Custom Parts Manufacturing in China for Startups - TechTrek International Students Visit Haizol

On April 17, 2026, approximately 25 international students visited Haizol's Shanghai headquarters as part of the 12th TechTrek Science and Technology Trek - an experiential program co-organized by S Startup China and Duke Kunshan University.

As the first stop on the TechTrek itinerary, representatives from Haizol's innovation services team introduced the company's background, core capabilities, and direction, followed by an open discussion on topics including AI-supported innovation and manufacturing.

TechTrek: Connecting International Students with China's Innovation Ecosystem

TechTrek is designed for international early-stage founders and students engaged in innovation and entrepreneurship. By visiting real companies and industrial environments in China, participants build direct, firsthand understanding of China's science and technology ecosystem - the manufacturing infrastructure, digital platforms, and service providers that support physical product development.

Duke Kunshan University has a long track record in interdisciplinary entrepreneurship education, with programs spanning AI, robotics, healthcare, and sustainability. This visit brought together two sides of the product development journey that are often separated by geography and language: a pipeline of new ideas and early-stage projects on one end, and the manufacturing capabilities needed to validate, engineer, and bring them to market on the other.

Innovation and Manufacturing: What Was Discussed

During the exchange, Haizol noted that the subjects of innovation are becoming increasingly diverse. More and more new products today emerge from university laboratories, cross-disciplinary teams, and startup projects. For these innovators, the real challenge is often not the idea itself - it is how to move quickly from concept to prototype, iterate, and bring a product to market. Verification, engineering samples, and early production runs are where many promising projects slow down or stall.

As a manufacturing supply chain platform for custom parts serving global buyers, Haizol works with innovation institutions, startups, and independent founders to support projects across the full arc from proof of concept and small-batch trials through to engineering and industrialization.

The platform is particularly focused on the sourcing challenges common to early-stage projects: small order quantities, scattered requirements, multi-process parts, tight timelines, and novel first-run designs.

AI Capabilities in Development

Haizol also shared its ongoing work developing AI agent capabilities tailored to the practical needs of innovation projects: drawing interpretation, process selection, manufacturability analysis, supply chain matching, and online collaboration between buyers and factories.

The goal is to further improve the speed and efficiency of moving from design to physical part, and to help more university labs, startup teams, and global innovators access China's manufacturing supply chain with a lower barrier and greater confidence.

Haizol's Shanghai Headquarters: Open to Visitors

Visits like TechTrek reflect Haizol's ongoing engagement with global innovation communities. Haizol is headquartered at Caohejing Hi-Tech Development Zone in Xuhui District - one of Shanghai's primary technology and manufacturing hubs - and regularly hosts industry delegations, procurement groups, and innovation organizations at its offices.

Organizations interested in visiting or learning more are welcome to get in touch.

Haizol Shanghai Headquarters:
Email: press@haizol.com
Web: https://www.haizol.com/contact-us

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Haizol work with startups and early-stage hardware projects?

Yes. Haizol works with engineering startups, innovation institutions, and early-stage projects across the full range from proof of concept and small-batch trials through to production. The platform connects these buyers with verified Chinese factories that can handle small quantities, novel designs, and multi-process components across CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal fabrication, and rapid prototyping. There is no minimum order quantity to submit an RFQ.

Can I visit Haizol's office in Shanghai?

Yes. Haizol's Shanghai headquarters is located at Building 67, No. 421 Hongcao Road, Caohejing Hi-Tech Development Zone, Xuhui District, Shanghai. Haizol regularly hosts delegations, industry groups, procurement teams, and innovation organizations. Organizations interested in visiting can contact Haizol at press@haizol.com.

Does Haizol support proof-of-concept and prototype manufacturing

Yes. Haizol supports projects from proof of concept and design validation through pilot production and full-volume manufacturing. Rapid prototyping services - including CNC machining, 3D printing (FDM, SLS, SLA, MJF), and rapid tooling - are available with lead times from one to seven days.

How does Haizol's AI support manufacturing for innovators?

Haizol is developing AI agent capabilities targeting the workflow needs of innovation projects: drawing interpretation, manufacturability analysis, process selection, supply chain matching, and online collaboration between buyers and factories. These tools are intended to reduce the barrier to accessing manufacturing in China for startup teams, university research labs, and solo founders.