How to Vet a Chinese Injection Mold Factory Before You Pay
A due-diligence guide for overseas buyers evaluating a Chinese injection mold factory before sending drawings or paying tooling deposits.
Direct answer: vet a Chinese mold factory in six steps: verify the legal entity and physical plant, test engineering through DFM review, force written quotation assumptions, examine the sample approval process, check reference projects in your industry and structure payment by milestones.
1. Verify the company and the real factory
Ask for the business license, legal entity name, bank account name and physical factory address. The company on the contract, invoice and payment instructions should match. Then request recent shop-floor photos or a live video showing mold machining, injection machines and inspection areas.
2. Test engineering before discussing price
A real mold maker should ask about wall thickness, draft, gates, parting line, ejection, material, tolerances, cosmetic surfaces and assembly function. An instant quote with no questions may be useful as a rough budget, but it is not a reviewed manufacturing plan.
3. Make quotation assumptions written
| Assumption | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Runner system | Hot runner can add 30–60% tooling cost but reduce material waste. |
| Steel grade | P20, 718H, S136 and NAK80 imply different tool life and surface capability. |
| Cavity count | Affects output, balance, cycle time and unit price. |
| Inspection plan | Determines what is measured, how and at which milestone. |
4. Check their T0/T1 sample process
Serious tooling projects should include sample inspection reports, dimensional records, appearance review and clear correction priorities. Functional failures, dimensional issues and cosmetic preferences should not be mixed into one vague feedback list.
5. Ask for relevant project references
Do not judge only by public review count. Most B2B mold buyers never post reviews. Ask for anonymized projects in similar industries: automotive, medical, electronics, industrial or consumer products.
6. Structure payment to protect both sides
Milestone payment is normal: deposit, T0/T1 progress, production or shipment. Avoid 100% upfront unless the project is very small or there is strong existing trust.
FAQ
Is it normal for a factory to ask many questions before quoting?
Yes. Detailed questions are usually a positive signal because the factory is pricing your actual project, not a guess.
What is the biggest red flag?
A very fast quote with no DFM questions, unclear legal entity, stock workshop images and no written assumptions.
Send drawings for a practical factory review.
Share CAD files, material targets, quantities and cosmetic requirements. Our team can review moldability, tooling risks, quotation scope and production evidence before commitment.
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