In the year 1983, Mr. So worked on the development of side-cutting can openers with great success in the market. This not only broadened his can opener portfolio but also made his factories world famous manufacturers of can openers.

At that time, the product portfolio of Mr. So's four factories already encompassed several hundred different types of kitchenware. Even though the traditional geared as well as the side-cutting can openers coming out of Mr. So's four kitchenware factories had become market leaders, due largely to his advances in technology, there remained much to be desired in terms of safety and hygiene. Accordingly Mr. So started a decade ago to seek improvements in these two aspects and, after evaluating various possibilities, he found rim-cutting technology very promising.

Mr. So began research in rim-cutting mechanism at Ki Mee Hong Kong in 1989. In around 1996 development was gradually intensified, where pilot tooling was made and extensive prototyping done to validate concepts and designs. At the same time, Mr. So accumulated valuable data by testing prototypes with a great variety of cans on the market. After years of research, Mr. So's rim-cutting technology became mature in 1997. Tests showed performance of his prototypes was probably the best, when compared with similar products then on the market. The preliminary specifications for the rim-cutting mechanism were also established.

This rim-cutting mechanism is a high precision mechanical structure. In order to ensure quality and performance of his can openers, Mr. So decided early on to establish an entirely new factory, specifically for the production of his new invention. The factory was named "Union Lucky Metal and Plastic Factory". In 1997 preparations started with the purchase of factory premises in China, procurement of specialized machinery as well as precision measuring equipment. Tooling for critical metal and plastic parts was made, while staff and skilled workers were recruited to receive intensive training.

The company "Union Lucky Industrial Limited" was set up in Hong Kong in Aug 1998, specifically to oversee liaison, marketing as well as delivery regarding rim-cutting can openers. To date the total investment is in the order of tens of millions Hong Kong dollars.

Union Lucky in early 1999 had finished trial runs of products made to its own as well as customers' designs. Samples from pilot production were delivered to customers for approval. After many years' preparatory work, Union Lucky delivered in January 1999 the first pilot production batch to a Canadian customer, and then on June 17, 1999 its first shipment to an American customer and subsequently to others all over the world.

In order to further enhance product performance, Mr. So continued to invest in pilot tooling and prototypes. The aim is to make these can openers safer, easier to use as well as more hygienic. A string of technological advances had been made and patent applications were filed without delay to obtain protection. As a result, there was a significant increase in the quantity of rim-cutting can openers shipped in the year 2000.

The main reason for the huge market success enjoyed by Union Lucky's rim-cutting can openers is the big improvements in terms of safety and hygiene, when compared with the traditional geared or side-cutting can openers. During proper use, these can openers do not come into contact with the contents of a can. Moreover a patented device is provided for the safe and easy disposal of lids, so that when properly used the risk of hand contact with unhygienic lids sometimes associated with other can openers is reduced to a minimum. Although there are similar products on the market, Mr. So's rim-cutting can openers are widely regarded as probably superior, as confirmed by in-house tests conducted by Union Lucky's customers as well as tests by independent laboratories.

In the future Mr. So without doubt will as always strive to make good can openers even better, so that continuous improvements of the current portfolio can be expected. Union Lucky on the other hand will also strive to improve on its already high quality level. As rim-cutting can opener is a relatively new concept, many consumers are still not fully informed about the usage of this can opener. Nevertheless under proper use the present design is considered probably the safest and most hygienic. Coupled with an effective marketing strategy and proper usage by consumers, these rim-cutting can openers are certainly destined to become the mainstream of the can opener business, on account of their inherent benefits in terms of safety and hygiene. This bodes well for the future of such a manufacturer specialized in high quality can openers as Union Lucky.

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