue, accounting for 16.5 percent of the global market in 2019. “In the past 14 years, we have been firmly grounded to focus on advanced R&D technol-ogy, strong manufacturing capacity, wide-spectrum product portfolio and diverse customer base. We are glad about what we have achieved and will take this as a new start,” said the spokesperson.
Smoore earned cny2.1 billion ($300 million) in 2019 on sales that increased to cny7.6 billion from cny3.4 billion in 2018. About a fifth of its revenue comes from the U.S. and nearly half from mainland China and Hong Kong, according to Forbes.
In its prospectus, Smoore labels itself as a “global leader in offering vaping technology solutions, including manufactur-ing vaping devices and vaping components for heat-not-burn (HnB) products on an ODM basis, with advanced R&D technology, strong manufacturing capacity, wide-spectrum product portfolio and diverse customer base.”
Smoore operates two principal business segments: the corporate client-oriented business and the retail client-oriented business. Corporate business includes the research, design and manufacturing of closed system vapor devices and vapor components for several large international tobacco companies as well as some smaller independent vapor companies.
In the retail arena, Smoore performs research, design, manufactur-ing and the sale of self-branded, open system vapor devices for retail clients. Some of Smoore’s corporate clients include Japan Tobacco, British American Tobacco, Reynolds Asia Pacific, Relx and Njoy, according to the prospectus.
Smoore also has several of its own brands, including Vaporesso and Feelm. “All of our self-branded [devices] are open system vaping devices,” the prospectus states. “We sell our self-branded [devices] to distributors for resale to end consumers subsequently. We did not operate any retail stores or online platforms for the sale of our self-branded [devices] directly to end consumers.” The company also manufactures vapor components (cartridges and batteries) for HnB products.
As its most prestigious brand, Vaporesso has inherited Smoore’s “spirit and incorporated it into its own mission to be ‘Beyond the Ordinary,’” according to the spokesperson. “Vaporesso’s business has spread to more than 60 countries and regions around the world and has established a substantial brand influence in Europe, America and emerging markets. Vaporesso’s products—such as Veco, Zero, Luxe and the Gen family—cover the full range of open system vapes and fulfill the various needs of vapers.”
Smoore takes pride in its R&D capabilities. The company is one of the most innovative in the vapor industry, according to the prospectus. As of this writing, Smoore has applied for more than 1,600 patents in China and abroad, of which more than 700 patents have been granted.
The company’s process of launching and producing new products starts with extensive research on market demands and figuring out if the product could be successful in the market. “Upon the project’s internal approval, our R&D team will proceed to design the new product,” the prospectus states.
“After completing the design of the new product, we will manufacture the mold, evaluate the sample, file technical documents and conduct trial verification.” The last step of a product launch and production process is the mass production of the new product at Smoore’s production facilities.
The company’s public listing opens new opportunities. “After being listed on the Hong Kong stock market, Smoore is prob-ably going to be able to invest more in the R&D and application of heating technology, for instance, in the medical atomization arena,” said the spokesperson. “Meanwhile, we are able to better serve our clients and provide a better life for our employees. As a leader in this field, Smoore is also able to play a more important role in shaping the industry and the whole of society.”
In the vapor industry, staying innovative is key to a com-pany’s success. The prospectus states that Smoore’s R&D capabilities are critical to the growth and preservation of its market-leading position globally. The company uses its R&D platform to market some of its key technologies and expand its brand awareness.
“We not only focus on scientific research but also its practical application to our products,” the prospectus states. “Our R&D development path has gradually evolved along with the industry trends and the enhancement in our R&D capabilities—from product application to prod-uct structure and further to core vaping technology.”
Credit: Vaporesso
Smoore’s R&D capabilities have made a major impact on the vapor industry. In 2016, the company launched its second-generation heating technology, Feelm, which com-bines metal films with ceramic conductors to “achieve improvements in material and structural science,” according to the Feelm website. “Feelm has been adopted widely by many of our corporate clients and exported to the U.S., South Korea, Germany, France, Belgium, New Zealand, South Africa and other countries.”
