For more than 30 years Yat Ming was regarded as a leading global manufacturer. In 1997 it moved to a new factory to support a growing range and production needs. The Dongguan, China, complex occupied a 106-acre site with over 68,000 square metres of floor space, offering room for future growth. Workers live on site, as is common at large Chinese factories. The plant now employs over 1,400 people. Every part is assembled by hand, requiring versatile, skilled workers.
Yat Ming offers quality die-cast toys for schoolchildren, including ‘Railway’, alongside a wide range of licensed scale models, such as the ‘Road’ series of Ford, General Motors, Chrysler and other cars. Each collectible replica is carefully checked for accuracy, authenticity and detail—the qualities customers value. The company's aim is for a buyer's first Yat Ming model to become one of many in their collection, rather than their last.
Beyond its standard range, customers have included Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Mattel and Hasbro. For many years Yat Ming maintained a facility near Atlanta to serve domestic accounts unable to buy directly from China. As the toy business shifted towards direct importers, smaller customers struggled to compete and many closed. Falling business prompted a change of strategy, and that facility is now closed.