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Are you looking for a reliable, high-quality plastic injection molding company in China? There are lots of injection moulding companies in China. However, finding the right custom plastic molding factory is difficult, especially if you are new to the industry. In this article, we will guide you through finding good plastic injection molding services in China.
The Plastic Injection Molding Industry in China
China boasts one of the largest plastic injection molding industries in the world. Key regions such as Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui host a significant number of manufacturers. These companies export a large amount of injection molds and plastic parts all over the world.
Despite challenges such as increasing labor costs, stricter environmental regulations, and growing competition from other countries, the Chinese injection molding industry continues to thrive. Manufacturers are addressing these obstacles through innovation, improved efficiency, and strong collaboration, maintaining China’s position as a global leader in the industry.
China’s injection molding industry still provides great opportunities for businesses seeking to produce high-quality parts at a competitive price point.
Identifying Your Requirements For The Plastic Injection Moulding Project
Before you start searching for a supplier, clearly define your project requirements:
Product Specifications: Identify the plastic material, tolerance, surface finish, and special features or functions needed.
Production Volume and MOQ: Prototype, low-volume, or mass production. Share your Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) expectations and total part quantity. Injection molders will provide you with the best tooling and injection molding solution.
Compliance Standards: Certifications such as ISO 9001, IATF 16949 (automotive), or ISO13485 (medical).
Budget: If your target price for your injection molding project is low, tell the injection molder your price directly. They will find a way to meet your price.
Lead Time: Desired turnaround for samples and final production.
Researching Injection Molders in China
Search Engines: Use search engines like Google, Yahoo, or Bing to find plastic injection molding companies in China.
Online Directories: Use online directories such as Global Sources, Made in China or Linkedin to search for plastic injection molding companies in China. These directories allow you to filter your search by location, company size and industry focus.
Trade Shows: Attend events like Chinaplas to meet potential suppliers and learn about the latest industry trends. Industry
Associations: Contact the China Plastics Processing Industry Association for recommendations and insights.
Company Websites: Visit manufacturers’ websites to evaluate their capabilities, certifications, and customer feedback. Look for customer comments and case studies to get an idea of their performance and quality.
Requesting Quotes and Evaluating Suppliers
Once you’ve identified potential suppliers, request quotes and evaluate them based on the following:
Technical Communication: Shortlist suppliers who provide detailed and clear responses to your requirements.
Quotation Comparison: Review pricing, lead times, and included services to determine the best fit.
Factory Visits and On-Site Evaluations
A factory visit can provide valuable insights into a supplier’s operations. Focus on these key factors:
Quality Control: Review procedures for incoming material inspection, in-process checks, and final product inspections. Pay attention to how the company handles rejected parts, how they track defects, and how they ensure consistency in production.
Equipment and Technology: Observe the company’s injection molding machines and other equipment to ensure that they are modern and well-maintained. Inquire about the company’s technological capabilities, such as their CAD/CAM software and automation systems.
Facility Conditions: Assess the adherence to 5S principles to ensure a clean and organized facility.
Manufacturing Processes: Observe the company’s manufacturing processes to ensure that they are efficient and effective. Pay attention to how the company manages inventory, how they handle tooling, and how they manage production schedules.
Workforce and Management: Ensure the workforce is skilled and experienced, and inquire about training programs.
Communication and Customer Service
More and more Chinese injection molding companies can speak good English now. They are able to provide exceptional customer service and communication from the initial RFQ to the final delivery.
Quality Control
Incoming Material Inspection: Inspection of raw materials such as plastic resin, colorants, and additives to ensure they meet the required specifications.
In-process Inspection: Inspection of the injection molding process to ensure that the parts being produced meet the required quality standards. This may include dimensional measurements and surface finish inspections.
Final Inspection: Inspection of the finished injection molded parts to ensure that they meet the required quality standards before shipment. This may include visual inspections, dimensional measurements, and functional testing.
Intellectual Property Protection
You must sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before sending out the request for quotation. It’s important to work with a reputable company that respects and safeguards their customers’ intellectual property rights.
Tooling and Plastic Molding Production Capacity
The following factors can impact the production capacity and efficiency of an plastic injection molding company:
Injection molding machines and Automation Equipment:
- The number and types of machines
- Clamping force, injection pressure, and shot size
- Having a robot and auto feeding system to reduce labor costs
Plastic and Mold Engineering:
- In-house 3D printing or CNC machining on the plastic prototypes to check the part function and assembly
- Mold design optimization to short the cycle times
In-house tooling manufacturing:
- Provides more control, faster turnaround times, and greater flexibility in responding to client requests
- Reduces risks of delays or quality issues from external suppliers
- Allows for optimization of tooling design for efficient and cost-effective production
Workforce:
The size and skill level of the workforce can affect the ability to manage multiple projects and meet production demands
Raw materials:
The availability of plastic resin and colorants can impact the ability to produce parts in large volumes
Quality control measures:
The level of measures implemented can affect the ability to produce high-quality parts consistently and efficiently.
Pricing and Lead Times
Price is a critical factor in selecting a supplier. Compare quotes and ask about design optimizations to reduce costs. Lead times depend on:
Part complexity
Tooling manufacturing
Production volume
Availability of raw materials and colors
Payment Terms
The payment for tooling is typically divided into three installments. 40% with the purchase order, 30% after the first mold test, and the remaining 30% after confirming the samples.
The payment for plastic parts is typically divided into two installments. 50% with the purchase order and the remaining 50% before delivery of the parts.
The payment terms is negotiable in all injection molding companies.
Stebro Mold is a full service injection molding company located in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China. We export high-quality injection molds and plastic parts mainly to the north Amerian and Europe. Our services including 3D part design, CNC prototype, mold design, moldflow analysis, quality mold manufacturing, injection molding and part assembly.
We are equipped to take your part from concept to consumer. Contact our knowledgeable design engineers, tooling and production experts to help you get started on your next project.