Proof of Smoore’s R&D success is that the company has earned several accolades. In 2019, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration awarded Smoore the China Patent Excellence Award for its patent relating to the manufacturing technique and application of porous ceramic. The award is one of China’s most prestigious awards for patents
Also in 2019, Smoore received the Laboratory Accreditation Certificate from the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment for the safety and quality of its laboratories. “The scope of the accreditation encompasses our laboratories’ ability to conduct chemical analysis, physical performance testing and product quality testing, among others,” the prospectus states. “Our ability to build up our own technology brands serves as an entry barrier to other competitors and also helps maintain our leading position in the vaping industry.”
Earlier this year, Smoore was awarded the iF Design Award by iF International Forum Design for its disposable paper e-cigarette design. “Our disposable paper e-cigarette uses eco-friendly paper material instead of plastic and sig-nificantly improves its degradability,” a press release stated at the time.
Moving forward, Smoore must still overcome several regula-tory hurdles. “For example, our closed system vaping devices and open system vaping devices marketed in the U.S. are sub-ject to premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) require-ments, and a large portion of our closed system vaping devices sold in the U.S. are subject to flavor bans in several states,” the prospectus states.
“Moreover, Hong Kong may, in the future, enact law to prohibit the import, manufacture, sale, distribution and advertisement of vaping products. All of the changes in the regulatory landscape may materially and adversely affect our business and financial performance, including revenue, gross profit and profit margin as well as future growth.”
However, Smoore’s outlook still looks promising. The global vapor market is large and competitive. According to Frost & Sullivan, there are more than 1,200 vapor device manufacturers globally. Though the top five players accounted for 30.5 percent of the entire market share in terms of revenue, the top 10 players accounted for less than half of the entire market share in terms of revenue in 2019, and most vapor device manufacturers are small-sized to medium-sized enterprises.
The global market for vapor devices is expected to grow by more than 20 percent annually to $22.7 billion in 2024 from $6.7 billion in 2019, according to Frost & Sullivan. This represents an increase of more than 116 percent and is expected to continue increasing in the future. V
Smoore International stock (HK: 6969) grew by nearly 150 percent on its opening day of trading on the Hong Kong Exchange. After an initial public offering (IPO) of HK12.40, the stock closed at HK31.00 ($4) on Friday.
“As the global leader in offering vaping technology solutions, Smoore’s mission is to build the world’s leading vaping technology platform to bolster the innovation and development of vaping technology with a wide range of applications,” Cloris Li, a Smoore spokesperson, told Vapor Voice. “In the next three to four years, Smoore plans to invest more in improving production capacity and upgrading equipment, including setting up new manufacturing facilities and research institute of group level as well as installing automated production lines and IT equipment.”
According to Frost & Sullivan, a business consulting firm, Smoore is the world’s largest vaping device manufacturer in terms of revenue, accounting for 16.5 percent of the total market share in 2019. “In the past 14 years, we have been firmly grounded to focus on advanced R&D technology, strong manufacturing capacity, wide-spectrum product portfolio and diverse customer base. We are glad about what we have achieved and will take this as a new start,” said Li.
The Shenzhen-based company offered 574 million shares, according to the company’s prospectus, and had indicated the stock would be priced between HK$9.60 and HK$12.40 per share. According to an article by Reuters, Smoore had locked in 10 cornerstone investors which accounted for $340 million of the total raising, the prospectus showed. The largest of those investors were Huaneng Trust which took $80 million worth of stock, and Prime Capital which took $50 million, according to its prospectus.
“After being listed on the Hong Kong stock market, Smoore is probably going to be able to invest more in the R&D and application of heating technology, for instance, in the medical atomization arena,” said Li. “Meanwhile, we are able to better serve our clients and provide a better life for our employees. As a leader in this field, Smoore is also able to play a more important role in shaping the industry and the whole of society.”
Smoore International has raised $918 million in its initial public offering (IPO) at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, reports Reuters. The deal is the largest IPO in Hong Kong since the start of 2020.
