Factors To Consider When Choosing Chinese Mould Suppliers

20 May.,2024

 

Factors To Consider When Choosing Chinese Mould Suppliers

Cost-cutting for produced items now entails a significant amount of outsourcing. Although outsourcing has made it possible for customers to purchase goods at lower prices, there is a catch: overseas rivals may not necessarily adhere to the same labour standards or employ the same premium materials to ensure high-quality products. China has long been associated with low-cost items. Still, mould suppliers outsourcing there may be fraught with complications from start to finish.

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You will likely need to have an injection mould made in China if you intend to import a product that has been specially created or by professional mould suppliers. If you’re seeking a Chinese plastic injection moulding factory to build your plastic moulding components, your initial inquiry would probably How much would it cost to manufacture my product using Chinese injection moulding?

Is it possible to reduce the price of mould in China? So, read on to learn everything you need to know about selecting the finest Chinese mould suppliers in 2022.

Why purchase China-made plastic injection moulding

Compared to the USA or Europe, China mould suppliers offer plastic injection moulding at significantly lower prices. Occasionally, the price will only be 50% higher for the same quality. The most costly component of a project is typically the injection mould, which can significantly raise prices for short parts runs. Your product’s market competitiveness will be much improved by China’s cost, which is extremely low.

What Factors Influence Injection Molding Prices?

The cost of plastic moulds and injection moulding parts will directly impact whether your project runs smoothly and successfully. The complexity, size, surface, material, number of mould cavities, production volume, and component surface area are just a few of the numerous variables to take into account while designing a plastic part for injection moulding from professional mould suppliers.

Partially complex:

The more complicated component will call for more complicated mould suppliers and designs, raising the mould price. As much as feasible, eliminate unnecessary surfaces, corners, or features to save mould costs significantly.

Size of part:

The mould size and cost will grow dramatically with the item’s size since larger parts require larger moulds, which require more mould steel.

Material for the part:

Depending on the kind and calibre of plastic you, as the mould suppliers use, the cost of the materials will change. For instance, if you select expensive fibreglass filler material, the mould material cost will also rise since hardened steel is required.

Surface in part:

If the component surface is not crucial or the plastic part is not visible in the assembly result, you can pick a lower-level finish, such as SPI Finish B-3 or lower C grade. An appealing surface finish will increase processing costs and time.

Tips: The SPI standard was developed by the U.S. Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE)

Cavity count and production volume:

Comparing a single cavity mould to a family mould with several cavities requires less time and effort. This results in a lower mould cost but a higher cost per part. When mould suppliers produce in modest quantities, a single cavity mould will do; when producing in large quantities, you might want to explore numerous cavities moulds.

How to Lower the China Cost of Plastic Injection Molding:

Finding reputable plastic injection mould suppliers is the greatest approach to lower the cost of plastic injection moulding in China. They will perform it for you, so you won’t need to have as many talents to save costs with their assistance.

The ideal situation is for the vendor to provide accurate quotations for each stage of the process and to specify what each stage entails. Research and development, mould production, testing expenses, and so forth. Each component and how it contributes to the final cost should be specified in the estimate.

Due to design defects and potential production issues, the top partners in the sector will also recommend improvements. Always look for a seller who has your best interests in mind rather than just the lowest price.

Although it might be challenging, you can take into account the following advice to lower your plastic injection mould supplier’s costs.

Model test:

Before beginning the mass manufacture of your plastic parts, a sample test is essential. The proofing services should be requested from the injection mould suppliers. You may find out via this method whether the moulding factory’s production quality is good or not.

The following batch of mass-produced items will be much worse if the sample quality is inadequate. Before you begin your project, the first thing you should perform is a sample test to prevent needless loss.

Spend less on the design:

An expert producer of plastic injection moulds is skilled at keeping costs under control, beginning with the design phase. Because the cost of the entire project may be determined by the design idea, it is a very crucial talent.

In the early stages, the producer of plastic injection moulds typically has to convene a conference to discuss product assembly, injection moulding manufacturing, and other related topics before settling on the best practical design. According to this plan, engineers would design the mould, which can save expenses significantly.

