Silicone products, engineered for retail brands.

FAQ · 20 questions

What procurement teams ask before signing the PO.

Twenty questions from real RFP calls — MOQ economics, certifications, IP protection, lead times, FBA / chain logistics, and the engineering decisions inside a program.

• Which brands do you supply?

  We manufacture silicone products for retail brands, private-label programs, and industrial customers across many categories — most engagements are under mutual NDA. Out of respect for our customers we do not publish named brand references on this site; specific customer references can be shared under NDA during your RFP.

• Why is your MOQ 500 when other suppliers advertise MOQ 100?

  MOQ 500 is the volume at which we amortize a P20 hardened steel mold, run a dedicated press cycle, and issue per-batch FDA + LFGB test reports without operating at a loss. MOQ 100 in the wider market typically means order consolidation across buyers, tooling cost buried in 2-3× per-unit markup, or a soft prototype mold that degrades after 200 cycles.

• You don't have an SGS or Disney FAMA audit — should that disqualify you?

  Most customers find that more reassuring, not less. A generic third-party audit is a one-time snapshot; our customers audit the factory directly — we host roughly one customer audit per month. We provide ISO 9001, per-batch FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 and LFGB §30/31 reports, and a virtual factory walkthrough within 24 hours of request.

• Do you offer tooling-only or sample-only engagements?

  Yes. Tooling is quoted separately as a one-time line item ($1,200–$3,500 for single-cavity P20, $5,000–$15,000 for multi-cavity). We run 50–100 piece validation against the mold. Tooling cost is refundable against the first 5,000 production pieces.

• Is tooling cost refundable against production volume?

  Yes — refundable against the first 5,000 pieces from that mold as a credit against per-unit price (typically 5–10% off the first production run). After 5,000 pieces, tooling is fully amortized and per-unit pricing drops to volume tier.

• Do you provide PFAS-free documentation per production batch?

  Yes — non-detect PFAS reports from accredited third-party labs on every production batch where the program requires it. Silicone (PDMS) is intrinsically outside the 2025 EU PFAS definition; where processing aids, inks, or coatings could carry PFAS we document their substitution per batch.

• What categories do you already have tooling and process expertise for?

  Cumulative tooling and process expertise across kitchen and cookware (drying accessories, molds, drinkware, food covers), children's products (bibs, plates, snack cups), silicone accessories (sealing strips, O-rings, gaskets, tubing), pet products, home and lifestyle, consumer electronics accessories, healthcare-adjacent parts, and adult wellness. Programs that match existing capability sample in 7–15 days; new programs typically 18–25 days for tooling.

• Platinum-cured vs peroxide-cured silicone — which do you run?

  Both, by program. Default for premium and PFAS-conscious programs is platinum-cured (USP Class VI-compatible, no cure byproducts, no first-heat odor). Default for mid-tier programs is post-cured peroxide (PFAS-free process aids verified, 4–6 hour post-cure mandatory). Cure system is specified on the master-batch lot certificate for every batch.

• What is your defect rate and AQL standard?

  Pre-pack AQL 1.5 per ISO 2859-1, General Inspection Level II. Major defect rate <0.4% in 2024–2025 production; minor <1.2%. First-article batches receive 100% visual + dimensional inspection. Master-batch lot numbers tie every defect to the production cycle in our 36-month retention log.

• Can you produce single-piece silicone parts larger than 24 inches?

  Yes, up to about 45 inches diagonal in one piece on our largest presses. Beyond 45 inches we move to two-piece snap-together construction with the seam concealed under structural features. Press platen dimensions, not silicone chemistry, set the upper bound.

• How do you handle Pantone color matching across silicone and stainless?

  Silicone: master-batch mixed to Pantone TPX or TPG within ±0.5 ΔE. Stainless components: PVD coating or powder-coat applied before overmold, color-matched to the silicone master-batch. We cross-check the first-article sample under a D65 light box before approving production.

• What's your typical Shore A durometer range?

  Shore A 40–80 across our compression and LSR lines depending on the application. Soft mats, cushions, and children's bibs run 40–55. Food-contact accessories and drinkware run 50–65. Structural parts, grip sleeves, and gaskets run 60–75. Industrial seals, O-rings, and commercial-grade parts run 70–80. Durometer choice is engineering-led — we help match the number to the geometry, load, and use case.

• Can you handle multi-color or multi-SKU programs in one order?

  Yes — common for brand programs where each SKU pairs with a coordinated color (matte black, brushed-stainless grey, cinder grey, fireclay cream). We schedule color-grouped runs back-to-back to minimize purge waste. Per-SKU MOQ 500 still applies; the constraint is the press cycle per geometry, not the PO total.

• What ports do you ship from? FOB, EXW, or DDP?

  Default is FOB Yantian (90 min from factory). FOB Shekou and FOB Hong Kong available. EXW Dongguan for customers consolidating with other PRD suppliers. DDP to US (Amazon AWD direct drop or your 3PL) is supported through our forwarder network.

• Can you ship FBA-ready cartons direct to Amazon AWD?

  Yes. We barcode (UPC/EAN/FNSKU), apply Amazon-required suffocation warnings, palletize to Amazon TI/HI specs, and drop direct to AWD or your 3PL. For Tier 2 retail chain programs we run the equivalent: chain RTI carton dimensions, peg-hook hangtag formats, per-chain barcode symbology.

• What's your real lead time from RFP to first article in the box?

  Existing mold: 7–10 days from RFP-signed to first article at your office. New P20 mold: 18–25 days. The bottleneck is mold cutting (7–8 days) and CAD sign-off rounds (2–3 rounds at 24–48 hrs). After first-article approval, mass production runs 30–45 days plus 25–35 days sea freight to US/EU.

• Do you sign NDAs before CAD or sample work?

  Standard — mutual NDA before any CAD work begins. We host the customer's spec under controlled access in our engineering system, segregate the mold in customer-only mold storage, and retain master-batch lot records for 36 months. Counter-NDA reciprocity is the default.

• How do you protect customer IP — molds, designs, and brand marks?

  Three layers. (1) Molds physically segregated in customer-only storage racks, labeled by program code only. (2) CAD hosted in access-controlled engineering systems — not on the press floor, not in a shared cloud folder. (3) Brand-marked product ships only to that brand's designated freight forwarder. Mid-program design changes require written approval and we re-tool rather than overwrite the original cavity.

• What if the first article fails inspection — who pays for re-tooling?

  Depends on the failure mode. If the mold cut is out-of-spec versus the signed CAD, we re-cut at our cost. If the CAD was right but the customer spec was incomplete, re-tooling is quoted as a change order (typically 30–60% of original tooling). Minor cavity adjustments run 3–5 days at our cost.

• Are you PFAS-safe under the 2026 EU regulations?

  Yes. Under the October 2025 EU PFAS proposal, silicone (PDMS backbone, no C-F bonds) is outside the PFAS definition. Where processing aids, inks, or release agents could carry PFAS, we document their substitution per batch. For the EU FCM ban effective 12 Aug 2026, our compliance documentation is ready today.