The Shenzhen, China-based firm offered 574 million shares, according to the company’s prospectus, and had indicated the stock would be priced between HKD9.60 ($1.24) and HKD12.40 per share.
The largest investors were Huaneng Trust, which took $80 million worth of stock, and Prime Capital which took $50 million, according to Smoore’s prospectus.
In 2019, Smoore reported a profit of CNY2.17 billion ($307.8 million), up from CNY733.9 million one year earlier.
Smoore is due to start trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Friday.
After a brief shutdown of all operations, vapor hardware manufacturers in China are now operating at more than 80 percent of pre pandemic production.
By Timothy S. Donahue
It’s not the same as it was this time last year. However, vapor hardware manufacturers in China that produce products for the world market are back in service after a brief hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Mostly based in Shenzhen, the e-cigarette capital of the world, companies say that they are working hard at implementing new standards and processes in order to keep employees and customers safe.
They are also playing catch-up in collecting data for premarket tobacco product authorizations (PMTA) in the U.S. market. “The coronavirus is indeed having an impact on the PMTA process,” says Welford Ou, CEO of Smoktech, a major manufacturer. “For example, the behavioral investigations have been stopped, and it is also taking more time for us to prepare all the products for the PMTA.” As of this writing, PMTA applications are due to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 12.
Smoore Technologies, the parent to Vaporesso and Feelm, says it “took strong and comprehensive measures” in advance of the virus’ outbreak. “We set up disease prevention and control teams in each of our facilities before the Chinese Spring Festival holiday. Dating back to the 20th of January, Feelm teams started to collect information, investigate employees’ conditions, prepare epidemic prevention supplies and disinfect public areas,” said Sofia Luo, marketing director for Feelm. “Before getting back on track, Feelm handed out a Covid-19 prevention and control booklet to each employee, providing scientific support to enhance health security.”
All Smoore facilities are now back up to at least 85 percent of pre-pandemic production, according to Luo. She says Feelm is already shipping goods to the U.S. and has been since the middle of February. “Smoore and its subsidiaries have enough key materials inventory, and all of our supply chain has recovered and is back in production,” she said. When asked whether there was a supply shortage, Luo replied, “In general, the impact of supply shortage is under control.”
Smoktech is getting back to its normal operations and more workers are expected to be hired as the virus outbreak is brought under control, according to Ou, who added that the company is awaiting the return of some workers from Wuhan (located in the Hubei province and the epicenter of the pandemic) where the quarantine was officially lifted on April 8.
“The sales are doing well even with the Spring Festival and a long time staying at home for virus control,” says Ou. “Our challenge is to get more skilled workers in [a] short amount of time to meet the growing demand. My concern for the world market is [that] hopefully they will embrace vaping and see it is better and safer than smoking cigarettes.”
Smoore took early action in order to prevent a massive global disruption in the vapor and e-cigarette market, according to Luo. She said that the company started to communicate frequently with its clients at the early stages of the pandemic. “We reminded customers to pay great attention to the epidemic. With the development of Covid-19 worldwide, most of our customers have been prepared (in terms of staff safety and inventory),” Luo stated. “The [virus] was a black swan event of great magnitude.” A “black swan” event refers to an unforeseen occurrence that typically has extreme consequences; in contrast, a “gray rhino” event is an obvious yet ignored threat.
Luo says that, although Covid-19 is spreading all over the world, the demand for e-cigarettes hasn’t changed. “Vapor stores in many countries remain open. And we know some brands are increasing the online sales and e commerce service,” she said. “We forecast [that] the 2020 industry will be the same size or a slight increase compared with 2019. And after PMTA, [the industry] will get a big increase.”
When it comes to issues like the limitation of freight and whether the virus could be on packaging, Feelm says the information from official sources are that there’s no limitation of freight, and the World Health Organization (WHO) confirms coronaviruses do not survive for extended periods on objects such as letters or packages and that it’s safe for people to receive packages from China.
