33 Years of Making Hardware
1992–2001 · Zinc Die-Casting from Day One
- 1992 — Founded in Ningbo as the city's first maker and exporter of high-end zinc-alloy hardware for automotive and bathroom applications.
- 1994 — Appointed exclusive supplier of zinc-alloy automotive decorative parts to the U.S. market.
- 1995 — Expanded into bathroom hardware and auto parts for Middle Eastern and North American buyers.
- 2000 — Entered door and window hardware. Our first triple-lock hook, developed against UK window standards, became the UK's best-selling lock accessory within two years.
- Recognition: China AAA-level Enterprise for Quality, Service & Reputation; one of China's Top 10 Most Promising Enterprises.
2002–2007 · Certified to European Standards
- 2002 — Exhibited the Cologne Hardware Fair in Germany for the first time, opening our European customer pipeline.
- 2005 — Among the first batch of Chinese metal-processing manufacturers certified to ISO 9001 by TÜV Rheinland Germany; the certification has run without interruption since.
- 2005 — Annual capacity passed 1.5 million sets of door and window hardware.
- 2006 — U.S. patent granted for our independently designed water-drainage fitting.
- 2007 — Registered as Ningbo Tianbao Hardware Co., Ltd. and moved production to our own site in the Ningbo Petrochemical Economic & Technological Development Zone, where we still manufacture today.
2008–2011 · Heavy-Duty Hinges and the German Market
- 2008 — Approved expansion to 5,000,000 sets a year, including our first powder-coating line.
- 2009 — Over 10 categories and nearly 1,000 models shipping to 15 countries and regions at the time; invention patents for adjustable door hinges and triple-lock hinges.
- 2010 — Developed a 120 kg heavy-duty door hinge. At the time we were the only Chinese manufacturer able to produce Grade 12 heavy-duty hinges, and we entered the German market on the back of it.
- 2011 — Launched the high corrosion-resistant aluminium frame hinge range, helping our global clients take around 30% of the UK market within three years.
2012–2016 · Own Brands, Own IP
- 2012 — Patents for multi-direction adjustable triple-lock hinges and energy-saving ceiling hinges.
- 2013 — Registered the DELTA brand in the UK and launched an anti-theft hinge range under our own intellectual property.
- 2014 — New patent for upgraded aluminium frame hinge technology.
- 2015 — Entered smart-lock hardware and became a qualified supplier to Hikvision and Dahua Technology.
- Recognition: Zhenhai District Science and Technology Progress Award; municipal honours for work safety and IP innovation.
2017–2021 · Automotive Discipline
- 2017 — Re-certified to ISO 9001:2015.
- 2018 — Municipal Level-3 Work Safety Standardisation Certification.
- 2019 — Released our first export smart-lock product and entered the smart hardware and security sector.
- 2021 — Achieved IATF 16949:2016 automotive quality management certification. Held 20 smart-lock patents and 5 software copyrights, with product trademarks registered in the UK, U.S. and other markets.
2022–Today · Full Chain Under One Roof
- 2022 — Recognised as a National High-Tech Enterprise and National Technology-oriented SME.
- 2023 — Certified as a Ningbo Specialised, Refined and Differential SME, with a municipal-level Engineering Technology R&D Centre.
- 2024 — Our own licensed electroplating line started production. From this point, die-casting, machining, polishing, powder coating, electroplating and testing are all completed in-house.
- Today — 14 die-casting machines from 75T to 400T · 30+ machining machines · 50+ polishing stations · three-booth powder-coating line · licensed automatic plating line · 5,000,000 sets a year · shipping to 30+ markets.
Manufacturing Capability
Mold Design & Manufacturing
In-house mold design with mold flow analysis (Moldflow) and DFMA analysis. Own machining center, wire EDM, EDM (electrical discharge machining), and turning/milling capabilities. Full control over mold production cycle for rapid response and fast delivery.
Die-casting
14 hot- and cold-chamber machines from 75T to 400T, served by a central holding-furnace system for consistent shot weight and stable dimensions
Machining
30+ drilling, CNC turning, machining-centre and multi-station dedicated machines, holding tolerances down to ±0.01 mm on machined features.
Polishing
Matte, bright and brushed finishes. 50+ polishing stations backed by 15+ automated machines, with fixtures designed in-house so complex geometries finish evenly.
Powder Coating
Three-booth dust-free automatic line with fast colour changeover. Film thickness 60–120 µm, salt-spray tested beyond 480 hours, capacity around 100,000 pieces per day.
Electroplating
Our own licensed fully automatic line running the in-house "Seven Star" plating process — trivalent chrome, nickel, black nickel and PVD. Uniform thickness and strong adhesion on complex parts, salt-spray tested beyond 480 hours.
Testing
In-house laboratory: NSS / ASS / CASS salt-spray, life-cycle cycling, hardness, cross-cut adhesion, X-ray plating thickness, metallography, potential-difference and powder film-thickness measurement, plus ESD and high/low temperature cycling.
Assembly
Five automated assembly lines covering the full range of hardware components, at more than 100,000 pieces per day.
Products
-
Sold outDoor, Window & Smart Lock Hardware
Regular price $0.00 USDRegular price -
Sold outAutomotive Hardware Components
Regular price $0.00 USDRegular price -
Sold outDie Casting Components
Regular price $0.00 USDRegular price -
Sold outMachined Components
Regular price $0.00 USDRegular price
Certifications
IATF 16949:2016
UKAS-accredited · valid to 1 Feb 2027 · originally issued March 2021. The automotive-industry quality management standard built on ISO 9001, with added requirements for process capability, defect prevention and traceability through the supply chain.
ISO 9001:2015
TÜV Rheinland · Certificate 01 100 048528 · valid to 14 Nov 2028. Scope: manufacture of zinc and aluminium alloy die-castings for doors and windows, sanitary fittings and automotive applications. Certified since 2005 and renewed without interruption.
Electroplating Discharge Permit
Issued by the Ningbo ecological environment authority. This is the permit that makes in-house plating possible. Few hardware factories hold one — most subcontract the process.
National High-Tech Enterprise
Awarded 2025. China's national recognition for companies holding independent IP and in-house R&D capability.
What this buys you. Plating runs on our own licensed line, inside the same quality system as casting and machining. Colour, adhesion and salt-spray results trace back to a process we control and audit, which is how we hold 480-hour salt-spray as a routine result rather than a lab exception.
From the Factory Floor
How a part actually gets made — polishing, CNC precision, and why in-house plating changes delivery dates
Factory Tour Videos
Watch the seven-station plating line run, step by step.
Die-Casting Technical Library
Process notes on gates, cooling, solidification and flash control for zinc alloy die-casting.
Brands We Produce For
Long-term component supply to automotive, door-hardware, security and sanitary brands. Named here where our agreements allow — ask us about what we can't show.
Get In Touch
CompanyNingbo Tianbao Hardware Co., Ltd. (TBH)
Address No. 508, Fengming Road, Xiepu Town, Zhenhai District,
Ningbo City, 315204, Zhejiang, P. R. China
WhatsApp / PhoneTEL: +86 (0)574 86502162
Business HoursMon–Sat 09:00–18:00 GMT+8
Email tech@tianbao-hardware.com · sales@tianbao-hardware.com
Send us your drawings or samples — we'll come back with both a part price and a tooling price.
Chat on WhatsAppWhy TBH
- In-house tooling — we quote the mould, not just the part
- Own plating & coating lines — finish cost is already in our number
- IATF 16949 QC — an inspection report ships with your parts
Request a Quote
Tell us what you need — our team replies within 1 business day (Mon–Sat, 09:00–18:00 GMT+8).