How to Verify Direct Amusement Equipment Factories in China: Trading Company vs. Real Manufacturer

Why is Manufacturer Verification Important?

1. Safety Risk — Mechanical failure in amusement equipment poses serious safety and liability risks.
2. Investment Risk — Investment for amusement park equipment projects usually ranges from $500,000 to over $3 million.
3. Long-Term Support — Amusement equipment requires ongoing spare parts supply, software upgrades, and technical support in the next 10 to 20 years.
4. Regulatory  Compliance  —Amusement park  Equipment without TS certification may not pass customs inspections, resulting in project delays and additional costs.

The 6-Step Verification Process

When communicating with amusement equipment suppliers in China, please follow these verification steps to avoid cheating. Each check should be independently verified through official channels or a third party, rather than relying on the supplier's introduction or promises.

Step 1: TS Manufacturing License Check

First, it is common sense that an amusement park equipment manufacturer is required to hold a valid TS License issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). Only if you have the license can you produce the amusement park equipment.

Second, you can request that the supplier view the original license. Please remember, do not accept

photographs or scanned copies that have a different company name. The lawful certificate should include the following important details: license number; specific equipment categories authorized for manufacture; issuing authority; and expiry date.

Additionally, please remember to check the company name listed on the license, which should match the registered company name.

Step 2: Business Registration Check

It is necessary to verify the company’s business scope on the China’s National Enterprise Credit Information  Publicity System (credit.gov.cn). Please pay attention to the registered primary business activities listed. If the main business activities are marked as “trading”, “import or export agency”, and “general wholesale of goods”, it seems that you are dealing with a trading company rather than a real factory. Because the genuine manufacturers always have terms like “amusement park equipment manufacturing,” mechanical equipment production, or other similar descriptions in their business scope and activities.

SUNHONG has the TS certification and CE, ISO9001, and EN13814 compliance. View SUNHONG's official certifications page.

Step 3: Google Earth Check

As we all know, a real amusement park equipment manufacturer should have comprehensive facilities for production, such as steel structure fabrication workshops, CNC cutting equipment, fiberglass (FRP) molding and painting workshops, and testing grounds. Normally, the factory site exceeds 30,000 square meters.

Firstly, you can request the full Chinese factory address from the supplier, then verify it using Google Earth or other satellite mapping tools. The authentic factory site is very large, which may be divided into production halls, outdoor equipment storage areas, and raw material storage zones.

If the factory address links to an office building or a small industrial unit, it is necessary to conduct further research to avoid dealing with the trading company or agency.+

Step 4: Live Factory Inspection Check

Trading companies usually do not have their own factories. So if you request a real-time factory tour via video call, they will find reasons to refuse or delay the video call, such as the manager is not in the factory, the location is very far away from the office, and they only accept appointments 7 days in advance.

You can tell the supplier only one or two hours in advance, asking for a live factory inspection via video call, WhatsApp, or video meeting.

Please remember to focus on the following details:

• CNC cutting area
• The FRP (fiberglass) spraying workshops
• Welding stations
• The current amusement park equipment is under assembly

SUNHONG's manufacturing campus spans 30,000㎡ square feet and features 8 dedicated production workshops. Watch our Facebook live stream for unedited, real-time footage directly from the factory floor.

SUNHONG Amusement Rides Manufacturer

Step 5: The IP & Brand Authority Check

If you find a project involves licensed IP-themed amusement rides, such as Larva IP rides, Disneyland, Bugs Bunny, or any other branded animation property, you should request the IP authorization letter from the supplier to verify their qualifications.

Usually, these famous international animation brands only grant production authorization to manufacturers that have passed rigorous factory audits. These audits include product quality, production safety, and social responsibility. Therefore, amusement ride suppliers holding valid IP authorization have already passed inspections conducted by the international brands or by third-party agencies.

Please refer to the key verification

1. Request a valid IP authorization letter; 
2. Verify that the authorizing company name matches the factory name; 
3. Check the validity period and scope of the authorization.

The production of IP-themed amusement equipment without brand authorization may lead to legal exposure, customs clearance challenges, and brand compliance concerns in some international markets.

Step 6: Trade Show Membership Check

Established amusement equipment manufacturers are typically active members of various international industry associations. 

Important verifiable organizations include

• IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions),
• CAAPA (China Amusement and Attractions Association)
• AAA Expo (Asian Attractions Expo).

You can directly search the manufacturers’ names within the IAAPA Marketplace and CAAPA member directories. The factories that have been verified usually display their product categories, production certifications, and exhibition history.

If a supplier has no verifiable information in industry associations and no record of participating in trade shows, a high degree of caution should be exercised.

How SUNHONG Meets These Verification Standards

To make this verification system more actionable,  below outlines how SUNHONG meets each of the aforementioned audit requirements:

SUNHONG: Over 1,000 Projects Implemented Globally

The SUNHONG team has successfully delivered more than 1,000 amusement park projects across over 60 countries. Below are selected case studies:

SUNHONG Company Overview & Core Services

Company Overview

• Established in 2000, with 25+ years of manufacturing experience
• 30,000㎡ in-house production facility
• 200+ skilled workers and 80+ engineers & designers
• Over 1,000 global amusement park projects delivered
• Official Larva IP licensing partnership (2024)

Key Advantages

• One-stop solution from design to operation
• Strong in-house R&D and production capability
• Focus on high ROI and visitor attraction projects

Contact SUNHONG for full amusement park solutions.