Luo says Feelm will continue to stay updated on related information and adds that the company will spare no efforts to guarantee each product is clean and safe in all aspects from purchasing raw materials to exporting goods. Feelm products have been approved by several international quality and safety systems, according to Luo. “As a leading company in the automatization area, Feelm has the strength to embrace health and security first,” she says. “Disease prevention and control is our responsibility. Feelm is well prepared to protect employees’ safety to recover production and to win the battle.”
At its factories, Smoore and its other entities’ staff are well-equipped with protection products such as masks, gloves and other safety equipment, according to Luo. “Disinfection in public areas is proceeded twice a day. Exclusive dust bins for used face masks are placed throughout the facilities,” explains Luo. “All these measures lay a solid foundation to protect Feelm and all Smoore employees’ safety. This allows for the greatest possibility for full production recovery.”
THE NEW NORMAL
United we stand, together we win. Since the outbreak of Covid-19 at the end of last year, the Chinese government has implemented a series of powerful measures that have effectively controlled the spread of the virus, according to Sofia Luo, marketing director for Feelm, a major atomizer company based in Shenzhen, China.
“At present, production recovery has become the top priority. Allied with government regulations and a corporate plan, Feelm employees started to work online at the beginning of February. Now, all facilities serving Feelm clients are getting back on track,” explains Luo. “Thanks to Feelm’s advantages with having a strong supply chain and the ability to deal with emergencies, Covid-19 has had little impact on production. Once getting back to work, the production capacity will recover soon.”
In order to ensure the prevention of a recurrence of the virus within the company, Feelm has implemented an eight-step policy to enhance protocols and address health and security concerns for its employees. According to Luo, the first step requires all employees to register their current health status and any other conditions they may have.
“They must also inform us of the dates they are returning/returned to Shenzhen, the people they have met, etc.,” she says. “They must archive related documents setting up an exceptional first line of defense. Step two: any employees returning to Shenzhen from other places must isolate themselves at home for 14 days. They must work from home or online if applicable, according to Luo. Only if without any suspected symptoms like fever and coughing, are they permitted to return to the office. All employees must wear a face mask at [the] factory.”
Step three is all factories must have epidemic prevention supplies ready, according to Luo. Employees must wear a face mask while going out and have their temperature taken before stepping into the factory. They must also wash their hands after touching anything and always have disinfectants at hand.
Step four involves having strict Allied Social Sciences Association (ASSA) access control systems in place. Employees must wear identification badges and have their temperature taken twice a day. “Anyone whose body temperature is over 37.3 degrees Celsius should stay at home for medical observation,” says Luo. “Protecting yourself is protecting others.”
Luo explains that step five is one of the most vital steps. She says the company actively disinfects all public areas in factories twice a day. “Office areas are disinfected once a day after work. Public space and dormitories are also once a day,” she says. “Production area disinfection is arranged by departments.”
Step six involves maintaining the cleanliness in production workshops. “Enter the air shower room after disinfection, no more than six persons at one time. [The] distance between two workstations should be wider than one meter,” says Luo. “Reduce the number of employees at one production line. Add extra production lines if necessary. Spare no efforts to guarantee production safety.”
The final two steps are more lifestyle changes, according to Luo. Step seven centers on employees keeping a one-meter distance from each other while dining. “Dining out is temporarily prohibited. Keep [a] one-meter distance while queueing (getting in line) and dining. Wash hands before and after dinners,” Luo explains. “[A] disposable tableware policy has also been adopted. We also disinfect tables and chairs after using three times a day. Eat at ease, work at ease.”
Step eight asks for Feelm employees to avoid crowds while commuting. “Walk, ride or drive to work. Try to avoid public transport, if possible,” she says. “If you must, avoid touching anything. Clean phones and keys with wet tissue or medical alcohol often.”
Vapor hardware manufacturers in China that produce products
for the world market are back in service after a brief hiatus due to the Covid-19
pandemic. Mostly based Shenzhen, the e-cigarette capital of the world,
companies say that they are implementing
new standards and processes in order to keep employees and customers safe.
