A Canadian company that makes buying from China feel like buying from Ontario.
You sign one purchase order with a Canadian corporation. I handle the factory, the language, the inspection, the compliance, and the freight. Goods arrive at your door, duty paid.
Importer of record · Zhan Supply Co. Ltd. · BN 791822646 · Federally incorporated, registered in Ontario · Kanata, ON
Why sourcing direct goes wrong
You can't inspect what you can't visit. Photos from the factory show you what the factory wants shown.
Specs agreed in English get manufactured in Mandarin. The gap between the two is where defects live.
A wire transfer to a factory you've never seen has no legal remedy. If the goods never ship, the money is gone.
CSA marks and French labelling are your liability at the border, not the factory's. Customs doesn't care who made the mistake.
Two ways to buy the same part
| Criterion | Direct from the factory | Through Zhan Supply Co. |
|---|---|---|
| Who you contract with | A company in a foreign jurisdiction | A Canadian corporation |
| Governing law | Chinese contract law, in Mandarin | Ontario, in English or French |
| Payment | Wire transfer, deposit at risk | Standard Canadian terms, one invoice |
| If goods are defective | Negotiate by email across 12 time zones | My problem, not yours |
| Pre-shipment inspection | Third-party service you hire and manage | Included; I'm on the floor |
| CSA / Health Canada | Your liability, unadvised | Handled before the container loads |
| French labelling | Your liability | Handled |
| Customs entry & duty | You are importer of record | I am importer of record |
| Recourse if it fails | Effectively none | Sue me in your own province |
What a quote from me actually looks like
- Unit
- Tie-rod hydraulic cylinder, 2.5″ bore × 24″ stroke, 3,000 PSI, HS 8412.21
- Qty
- 200
- Terms
- DDP — your loading dock, duty paid
GST/HST collected at entry, recoverable
30% deposit with PO · balance on delivery
How it works
-
Specification
You send a drawing, a sample, a competitor's part number, or a photo. I tell you plainly whether it's sourceable and roughly what it lands at.
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Quotation
I quote one all-in number, in CAD — delivered, duty paid, at your dock, like the sample above. Valid 21 days.
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Free sample & drawings
For custom parts, I send you a free sample and the drawings before you commit. You check fit and finish in your own shop, then sign off — no cost to you.
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Purchase order & deposit
Once you’re happy with the sample, one PO with a Canadian corporation. Nothing goes to a factory for production until this is signed.
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Production & on-site inspection
I place the order in Mandarin, then physically inspect before it loads. You get dated photos and a filled inspection checklist.
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Freight, customs, delivery
I'm importer of record. Entry filed, duty paid, delivered to your door. For smaller first orders, I can ship by air express when you need it sooner.
What I source, and what I won't
- Hydraulic cylinders, rams, and power units
- Gear pumps, hydraulic motors, and valves
- Hose assemblies, fittings, and adapters
- Pneumatics and air-line components
- Machined and fabricated metal parts to drawing
- Bearings, seals, and industrial consumables
- Anything requiring Health Canada medical device licensing
- Food-contact products
- Children's products
- Lithium cells shipped by air
One accountable name
I'm Liam Zhan. Born and raised in Ottawa. Native English speaker, professional Mandarin. Studied at both Western University and Hong Kong University. I have experience at a Tier 1 engine manufacturer in Chongqing, giving me an insider's view of a Chinese industrial factory floor. I'm based in Hong Kong where I work directly with factories across China.
There is no team behind this firm. When you send a spec, I personally read it. When your order is in production, I'm the one on the factory floor with the checklist. When something goes wrong, you call me.
I run every deal back-to-back: your signed purchase order comes before any factory order. I don't hold inventory and I don't speculate. Every shipment is pre-sold to a named Canadian buyer — that's what keeps me accountable to you and credible to the factory.
Send me your spec
No form to fill out — email me directly at liam@zhansupply.ca. Include what you're sourcing (a part number, drawing, photo, or a link to something similar), your target quantity, and your delivery city. Attachments welcome: PDF, DWG, DXF, STEP, and images all work.
I answer every email personally, usually within one business day. If it isn't sourceable I'll tell you that instead of quoting.