Quality & Inspection

Quality at Fantan Fishing is organised around one principle: bulk production is checked against the approved sample and its drawing, not against a general impression of what a good rod looks like. This page lists the inspection items we carry out for fishing rod OEM programs and component supply, and explains what is agreed with the buyer before production. Test names, sampling standards, tolerances and inspection equipment are not published here as generic claims; they are confirmed per project and recorded in the project documents.

Inspection needs a defined reference. In our process that reference is the golden sample approved during sample development and approval, together with the assembly drawing and bill of materials at the approved revision. Any change to a component, dimension, colour or packaging item after approval is recorded as a revision and agreed before it is used in bulk. Buyers who want a structured view of this hand-over can read Quality Control from Sample to Bulk.

The following inspections are the items we perform. Their depth, sampling level and acceptance criteria are set per project.

Incoming component inspection

Blanks, guides, tip-tops, reel seats, grips, thread, finish materials and packaging components are checked on receipt against the bill of materials and the approved component samples. This applies both to our in-house carbon fiber guides, titanium guides and carbon fiber reel seats and to components sourced to the buyer’s specification. For titanium guides, statements about alloy grade or corrosion resistance are made only where a material certificate or test report has been obtained for the project.

Dimensional inspection

Dimensions defined on the drawing are checked against it: overall and section lengths, transport length, guide positions and tip-top fit, reel seat position and handle lengths, and, for guide supply, the component dimensions specified in the guide catalogue (H, L, L1 and tip-top sizes). Which dimensions are measured, at what sampling level and to what tolerance is confirmed with the buyer per project.

Cosmetic inspection

Blank finish, thread wraps, coating, logo and decal placement, colour match to the approved sample, and the surface condition of guides, reel seats and grips. Cosmetic acceptance criteria are agreed using the approved sample and, where needed, a defect reference list prepared with the buyer.

Sample comparison

Production units are compared directly with the retained golden sample for appearance, component identity, layout and feel. This is the check that catches drift that individual measurements may not show.

Assembly inspection

Guide alignment along the reference line, ferrule fit between sections, reel seat and grip bonding, tip-top seating and hook keeper position are inspected during and after assembly.

Packaging inspection

Protective bags or tubes, labels, hang tags, retail boxes and shipping cartons are checked for content, marking, quantity and condition against the packaging specification and the approved packaging sample.

Final inspection

Before release for shipment, finished rods or component lots are inspected against the full specification, and the inspection result is recorded for the order. Buyers may specify the sampling level, request inspection photographs, or arrange a third-party inspection; these arrangements are confirmed at the pre-production stage of the fishing rod OEM process.

• Test names and methods: any functional or material test the buyer requires is named and its method agreed before sampling.
• Sampling standards: the sampling level for each inspection item is set with the buyer for the order quantity.
• Tolerances: dimensional and cosmetic tolerances are written on the drawing or the inspection sheet at the approved revision.
• Equipment and records: measuring equipment and the format of inspection records are confirmed when the inspection sheet is agreed.

If your program has defined quality requirements, send them with your specification through the inquiry form so that they can be reviewed with the quotation. Related reading: engineering capabilities, the fishing rod specification guide and the procurement guides.

The guide and reel seat designs shown in our catalogue are protected by the following Chinese registrations held by Yuantop Outdoor Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, the component manufacturer behind our carbon fiber and titanium guide and reel seat ranges: a registered trademark, three utility model patents (reel seat handle and two fishing rod line guide designs) and design patents for fishing rod guide rings.

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  Trademark registration No. 63816929 (class 28), registered 7 October 2022

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  Utility model patent ZL 2022 2 2216246.5 – reel seat handle

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  Utility model patent ZL 2021 2 3433312.6 – fishing rod line guide

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  Utility model patent ZL 2021 2 2066764.9 – new type fishing rod line guide

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  Design patent ZL 2022 3 0537418.1 – fishing rod guide ring