Tips for Choosing a Reliable China Injection Molding Supplier

29 Apr.,2024

 

Tips for Choosing a Reliable China Injection Molding Supplier

Tips for Choosing a Reliable China Injection Molding Supplier

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What Is Injection Molding

An injection molding process involves the injection of molten material into a steel injection mold and then allowing the material to cool, resulting in a solid shape and then ejected by an ejection system . It is possible to manufacture a wide range of objects via injection molding, including automobile parts, toys, and medical devices.

StepDescriptionMeltingThe heated barrel and rotating screw are fed with material from the hopper. The material is melted through heat, friction, and shear force caused by the screw’s rotation. It is then forced through a check valve to the front.InjectionThe screw is pushed forward by a hydraulic ram, moving it from the back end to the front. This action pushes the melted material forward for injection.CoolingThe mold tool remains closed, allowing the injected plastic to cool and harden in the cavity. This stage typically takes the longest duration in the injection molding process.EjectionThe screw is moved backward to prepare for the next molding cycle. The mold tool opens, and the hardened plastic part is ejected. The tool then closes, and the injection molding process repeats from step 1.

Material, usually metal or plastic, is melted inside the barrel at the beginning of the process. A high pressure injection is then used to inject the molten material into the mold via sprue,ruuner and gate. It is opened and ejected from the mold when the matter has cooled and solidified enough. The process of injection molding can be used to produce mass quantities of objects quickly and at a reasonable cost.

An overview of injection molding history

A history of injection molding can be traced back to the 1800s. Alexander Parkes invented a method for molding cellulose into objects in 1851, marking the beginning of injection molding. The first plastic injection molding machine was patented by John Wesley Hyatt in 1872.

As a result of this machine, plastic objects could be mass produced in large quantities in a short time. With the advent of mass-production of plastic products in the early 1900s, injection molding became increasingly popular. Medical devices, automotive parts, and electronics are among the types of products injection molded today.

injection molding machine

Reliable China injection molding Suppliers: Why You Should Choose Them

It is important to select a reliable China injection molding supplier when you are facing so many suppliers. The importance of this can be attributed to a number of factors- the financial position of the China injection molding supplier, their experience in the industry and their reputation. In 2021, the demand for injection molding products in China reached 25.77 million tons- an increase of 1.470 million tons from 2020, an increase of 6.0% year-on-year, and the demand for injection molding products in China is expected to reach 26.91 million tons in 2022

Some quality factors to consider when selecting a reliable China injection molding supplier- whether or not they have a factory, what type of quality assurance system they require and how many employees they have.

You may not be able to obtain high quality injection molding parts if your supplier is not reliable and your customers may become unhappy as a result and sales may be lost. With a reliable and flexible China injection molding supplier, you can win over customers who may be apprehensive about purchasing injection molding parts.

It is also possible that an unreliable injection molding supplier will not be able to deliver your products on time, which could result in sales being lost.The time it takes for the recipient to receive the order.You should ask the plastics supplier about their average time for delivery.

The third disadvantage is that you will have difficulty obtaining after service assistance from an unreliable supplier if there is a problem with your order.

There are a lot of risks involved in purchasing goods without any protection. You might not receive the item you ordered and the supplier might refuse to give you a refund. If this happens, then it will be hard to find someone who can help you get out of the situation.

Last but not least, working with a reliable injection molding supplier is generally more convenient- you will typically receive better customer service from them. They’ll take into consideration any requests you may have and give the same weight as any other business. they might even be able to secure you a refund in certain circumstances if their error caused you a problem.

Topworks can optimize your design for cost savings or ensure compatibility by optimizing your design before tooling. Clients are welcome to supply 3D files

Topworks can utilize Computer Numerical Control (CNC) to produce a machined prototype or 3D printing that you can see and feel to validate the design of your part.Also we supply vaccum casting service

During this stage, your Tooling Information Worksheet is used to design the tool.

The accuracy of the tool design is validated.

The tool is precisely fabricated according to the validated design using Computer Numerical Control (CNC), and Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) …

The first test shots will be sent via courier soon after the injection molds are made. Once sent, these usually arrive in 2-5 days.