Several companies are also intensifying their
data-collection efforts for premarket tobacco product authorizations (PMTAs) in
the U.S., the world’s largest market for vapor products. “The coronavirus is
indeed having an impact on the PMTA process,” says Welford Ou, CEO for
SmokTech, a major manufacturer. “For example, the behavioral investigations
have been stopped, and it [is] also taking more time for us to prepare all the
products for the PMTA.” As of this writing, PMTA applications are due to the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 12.
Smoore Technologies, the parent to Vaporesso and Feelm, says
it “took strong and comprehensive measures” in advance of the virus’ outbreak.
“We set up disease prevention and control teams in each of our facilities
before the Chinese Spring Festival holiday. Dating back to the 20 of January,
Feelm teams started to collect information, investigate employee’s conditions,
prepare epidemic prevention supplies and disinfect public areas,” said Sofia
Luo, marketing director for Feelm. “Before getting back on track, Feelm handed
out a Covid-19 prevention and control booklet to each employee, providing
scientific support to enhance health security.”
All Smoore facilities are now back up to at least 85 percent
of pre-pandemic production, according to Luo. She says Feelm is already
shipping goods to the U.S. and has been since the middle of February. “Smoore
and its subsidiaries have enough key materials inventory, and all of our supply
chain has recovered and is back in production,” she said. When asked whether
there was a supply shortage, Luo replied, “In general, the impact of supply
shortage is under control.”
SmokTech is getting back to its normal operations, and more
workers are expected to be hired as the virus outbreak is brought under
control, according to Ou, who added that the company is awaiting the return of
some workers from Wuhan (located in the Hubei province and the epicenter of the
pandemic) where residents were quarantined until March 25.
“The sales are doing well even with the Spring Festival and a long time staying at home for virus control,” says Ou. “Our challenge is to get more skilled workers in [a] short amount of time to meet the growing demand. My concern for the world market is [that] hopefully they will embrace vaping and see it is better and safer than smoking cigarettes.”
The new COREX coil from Vaporesso has embedded mesh technology for enhanced flavor while vaping.
By Timothy S. Donahue
Flavor is very important. Closed-pod systems have exploded on the market due to their convenience and ease of use. Now, smaller refillable pod systems are growing in popularity. COREX is a new ceramic coil from Vaporesso that is designed specifically for refillable systems. Vaporesso is a subsidiary of Smoore Technology, which is considered one the most influential innovators in atomizing platforms on the planet.
“Over the past few years, we began to notice that the e-cigarette market had been yearning for a refillable heating technology that can be widely approved, much like Feelm, Smoore’s revolutionary ceramic coil for closed-pod systems, which has received great acclaim,” says Niki Zhang, marketing manager for Vaporesso. “The COREX coil was created through our comprehensive research and development of early prototypes, which were initially released to labs only. Vaporesso has been creating the groundbreaking core technology since 2015—only waiting until it was perfect before its full release.”
Like a Feelm coil, the COREX coil uses no cotton or wicking material and has a large surface area that comes in contact with the e-liquid. COREX has a cellular ceramic core that has the mesh embedded directly into the ceramic material. “This creates the perfect size and distribution of porosity,” says Zhang. “From the very first puff, COREX immediately gives you the maximum flavor and nicotine satisfaction that vapers desire. The combination of embedded mesh and perfected porosity also allows consumers to consistently get that same satisfaction for longer time periods and with an enhanced durability.”
COREX was designed to enhance satisfaction factors for users, according to Zhang. She says that COREX offers the optimal “distribution and dimension of porosity” for working with e-juices, boosting nicotine delivery by 67 percent. “COREX also has the ability to reach the perfect atomizing temperature in the first 0.2 seconds into the first inhale, which means COREX doesn’t need warming up before getting the full satisfaction,” says Zhang. “What’s more, the increased rate of heating from the first puff to the 100th puff is nearly identical.”
Embedding the meshed coil directly into the ceramic allows for more contact area on all sides of the coil. Zhang mentions that that combination, alongside its evenly distributed inlet holes, allows for full and evenly distributed heating. She adds that this produces smoother, more flavorful vapor.
