Model EMK7492 from Accomate has in-house-made wrenches and sockets. The interior of the bag has straps and holders.

Taiwan's latest upscale models feature specialized tools. Meeting international quality standards remains a priority.

Backed by experience in the hardware industry, Taiwan suppliers of car emergency kits are incorporating standards-compliant tools and accessories for specific breakdown situations. This comes as companies are boosting exports to the midrange and high-end DIY segments of North America, Europe and the Middle East.

Sets designed for tire repair work consist of portable carbon dioxide cartridges, which enable easy inflation, and sealant for fixing minor punctures. CE-certified gauges allow accurate pressure checks.

Models that address engine problems stemming from discharged batteries are also offered. For these, booster cables are the key component as they provide the connections needed for jump-starting.

Suppliers of this type are securing safety certification for the booster cables to build buyer confidence in the US, their biggest market. This has become critical as the country recalled about 43,000 mainland China-made kits last year due to fire and shock hazards.

For more-efficient solutions, companies include a range of automotive hand tools. Pliers, screwdrivers, ratchet handles, wrenches and hammers are among the popular types.

Some sets also feature tow ropes, gloves, compasses, flashlights, and reflective safety vests and warning triangles. Most of these are sourced from Taichung and Changhua.

For their latest releases, suppliers usually develop and produce the main implements themselves to ensure quality.

Besides in-house QC, products are also submitted to SGS laboratories for further testing and inspection.

Depending on the number of implements and target application, prices of Taiwan's car emergency kits range from $8 to $50.

Suppliers in the island are leveraging their expertise to be able to offer specialized designs.

Most are capable of manufacturing the basic implements, opting to procure the rest of the items locally to control costs.

Assembly and packaging are also performed in-house.

All models from Booster Cable Enterprise Co. Ltd are suitable for starting up engines. Focusing on this application enables the company to maximize its production capacity for jumper cables.

Pliers, screwdrivers, sockets, wrenches, ratchet handles and hammers are the common auxiliary items.

Booster has also launched sets with work gloves and miniature flashlights. The average price is $10.

Hsuan Hau Enterprise Co. Ltd produces kits that offer quick fixes to fl at car and motorcycle tires. For one of the key components, the company used its glue manufacturing background to create a compound for mending tire holes and cracks. This sealant is usually packed in a small squeeze tube. Other options are tire plugs and cold patches.

Models also feature compact, high-pressure carbon dioxide bottles made of steel. Once the necessary repair is done, such cartridges can be adopted to release air into the tires. They are frequently tapped as user-friendly substitutes for hand pumps.

Further, Hsuan Hau's sets can contain hand tools such as pliers.

Accomate Industrial Co. Ltd prefers to incorporate repair tools as the company specializes in this line.

Currently, its selection consists of wrenches, sockets, pliers and screwdrivers.

LED-fitted crank and magnetic pick-up tools are in the pipeline.

Accomate also includes road safety, towing and navigation supplies in its kits.

The company's EMK7492 and EMK7493 models are equipped with a tow rope, pair of gloves, flashlight, and reflective safety vest and warning triangle.

In addition, the former has sockets, wrenches and a compass. The latter comes with pliers, screwdrivers and electrical insulation tape.

Taiwan suppliers of car emergency kits are also enhancing case and bag designs. Efforts focus on the integration of specialized compartments.

Plastic cases are usually reeded, with slots for each implement. Contents, as such, can be easily organized and secured.

Most companies use ABS because it is durable enough to withstand the rigors of daily driving.

Booster offers injection-molded ABS cases with reeds and a handle. Production is carried out in the company's factory in Kaohsiung.

Soft fabric bags feature straps and pouches for holding the items in place. They are commonly made of nylon or polyester.

Hsuan Hau adopts both materials for its carrying bags. The interior has separate sections for the carbon dioxide cartridges and hand tools.

To differentiate its products, Accomate adds warning triangle signs on the exterior of the bag so it can be spotted easily during emergencies.

Model EMK7491 comes in this packaging design. The kit is composed of a reflective warning triangle, tow rope, pair of gloves, flashlight, air compressor, cable ties, pliers and screwdrivers.