At this point, Topworks makes any changes to the tool that is necessary to bring it into compliance with the approved specifications. Topworks makes any changes that are necessary (specifically excluding design changes, which are always charged for) free of charge.
In this stage, the texturing process is done, which is usually the last step before mass production.
Topworks side

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In this stage, the tool is handed over to the customer or ready for injection molding.

Finding a potential injection molding supplier in China: How To Do It

Research is crucial when looking for mold manufacturers in China . It is possible to research potential plastic molding suppliers in a few different ways, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Searching online – alibaba.com, made-in-china.com and globalsource.com – for potential suppliers is one method of researching potential suppliers. By doing so, you will gain a better understanding of what products or services a supplier offers, as well as their pricing. Nevertheless, keep in mind that not all information found on the internet is reliable, and it is important to do your research before making any decisions. Also you could find many suppliers via google.com and bing.com. In addition, you can also search for Chinese suppliers on social media platforms- facebook.com,linkedin.com, Instagram.com,pinterest… -many suppliers have their own social media accounts, and you can search for relevant keywords on these platforms to find suppliers of interest and make contact.

It is also advisable to speak with other businesses who have used potential suppliers in the past to conduct further research. The purpose of this is to provide first-hand information about the quality of the company’s products or services, as well as the level of customer service they provide. It is an absolutley useful way to avoid fraud suppliers

You could also attend a trade show– Aisamold and Chinaplas . There are many trade shows that feature Chinese injection molding suppliers. This is a great way to meet potential suppliers and learn about their products face to face.

Another method you can use to find a China plastic injection supplier is to contact a sourcing agent. Sourcing agents are companies that help businesses find suppliers in China. They have experience working with Chinese injection molding suppliers and can help you find the right supplier for your needs.

Get quotations from multiple Chin injection molding suppliers

If you’re looking for an injection molding supplier in China, it can be difficult to find the best one: with so many different companies competing for your business, it can be hard to find the best price and quality.

To make sure you’re getting the best deal available, it’s important to take a few minutes to read through the supplier’s website and compare prices between them.This is where Blueprints can help.

Asking Your potential China injection molding suppliers the right questions

If you have any questions or concerns about the product or service being provided, it is important to speak with your China injection molding supplier , especially if the supplier is based in China.

By doing so, you can get answers to any of your questions and ensure that your purchase is in good condition. It is also important to be aware of any potential problems that may arise. If you have any questions about the injection molded product or service, it is best to reach out to the supplier.

In order to enter into an agreement with a Chinese supplier, the following 4 questions should be asked:

  1. How long has your company been in plastics business? As a result, you will be able to gain a better understanding of the company’s experience and how long it has been in injection molding and tooling business. The company’s website should provide a list of services or products they offer, as well as some examples of customers who have purchased these items.You should also pay attention to the lists: whether they focus on international or domestic operations, how long their business has been in operation, the size of their workforce and where they are located.
  2. How would you describe your main plastic products and services? In order to determine whether the company is a good fit for your needs, you should know what it specializes in, and how it operates .You should also be aware of how long the company has been in business, as this can indicate whether it is trustworthy or not.
  3. Are there any references you can provide? By speaking with references, you can gain an initial understanding of both the quality of the injection molded products and services offered by the company. In addition, you can gain an understanding of their level of customer service. and their ability to meet deadlines.
  4. What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for your products?Minimum Order Quantity, or MOQ, is a set number of injection molded units that must be ordered for a certain product to be made in one batch. This often prevents companies from taking on small orders and can lead to high costs per unit. Despite this, there are some benefits of MOQs, including the added security of having enough inventory to last an extended period of time.

A supplier contract should include the following features

It is important to look for certain key elements when entering into a supplier contract to ensure that your company is protected. You should be aware of the following:

  1. Contract scope – The supplier’s scope of work should be clearly defined in the contract. As a result, there will be no misunderstandings in the future. There are a number of different types of contracts. The contract should have the following elements: the name of the parties, the time period for which it will cover, the subject matter of the work to be performed, and-its scope.
  2. Pricing – Ensure that the contract clearly states the pricing to avoid surprises down the road. Price term (Incoterms) includes: FOB (Free on Board), CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight), CFR (Cost and Freight), CPT (Carriage Paid To), DDP (Delivered Duty Paid).
  3. Terms of payment – Before signing any contract, make sure you understand the terms of payment. Getting stuck with unexpected costs is not something you want to happen.Be sure that you know what your supplier is asking for when it comes to payment. You should be prepared to pay upfront or in installments. Normally for injection mold: 30% down payment, 30% after cutting and 40% after samples approval.
  4. Delivery schedule – Make sure that you and the injection molding supplier are on the same page when it comes to delivery schedules-normally for tooling,6-8 weeks. By doing this, you will be able to avoid any delays in receiving your goods or services. As mentioned earlier, it is essential to understand the risks involved with injection molding and make sure that you are prepared. If you want to lower your risk of experiencing a delay in production or a poor quality product, then it is important for you and the company that will be handling your injection into have an agreement in place.

Tips for building a good relationship with your China supplier

It is essential to build a good relationship with a Chinese injection molding supplier to ensure a successful partnership. Getting started can be easy if you follow these tips:

  • Make sure you are clear about your injection parts expectations and needs. It is essential that your supplier understands the specifications and requirements of your product. Contact your supplier and get in touch with their technical team as soon as possible,and this will give you the opportunity to provide your requirements and specifications for injection parts so that you can move forward with ordering.
  • Ensure that you communicate regularly. You and your supplier will be able to build trust if you maintain open communication. .Proactively contact your supplier and talk about any issues that you are having with their service or product. For example, if you are experiencing strange delays in your deliveries, ask them how they can fix the problem.
  • Respond to their inquiries and requests in a timely manner. Make sure to respond promptly to your China supplier’s questions or clarifications for plastic mold.
  • Keep track of your invoices and pay them on time. This will demonstrate your reliability and trustworthiness to your supplier, as well as help you maintain a good working relationship. Many Chinese injection molding suppliers are financially strained.
  • It is important to provide both positive and negative feedback. Providing both positive and negative feedback is important for both the buyers and the suppliers. It allows for a clear understanding of what needs to be improved, and it also ensures that everyone is on the same page. Giving feedback in a constructive way also makes suppliers feel more appreciated, which can lead to better performance.
  • Respect and understanding are essential when dealing with cultural differences. A lack of respect can lead to misunderstandings and can even cause tension. It is important to be aware of the different cultural customs and norms when interacting with people from other cultures. It is also important to be patient when learning about the customs of others. When communicating with people from other cultures, it is important to use proper grammar, vocabulary, and idioms. If you are able to show respect for the cultural values of others, you will be able to build a strong relationship that can help facilitate better communication.

With these tips, you can build a good working relationship with your supplier that benefits both of you.

Visiting the China Supplier’s Factory

Before placing an order to a new China injection molding supplier, it’s always a good idea to visit their factory. This will give you the opportunity to see the injection molding manufacturing process and meet the people who will be making your products.

It’s also a chance to make sure that the factory is up to your standards in terms of cleanliness, safety, and working conditions.

When you visit a China plastic injection molding supplier’s factory, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

When planning your visit to a factory, it is important to consider when the business is open-most. Many Chinese injection molding suppliers also work on Saturdays, which is one of the secrets of their ability to make money. During business hours, you will be able to see the factory in action and get a better understanding of how the products are made. Make sure to schedule your visit for during these times so that you can maximize your experience.

  • If you’re not happy with the price or delivery time offered by a supplier, don’t be afraid to counter-offer. Many Chinese suppliers already leave room for counter-offer on their first offer.
  • Make sure to be clear about what you are looking for, and be prepared to walk away from a deal if you don’t think it’s fair.
  • Be persistent, but don’t overstep your boundaries; remember that your China injection molding supplier is also trying to make a profit. Do a fair deal.

When visiting a supplier’s factory in China, be sure to schedule plenty of time to tour the facility and meet with key personnel. Be prepared for a language barrier, as most workers will not speak English.

While on the tour,

  • Pay close attention to the cleanliness of the injection molding factory and whether or not safety precautions are being followed.
  • Pay attention to the availability of a relaxed working environment.
  • Ask questions about the molded production process and get a feel for how organized and efficient the operation is.
  • Finally, be sure to inspect the plastic products that are being produced to ensure they meet your quality standards.

By taking these steps, you can get a good sense of whether or not a particular supplier is right for your company.