When discussing the durability of COREX, Zhang points out that the COREX mixture has an extremely low thermal conductivity (less than one-fifth of aluminum oxide ceramics), and the specially created cellular ceramic compound makes COREX last longer than any other coil on the market, including standard cotton coils, mesh coils and even other ceramic coils.
Another major benefit of using the COREX coil is that it uses less power and performs more efficiently than other types of coils, says Zhang. “Efficiency just became effective,” she explains. “The combination of optimum porosity and embedded coil mesh gives you almost twice as much life from your power source. This guarantees that COREX consumers can get the most satisfaction from their device.”
Started in 2006, China-based Smoore has become a major player as an innovator in the heating element technology market. The company has served numerous industries; however, in 2007, Smoore discovered that it could serve a then niche market by creating revolutionary products in the vapor industry. The company played a major role in the development of several early product success stories, such as the NJoy King disposable cigalike in 2013 and Logic’s Pro system in 2014.
Smoore started its Vaporesso brand in 2015 with the goal of becoming a leading vapor hardware manufacturer. Zhang says the company currently has 7,000 employees with seven factories, including its own automation factory. Vaporesso manufactures vapor hardware for several companies, both large and small. Under the Vaporesso brand, the company produces several of its own products, including the Luxe S 220W, which utilizes the innovative SKRR tank.
Vaporesso is best-known for its commitment to heating technology research in vapor. The company also has one the best management teams in the industry, according to Zhang. “We hired some of the top 100 scientists in China. It’s really important to organize them to work efficiently. We invest a lot in our management team building as we believe that the management team is the core to get everything in order to keep the company running efficiently,” she explains. “Proper management [teams include] individuals who can lead by example and also allow their staff to have the freedom to be creative. Our managers must embody our ‘beyond the ordinary’ mission and are fully immersed in the vaping of the world. Our management teams are also keen on not only making advancements for our company but the entire vaping world, helping to improve the lives of its users.”
Research and development is a core value for Smoore. This is why the company has more than 200 engineers on staff and reinvests 15 percent of its yearly revenue back in R&D, according to Zhang. “Vaping is a new industry with lots to explore,” she says. “It’s essential that we find the safest and best materials and technologies to achieve optimum pleasure in use.”
To prioritize innovation, Smoore created its Institute of Fundamental Technology in 2013 to help the company focus on essential technical developments in the e-cigarette industry. The head of the institute, Peng Xiaofeng, specializes in the research and development of inorganic nonmetallic materials. Peng previously worked with companies such as GE, Saint-Gobain North America and Toyota.
The cutting-edge advancements are quickly used in many of Smoore’s products and its subsidiaries’ products, according to Zhang. Technology created at the institute, for example, was used in Vaporesso’s Ccell ceramic coils, which are used in several Vaporesso products.
The institute was also instrumental in the development of the company’s Omni Board, a sophisticated chipset that allows device controls to help satisfy every consumer, from smokers trying to quit all the way up to veteran vapers. “One technology innovation benefits the entire company. That’s what we called our concentric diversification strategy. This company is driven by two things: safety and innovation. These are very important factors in what we do,” Zhang says.
To ensure compliance with its strict quality control and safety standards, Smoore and its subsidiaries work with several third-party testing labs in both Europe and the U.S. Every product produced must go through strict quality control protocols before being shipped to Smoore’s customers, according to Zhang. “We need to ensure the safety of our customers while they are using our products. Brand identity and brand reputation are very important to us, giving our products higher competitiveness and durability.”
Smoore is currently dedicated to pushing several products through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) process. “We are working on the PMTA process to get fully prepared for the new regulatory environment in the U.S market,” she says. “We are constantly working on technological innovation, and it won’t be too long before our next product launches.”
