Through responsive service and strong Ceramic Injection Molding (CIM) technical capabilities, XY GLOBAL partnered with Thumbies to produce premium custom ceramic parts that elevate craftsmanship and efficiency for personalized keepsake pendants.

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Project Brief

Introduction

Established in 1998, Thumbies has consistently been a pioneer in the personalized jewelry keepsake industry. Across all significant life stages—from the precious arrival of a newborn to the lasting connections and the warm remembrance of the departed—Thumbies stands with its users through unique customized items, consistently conveying the intangible language of love. 

In this emotionally-driven market, Thumbies knows minute details are paramount. However, the team faced significant supply chain challenges: while many vendors offered basic ceramic components, few could achieve the high surface finish and micro-precision necessary for their signature jewelry-grade laser engraving. The combination of high costs, slow lead times, and inflexible processes forced the brand to constantly compromise between premium quality and operational efficiency.

The partnership with XY GLOBAL marked a turning point; everything began to change. The custom ceramic parts we offer are not merely high-quality personalized pendants. They are, raher, a way to personalize a memory of time passed, to personalize a promise to the dearest and most loved, and to personalize an eternal solace that transcends words. Moreover, the collaboration between Thumbies and us  established a relationship built on deep, cross-cultural trust,  an unparalleled dedication to craftsmanship, and a shared vision for a future-oriented, long-term partnership. 

During the Project  

Trust Started with a Proactive Response 

The collaboration began unexpectedly. Kristina, the client, found our Ceramic Injection Molding (CIM) service on our website while searching for a “custom ceramic part.” Frustrated by recurring slow responses from some Asian suppliers, she sent a tentative message, but our response was anything but tentative: our sales team replied an astonishing 80% faster than she anticipated.

Crucially, the response was warm and highly personalized. Our representative had taken the time to study her company’s website, presenting her with a tailored list of ceramic material suggestions based on her specific product features. Fully respecting her “testing the waters” approach, we offered a low-risk, small-batch trial production and maintained complete transparency regarding all potential risks. The competitive quote offered an approximate 12% saving on her budget. The rigor and expertise immediately overcame Kristina's initial hesitation, leading her to decide on a sample order.

The Challenge

Every Challenge is a New Opportunity

Challenges are inevitable in any close partnership. Upon discovering minor post-sintering blemishes on the initial samples—which would definitely lead to  “increased costs” and “delivery delays,” we refused to conceal, deflect, or merely manage the situation. Instead, we immediately disclosed the problem to the client and promptly invested resources to actively resolve it. Our actions ensured that the final product delivered to the customer was a trustworthy and perfect product.

The Solution

✅ Emergency Response and Evaluation:  An emergency assessment meeting was held and a detailed solution was proposed quickly by our engineers and the production team that night. 

✅Advanced Modeling for Root Cause: Swiftly and professionally established an industry-leading compensation model to resolve the issues related to surface defects.

✅ Detailed Report and Optimization Plan: Provided the client with a comprehensive deformation analysis report and root-cause optimization suggestions by the next morning.

✅ Rapid Tooling Adjustment and Micro-Sampling: Re-prepared and micro-adjusted the mold to successfully conduct a revised sample run within 48 hours.

The Result

Ultimately, we did more than just thoroughly resolve the zirconia ceramic parts’ aesthetic issues; we fully delivered on our promise to the client: following all corrective and optimization actions, we successfully delivered a product with a perfect appearance and quality that far exceeded the their expectations, without delaying the original delivery schedule. Specifically, the perfect surface uniformity and structural stability enabled them to seamlessly execute the laser engraving process on the product surface, successfully completing “highly intricate engraving details.” Based on this affirmation of our rigor and professionalism in the ceramic project, the client entrusted us with new cooperation opportunities, subsequently collaborating on several more challenging stainless steel ornament projects. The client expressed “great satisfaction” with these cross-material outcomes, successfully elevating us to the status of a long-term strategic partner.

In December 2024, before Christmas, to express our deep appreciation for the Thumbies team, we carefully prepared a special gift of customized thermal mugs, ensuring every member felt our sincere holiday blessings.

In a warm reciprocal gesture, during January and February 2025, Thumbies incorporated their creativity into products based on those manufactured by us, crafting unique, personalized pendants as return gifts for every member of our team. This was more than just a gift; it was a precious symbol of gratitude, recognition, and the deep trust shared in our partnership.

Looking Ahead 

Building on the success of the initial CIM custom zirconia ceramic project and the subsequent stainless steel ornament projects, our partnership with Thumbies is set to enter a more focused, iterative phase.

Moving forward, the core of our collaboration will transition from simple supply to continuous innovation in customized souvenir solutions. We will leverage the advantages of high-precision ceramic injection molding (CIM) technology to lay a solid foundation for the subsequent development of more complex multi-material integrated keepsakes, including materials such as alumina, zirconia, aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride. We firmly believe that this close, concrete, and sustained technical cooperation will further consolidate Thumbies’ innovative leadership within the commemorative industry.