Injection moulding service at one-stop:

Mould design and production, product injection moulding, plastic shell surface treatment (spraying, screen printing, etc.), and other one-stop outsourcing services are all included in one-stop injection mould suppliers.

Why do so many manufacturers that specialise in plastic injection moulding place such an emphasis on one-stop services? Because it may save a lot of time in addition to lowering the cost of plastic injection moulding.

An all-inclusive injection moulding service may significantly increase production effectiveness. The manufacturer offering one-stop service is equally skilled and powerful enough to give you superior service.

Techniques for estimating plastic injection moulding costs:

Naturally, we couldn’t completely depend on the pricing the plastic injection moulding factory provided. To determine the price of plastic injection moulding, we can employ a few techniques. The cost of the plastic mould pieces may be estimated using the following methods.

Cost estimation for low-volume injection moulding:

Small-batch injection moulding is compatible with this feature-based cost-estimating tool. Moulds are made using the fast tool approach, which involves processing 104 moulds quickly. This is done since moulds have a significant effect on each part’s cost. Current material prices are utilised to estimate material costs depending on the part’s shape.

Choose a suitable injection moulding machine from a database of more than 50 machines to save production costs and determine the cycle time based on the component shape, the characteristics of the material, and the machine’s parameters.

If you want to know how much a plastic mould will cost, use the standard mould size to choose the right mould base from the best mould suppliers. Then, depending on the geometry of the item and other user requirements, estimate the amount of mould processing that will be needed. Calculated for 4 possible cavity configurations, these three costs—materials, manufacturing, and moulds—present the most economical choice.

Cost estimation based on features:

Plastic moulding in production volumes is appropriate for this feature-based cost-estimating tool. More robust and pricey tools can be utilised because it has a lower influence on the cost of each component. Based on the part’s shape and using the most recent material prices, an estimation of the material costs is made.

Choose a suitable injection moulding machine from a database of more than 50 machines to save production costs and determine the cycle time based on the component shape, the characteristics of the substance, and the machine’s parameters.

To determine the mould cost, choose the right mould base based on the standard mould size and mould category, and then calculate the necessary mould processing based on the geometry of the item and other user requirements. Estimated for 4 probable cavity designs, these three costs—materials, manufacturing, and moulds—present the most frugal choice.

Cost estimation for plastic mould:

The price of a plastic moulding mould is determined using this feature-based cost estimate. Use the standard mould size to choose the proper mould foundation, taking into account the geometrical shape of the component and the needs of the mould, such as the number of cavities. For the selected SPI mould type, mould processing is necessary; for 104 other mould types or low-volume goods, the quick plastic mould technique can be chosen.

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Average estimate:

While no component geometry is necessary for this typical injection moulding cost calculator, it must include extra process data to provide a more precise estimate. The number of runners and components, as well as a current pricing database for the materials, are used to estimate material costs.

Customizable process parameters are also taken into consideration. Cycle duration, machine rate, and labour rate must all be given when calculating production costs. A thorough cost breakdown of the expenses of the materials, production, and mould is given after adding the mould cost.

According to customer requests, Prototool can provide the best prototyping services, quick tooling, flawless finishing, and low to medium-scale production. All the while ensuring a seamless and dependable experience with their services.

6 Questions To Ask Before Buying A Mold In China

What are some questions to ask before buying a mold in China?


  1. Can you make a product that can meet my production requirements?

  2. Can you achieve tight tolerances?

  3. How many machines do you have?

  4. Are you working with an experienced and professional team?

  5. Do you provide prototyping services?

  6. Do you have high-cavitation molds?

Whether you’re a private individual running a startup or a large industry dependent on OEM plastic injection-molded tools, you need to make sure that you’re partnering with the right molding company in China. There are certain questions to ask before buying a mold in China that can help you identify if you’re collaborating with the right company. 

One thing you should prioritize is that you should be able to choose a company that can meet a number of your requirements. Not only will they help in providing you a mold that achieves tight tolerances, but they can also bring you the best outcomes when it comes to operational efficiency, practicality, and high-volume needs.

