Injection Molding Machine Supplier Evaluation Checklist

Start your evaluation by verifying the supplier's manufacturing history, production volume, and market presence. Established thin-wall injection molding machine manufacturers should have a minimum 10-year track record with verifiable installations across multiple countries. Request the total number of machines delivered, geographic distribution of customers, and year-over-year growth figures. Check if the supplier manufactures core components in-house, including hydraulic systems, platens, and control systems, or assembles from third-party components. In-house manufacturing indicates deeper technical capability and better quality control. HWAMDA operates its own foundry and machining center, producing platens and critical components internally. Verify business registration, export licenses, and financial stability through credit reports or bank references. Membership in industry associations such as Euromap or China Plastics Machinery Industry Association indicates legitimate market participation.

Verify the supplier holds ISO 9001:2015 certification at minimum, and request a copy of the certificate for validation. Beyond certification, evaluate actual quality control processes during factory visits. Inspect incoming material testing procedures for steel, hydraulic components, and electrical parts. Check dimensional inspection equipment, including coordinate measuring machines (CMM) for platen flatness verification and laser alignment tools for tie bar parallelism. Ask about their testing protocol before shipment. HWAMDA performs full dry-cycle testing, injection parameter verification, and 48-hour continuous running tests on every machine before shipping. CE marking compliance is mandatory for European markets and demonstrates adherence to machinery safety directives. For food packaging applications, the machine's hydraulic system should offer food-grade hydraulic oil options to prevent contamination risk. Document all certifications, test reports, and quality records for side-by-side comparison across suppliers.

After-sales service capability often determines long-term satisfaction more than initial machine performance. Evaluate the supplier's service infrastructure by examining their number of service engineers, geographic coverage, and guaranteed response times. Remote diagnostic support should be available within 4 hours during business hours, while on-site service deployment should occur within 48-72 hours for critical issues. Verify spare parts availability and delivery times for critical components such as hydraulic pumps, servo drives, and barrel assemblies. A well-prepared supplier maintains regional spare parts warehouses or guarantees air freight delivery within 5-7 days for urgent parts. HWAMDA maintains spare parts inventory for all SPV5 series components and offers online remote diagnostic support through the machine's PLC interface. Check if the supplier provides ongoing technical training, software updates, and process optimization support beyond the initial warranty period.

Review commercial terms carefully before finalizing your supplier selection. Standard warranty for thin-wall injection molding machines should cover 12-18 months from commissioning or 18-24 months from shipment date. HWAMDA provides comprehensive warranty covering all mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical components with free replacement of defective parts. Negotiate performance guarantees tied to specific metrics including cycle time, energy consumption per shot, and machine availability percentage. Include penalty clauses for late delivery and provisions for factory acceptance testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT). Payment terms typically follow a milestone structure: 30% deposit, 60% before shipment after factory inspection, and 10% after successful commissioning. Letter of credit (LC) payment through major banks provides security for both parties. Ensure the contract specifies training scope, commissioning duration, and documentation deliverables including operation manuals and electrical schematics.