Conclusion: The Importance of Choosing a Reliable China Injection Molding Supplier

As the world increasingly turns to China for injection molding manufacturing needs, it is more important than ever to choose a reliable supplier. This is especially true when it comes to injection molding, as the process is complex and requires precision. There are many factors to consider when choosing a supplier, such as cost, quality, and delivery time.

It is important to do your research and ask for recommendations when choosing a supplier. You should also visit the facility and meet with the team to get a better understanding of their capabilities. Once you have found a supplier that you trust, it is important to build a good relationship with them. This will ensure that you can count on them for all your future needs.

Ten questions you must ask before buying a mold in China

Though many have found good tooling suppliers, there continue to be problems with sourcing molds in China, and even those who are experienced aren't immune. Here are things you should know if you have to get a mold made in China.

According to a blogger in a LinkedIn group, the biggest issues in sourcing molds in China are tool design and quality. "If you spec'd H-13, did you get H-13?" he queries fellow bloggers. "How many hands in the press, actual cycles, did it take to produce first-offs?"

Kraig Kooiman is a medical device design consultant with Nexgen Product Design & Development and another blogger in the group. He also reps Four Pillar Tools Lda (Marinha Grande, Portugal) and had this to say: "Chinese tools cut major corners on water, tool steels, unless you really get after them. I have seen Chinese tools that literally warp in the press because their tools are the softness of lead. I have seen well-made Chinese tools, but again the materials used have been sub-par. Delay in communication is an ongoing problem."

Most of those complaints have been expressed for many years. "You have to manage China because if you don't, China will wreck you. Manage it or don't do it," commented Eric Robinson, sales manager for Henry Plastic Molding in Fremont, CA. "There are key issues that you need to understand. First, quality control is critical. Stuff goes on in China that wouldn't happen in the U.S.
"Second, you have to understand the business culture there. And, third, you have to-to some degree-accept the quality standard of 'it's not perfect but it's good enough.' That's something that U.S. moldmakers need to learn, too."

Robert W. Doyle, president of Robert Doyle Consulting (Beijing) Co. Ltd., is a mechanical engineer and a patent lawyer with offices in Beijing, China. While Doyle believe that Chinese mold companies offer some benefits, he's realistic about the pitfalls. "You can just about plan on something going wrong," said Doyle in an interview at the Plastec West trade show in Anaheim, CA (Feb. 9-11). "Murphy's law is running amok in China. There's no substitute for hands-on management."

Doyle clarifies his comments by stating that it's not because the Chinese aren't capable, but there are communication problems and major cultural differences. "There are myriad cultures in China, which means you deal with not just the cultural differences but the language differences as well."

Doyle's company helps small to medium-sized companies find good sources in China, and then keep control of their projects there. "Americans are arrogant," he said. "They demand things be done their way, and don't listen to how someone else wants to do it. They set the Chinese [moldmakers] up to fail. You must purge yourself of prejudices if you want to do business globally."

Ensuring success

Kelly Wilson has spent his entire career in the plastics industry managing custom molding operations, including overseeing molds being made in China. Today, he's director of sales-military business development manager for Atlantis Industries Corp. (Milton, DE), and still gets molds made in China. Wilson says that if you want to be successful, you need to ask potential moldmakers the following questions:

1. What is the real landed price to my factory? There are extra costs involved, says Wilson, including fees to bring the mold from the mainland to Hong Kong. Be sure you know what those costs are up front.

2. Is it understood that the purchase order is for the tool to produce good parts, not just samples, for X years? "I've run into this a lot during my career," says Wilson. "We'd get a mold in and I had to do so much work to get it to run automatic that I started requiring that either I was there at sampling or at least the sampling was video-taped. All the mold companies have video equipment there so they're prepared for it, but you have to ask for it. I can hear the machine, see the machine, and in a couple of instances, two cavities were sticking. I could hear the PC crack when the mold opened, which let me know there were sticking issues. Those are the types of things a video allows you to pick up on. The video can be posted on YouTube and you can see it and watch your mold trial. On my first trip there many years ago, I was handed beautiful parts. When they put the mold in the press it didn't run. I found out they were carving me conforming parts. I can't do that in my factory in the U.S. Understand what you're looking for and how many parts you need to run; be involved in the material selection of the tool. If you don't have the ability to do this yourself, they'll have consultants to help you."