With all of these in mind, you have to know what you’re looking for in a plastic injection company. Before buying a mold, understand if that company is capable of meeting your production requirements, has the right machinery to perform the job, provides a range of prototyping services, and the like. Continue reading to learn more. 

Can You Make A Product That Can Meet Your Production Requirements?

The first question you should ask before you choose a company that can supply you with an injection mold is if they have the capabilities to meet your production volume requirements. 

Of course, you’ll get different answers depending on the industry you belong to. If your business is focused on the distribution of consumer goods, such as beverages or packed cosmetics, you need a reliable mold manufacturer that can perform production levels that reach a billion metric tons or more, each year.

Alternatively, if your business is involved in the manufacture of larger equipment, such as automotive parts or heavy machinery, see to it that your mold-maker in China can consistently dedicate their efforts to producing high-quality molds of these products.

Can You Achieve Tight Tolerances?

When you have already conceptualized your mold, you’ll likely have an idea of the dimensions of each part and component. As much as possible, when you have your idea actualized into a plastic injection-molded product, you want the final outcome to be as close to the prototype, or the concept, as possible.

To make sure that you buy a mold that has all of these standards, ask your molding company if they can achieve tight tolerances in their manufacturing processes. Typical injection molding companies usually set a threshold of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) tolerance of +/— 0.005 inches. Likewise, they should also be able to accommodate tighter tolerances, as specified by your molding requirements. 

How Many Machines Do You Have?

The quality and type of equipment that your chosen mold manufacturer has, are just as important as their experience in the industry. As such, you have to choose a company that uses different types of equipment at varying capacities. 

One of the factors affecting the size of injection molded parts is the platen size. Ask if your company’s machines can support different mold thicknesses, fast injection molding rate, resin variety, and heavy plastic weight. 

To know the best machines available for your mold needs, choose a company that houses multiple units of equipment. For example, they may have a single unit for their 2100-TON equipment, but for smaller molds, their facility may also house 8 units of a 150-TON machine, 6 units of a 90-TON machine, and the like. 

Are You Working With An Experienced And Professional Team?

Years of experience and professionalism are two other things to look for in your mold supplier. As much as possible, you’ll want to choose a company that has more than a decade of experience behind them. They should have adequate knowledge not just when it comes to injection molding, but also in prototyping and manufacturing of different products. Every tool and equipment used in their production processes should be constantly maintained, updated for new developments, and quality-assured to come up with high-grade injection mold products.

Do You Provide Prototyping Services?

If you’re conceptualizing the next big plastic product in the market, you want to make sure that it functions according to your intentions. This is why many mold-making companies also invest in rapid prototyping, wherein the customer will get a concrete mold of the product, make refinements or modify it to correct any defects.

Ask if your mold manufacturer also conducts rapid prototyping for their injection mold processes. Prototyping is a low-cost and practical alternative compared to tool-making because the materials are relatively available. You can also request your manufacturer to have a similar end-product reverse-engineered to see what you can learn from your competitors in improving your mold design. 

Do You Have High-Cavitation Molds?

Although injection molding is a simple process, the lead time may vary on the type of mold. If your business values efficiency, especially in the production of multiple molds in a single-shot, then you need to ask your mold maker if their machines have support for high-cavitation molds.

High-cavitation molds are ideal if you belong to healthcare, biopharmaceutical, food & beverage, or any industry that relies on high-precision production of multiple molds all at once. Ensure that your mold maker can guarantee quality even in single-shot moldings. 

Key Takeaway

In this guide, we’ve outlined six questions to ask before buying a mold in China. You have to find out if your mold manufacturer can supply you with high-quality molds at a short turnaround time. 

More than just that, they should be implementing all the latest equipment and technology to achieve high-precision products, no matter for low-cavity or high-cavity molds. Finally, with an available prototyping service, your molding company in China can guarantee that the product you’ll end up with is suitable to be distributed to the wider market and end-users.

Looking for a high-quality mold maker in China? Richfields Plastic has answers to all of your questions. Click here to view a list of their products and services. You may also contact them to request a quote or to find more information about mold making.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of china mold injector wholesaler. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.