Over the next five years, Zhang says Smoore will stabilize its existing European and American markets and will continue to develop and improve emerging markets. “We work hard to completely cover the countries and regions where electronic cigarettes are legalized,” she explains. “At the same time, Smoore will continue to innovate, update and optimize products with the spirit of excellence and strive to become the world’s largest and most well-known atomization technology company.”
Timothy Donahue
Timothy S. Donahue is the co-founder and managing editor of Vapor Voice.
Tim spends much of his time on the road, attending conferences and interviewing industry representatives.
His networking skills, work ethic and quick mind are valuable assets to our diverse audience.
The new Vfolk pod system uses a ceramic coil to provide a smooth, consistent vape.
By Mike Huml
The Vfolk Pro pod system represents the latest in pod system technology. While it may not appear much different from comparable pod systems, what lies inside each pod is what pushes the Vfolk past the competition. Vfolk has teamed up with Smoore to create an entirely new vaporization system that doesn’t rely on wick and wire, and the result is one of the smoothest and consistent vapes on the market.
Smoore is one of the largest manufacturers in the vapor industry. For years, they manufactured vaping components for several major third-party brands. More recently, they’ve started manufacturing for their own brand: Vaporesso. For the Vfolk, Smoore has contributed an entirely new atomization system called Feelm. Each Vfolk pod is fitted with this ceramic vaporization chamber that yields voluminous vapor and incredible flavor. Feelm technology is the cornerstone that sets the Vfolk apart from other pod systems, and it works extremely well.
The Vfolk itself operates much like other pod systems, which is desirable. For pod system users, it retains familiarity and simplicity of use. The device is slightly larger than the Juul but is more rounded and ergonomic. It features an automatic switch to more closely replicate smoking analog cigarettes, and an LED on one side illuminates when the user takes a drag.
The LED will also turn red when the battery is low in order to clearly indicate that charging is needed. Charging is accomplished via a standard micro-USB connection, and a cable is included with each kit. The 350 mAh battery can be charged from empty to full in approximately 45 minutes and is designed to last for the duration of an entire pod. Each Vfolk pod contains 1.2 mL of e-liquid at a strength of 5 percent, or 50 mg/mL. Some flavors are also available at 2 percent, or 20 mg/mL.
At 1.2 mL, each pod is equivalent to two packs of standard cigarettes in terms of nicotine. As far as the number of drags, the advertised 500 puffs are slightly exaggerated, but that heavily depends on how each user uses the Vfolk. Longer drags will obviously yield fewer drags per pod. Overall, a pack-a-day smoker can expect between one and two days of use per pod.
For comparison, each Juul pod contains 0.6 mL of e-liquid, so those familiar with the Juul can expect twice as much longevity from each pod. Pods are simply inserted into the battery, and a magnet keeps them secure. The pods couldn’t be easier to insert and remove, and the magnet is more than strong enough to maintain a stable connection.
Vfolk offers seven flavors: cucumber, coffee, mint, mango, mung bean, lychee and tobacco. Currently, their sample pack of pods does not include cucumber or lychee, their newest flavors. However, each of the other four flavors is striking and unique. Coffee is reminiscent of a creamy latte, with none of the bitterness that can often plague coffee flavors. Mint is a light and refreshing burst of peppermint and spearmint that isn’t overpowering. Mango has a dash of mint as well that adds a much-needed crispness to the fruitiness of the mango. The tobacco is more of a nutty flavor, which is common with tobacco e-liquids. It’s impossible to recreate the flavor of burning tobacco without burning plant matter, as any vaper who has tried tobacco flavors can attest. However, Vfolk’s tobacco has a very clean taste whereas cheaper tobacco flavors can taste “dirty,” for lack of a better term.
The vape experience offered by the Vfolk is second to none. Each drag is smooth, and due to the Feelm atomizer, there is no gurgling, crackling or popping. The only sound is the slight sound of air passing through the device. The airflow is just about perfect, riding that fine line between the stiff draw of an analog cigarette and the open draw that other pod systems incorporate in order to “fake” more vapor production. Here, the vapor is dense, flavorful and satisfying while the drag and nicotine level are sure to appeal to those used to cigarettes.
