Yesterday one client of mine visited for plain walled crate molds with height interchangeable. After showed him around and yes, we came the situation of mold cost discussion. And this time conversation, I strongly sure still there are many clients don’t know Huangyan mold, Huangyan mold making much, even they bought Huangyan molds before. So here, I would like to share some tips, hope may helpful for my clients also friends more or less.
See, the key is mold cost, so how many factors may influence it? Should be the steel use, CNC machining, which is the most important items.
My client shared me other mold maker’s offer: 600*400*125mm dimension for example, USD13,500 only with P20H steel. This mold weight will be over 5000kg, P20H China cost 12RMB per kg, so only raw material cost 5000kg * 12RMB/kg=USD9,230. No any heat treatment, no any machining, only raw steel reach about USD10,000. How possible to have such mold with USD13,500.
Some professional client may say, but it is cost for the mold with complete P20H, in fact will not. Ok then, we do the re-calculation: P20H cost for core / cavity 3000kg * 12RMB/kg, 45C cost for mold base 2500kg * 6RMB/kg, still raw steel needs around USD8,000. Here in Huangyan, most mold makers are cheating in steel, especially big molds! USD13,500, I’m sure they will not use real P20.
The next CNC machining. Client thought CNC cost same for all mold makers. Definitely no! Tooling machine also has different level. In additionally, the knife use, manual operation, environment management all may influence the mold precision. For example the knife, which is very easy to be worn due to cutting the steel. In Huangyan mostly they use only 30RMB one piece of knife, neither machine no automatic tool magazine, need manual hand to change knives. While we use 180RMB each piece, and equipped with auto tool magazine to ensure precision!
Also mold spare parts use, mold construction design differs, etc.
If you pay attention to have molds durable and easy maintenance, please feel free to contact with me. I’m sincerely here at your proposal.
Lucia
lucia@yueyimold.com