3. Who covers freight costs from China? "Again, spell this out from the beginning. The tool might be cheap, but things can start adding up," Wilson says.

4. Are mold components used available in the United States? "That's becoming more and more common as the major mold component suppliers like Progressive and D-M-E have established facilities in China," Wilson explains. "But, spell it out on the PO that the BOM [bill of materials] has to be approved prior to mold build. We want to be able to buy spares, and better yet, have them make your spares there."

5. Does the purchase order include all CAD files required to make domestic changes to the mold? "Make sure you have the entire CAD file," Wilson advises. "When you go through and make changes, did those get translated to the file? Everyone does this, not just China, where we've got the file, but the moldbuilder has to groom something to make it work, and that didn't get reflected onto the file."

6. Have the CAD files been updated to reflect the actual tool being shipped? Does your CAD file actually reflect the part being made? What did you change in the last two weeks during sampling that means we don't know the latest dimension? "Most of the shops I'm using now are aware of that, along with the electrodes," says Wilson. "You bought the electrodes so you need those packed in with the tool, along with anything special used to make the tool. You need to ask for it to be shipped with the mold."

7. Was the tooling sampled in an equivalent press to the one in which it will run in the United States? "You really want to know in what machine you're going to run the mold," says Wilson. "A lot of these sample houses are just that-sample houses. They may be throwing your mold in a 400-ton press because that's the one that's open, when you're going to run it in a 220-ton press. It doesn't have to be the same exact brand, but it needs to be same tonnage, pressures, and shot size."

8. Did the tool run for 24 hours or just long enough to get samples? Not every mold needs to run for 24 hours, but it's a good test of how the mold operates. "Once they sent us beautiful samples and we'd sent them enough material to do a 24-hour test, but the mold wouldn't run for more than 4 hours without having to shut it down and fix something," Wilson explains. "As the mold settles in, things can change. A lot of time they'll sample molds without water, but you'd sometimes rather not have water because the water there is so dirty. Also, request that they use resins that you supply for sampling. A lot of the materials in China you can't trust to be the equivalent material as in the United States. Spend the money and send the material. I have them take a picture of my bag of material by the dryer so I know they're using the right stuff."

9. Are the parts on the runner, and not groomed? "That will tell you a lot," Wilson says.

10. Is this mold for use in China or in the United States? "I'm not as worried about a mold that will stay in China to run parts as I am about one coming back to my plant," Wilson says. "I once took a $14,000 tool to $5500 because the customer told me he didn't need to run the parts in the U.S. But I never want to see that mold here in the U.S. because it will never run here. When you're making the tool to bring back to the U.S., you need the tool that you absolutely specified, which is why the details are important if you're getting a mold built in China. You have to know what you're getting into, or you won't get the mold you expect."

Wilson has built up a number of relationships with Chinese mold shops over 15 years, but early on he ran into a guy who became his mentor and helped educate him on how to buy a good mold in China. "The biggest thing he taught me was you've got to be there," Wilson says. "You just can't send drawings and expect to get the mold you want. He had very complex tooling built over there such as multiple-core unscrewing molds. Once I started following what he was saying, it took hold and made a lot of sense.
"One thing I learned is that if you leave a loophole open for them to take a shortcut but still meet the PO, they'll do it. You can easily get burned if you haven't bought over there before and know who you're dealing with. Find a competitor or someone who already builds there and get advice. Know who can you trust. A lot of buyers get 'bonused' if they buy a cheap mold and save the company a lot of money, but I've been known to spend five weekends in a row at the plant trying to get it to run."

What they had to say:
Industry Week: "Surveys indicate that anywhere from 17%-53% of customers have not realized business value/ROI from offshore outsourcing." (CIO, 2008)

"Fifty-eight percent of organizations surveyed could not confirm that outsourcing had clearly improved financial performance. Ninety percent of custom organizations didn't accurately understand the opportunity costs of the selection process and 79% of such organizations couldn't accurately identify the internal financial cost of the sourcing selection process." (KMPG, 2008)

A Duke University Offshoring Research Network and PricewaterhouseCoopers survey indicates "demand for outsourcing services is growing rapidly worldwide, with many providers hiring additional staff and investing in new services to meet projected growth."—[email protected]

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