As far as pod systems are concerned, the Vfolk doesn’t stray too far from the established mold, and that’s not a bad thing. Everything about this device is familiar to avoid alienating a potential market of current pod system vapers. The Feelm technology is where things get interesting as it is solely responsible for keeping the Vfolk from becoming “just another” pod system.
The ceramic heating system is enough to spark interest in those with even an ounce of vape enthusiast within them. Even vapers who don’t consider themselves pod system users may raise an eyebrow based on a new kind of heating element alone. While mesh coils are starting to find popularity, they don’t seem to be the revolutionary new technology that will overtake standard coils, which are generally cheaper, more readily available and even preferable in some situations. However, this Feelm technology offers an upgrade to every other pod system in that it provides a consistent experience, as well as an arguably better vape, with every drag.
Even the Juul’s vapor production and drag can vary wildly from anemic to completely over-saturated due to a multitude of factors. It’s an issue so widespread that squeezing the top of the Juul’s pod regularly in order to stimulate juice flow is almost a necessary workaround. The Vfolk with its Feelm heating element provides a better experience with every drag than what the Juul can possibly provide under ideal circumstances.
The Vfolk advertises an autoship option on the box, much like the Juul, but that service is currently unavailable via the Vfolk website. When this feature does come online, it will add a massive convenience factor that’s almost expected at this point when it comes to pod systems. A starting price of $29.59, with a 20 percent discount code, will buy the Vfolk device, a charging cable and two e-liquid pods.
The starter kit only offers a choice of tobacco, coffee, mint and mango, but the additional three flavors are available separately for $11.99 for a two-pack. End users can also enjoy free shipping on orders over $35, but this is where things get a bit dicey. Regular standard shipping runs about $17.50 depending on location. That’s significantly more than the price of a pod pack. As such, online buyers are strongly advised to buy in bulk, ensuring each order is above that $35 mark. This is the weakest aspect of the Vfolk brand but could prove advantageous for a retailer.
Given that shipping is so expensive, and many people still prefer to buy smaller quantities of e-liquids or pods on a more frequent basis, vape shops can offer more convenience and better pricing than online retailers. Generally, the opposite is true in the vapor industry. Due to overhead, smaller order quantities and limited storage space, brick-and-mortar shops often charge more than online retailers. For possibly the first time, retail locations can provide more convenience and value. As the Vfolk brand matures, this is likely to change, so it might be wise to hit the ground running while the opportunity is still presenting itself.
Other than the double-edged sword of a shipping price, the Vfolk is an exceptional product all around. It’s offered innovation in the form of the Feelm heating element, which offers value to the enthusiast vaper who can’t ignore a new type of heating element as well as the average vaper who only knows that the Vfolk vapes better than other systems and doesn’t care why.
It retains all the features that make pod systems valuable, including simplicity, ease of use and convenience, while still one-upping the competition when it comes to raw vape quality. Vapor production, flavor and throat hit are all top-notch. The Vfolk won’t chuck clouds, and it’s not supposed to, but it does pump out more vapor than the average pod system, and it does so drag after drag. If there was one word to sum up the Vfolk, it would be “consistent.”
Not only is this the first vapor device to omit some type of wick and wire system, but it works, and it arrived in the form of a pod system. Innovation usually happens from the top down—it will be interesting to see if ceramic Feelm technology will make its way upward toward more advanced devices, but if it doesn’t, it’s a small miracle that it works as well as it does in a pod system environment.
Consistency is one of the most important features of any vapor product, and it’s often overlooked or taken for granted. Even for a product with flaws, if those flaws are consistent, it’s far preferable to a product that’s unpredictable or erratic. Thankfully, the Vfolk is virtually flawless, and its consistency only acts to improve everything else that makes it a fantastic product. Consistent is always preferable, and consistently good is the best one can ask for, particularly when it comes to vaping.
Mike Huml
Mike Huml has been vaping since 2009 and has been working in the vapor industry for more than five years. He has extensive experience in various industry segments, including purchasing, quality assurance and content creation.
