 The use of antimony alloy increased hardness of the type compared to lead and tin  for improved durability of the type.The reusable metal matrix allowed a single experienced worker to produce 4,000 to 5,000 individual types a day, while Wang Chen had artisans working 2 years to make 60,000 wooden types 

Type-founding as practiced in Europe and the west consists of three stages.The type-height was quite different in different countries.