Frequently asked questions
Table of contents
Company information
Why should we use you? Are you not just a broker?
We get this question a lot. The answer is no, we are not a broker. Instead, we are a long-term partner deeply integrated into our customers’ supply chain.
This means that we not only provide your parts. We also manage procurement, production planning, quality control, shipping, and storage.
We are a full supply chain service, offering competitive pricing, outstanding quality, and smooth logistics.
What’s your area of expertise?
We specialize in serving leaders in niche industries. Our customers often manufacture high-end products.
That usually means complex parts and fine surfaces. We deliver those parts that are hard to do. And we ensure that the quality is perfect because that’s what our customers require.
Do you keep stock locally?
Yes, we do keep stock locally. We have multiple warehouses in the EU and keep VMIs for our customers when needed.
Are you certified ISO 9001?
Yes. Download our certificate here.
Sourcing from Asia and suppliers
Is the delivery time not long? Coming all the way from Asia.
Although having to ship the products far, delivery times are not an issue. That’s because we take our precautions:
We have storage capacity in the EU and keep VMIs for our customers when needed. We can ask multiple suppliers and are not dependent on a single supplier’s capacity.
And thirdly, we can ship with air freight, giving you a transit of maximum a week.
Sorry, we are not interested in your services. Our company regulations state that we cannot source from China.
It’s no problem. We understand that many companies are reluctant to source from China. And we want to spread out the risk as well.
That’s why our supplier network is based in more than one country. Our suppliers are in Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and China.
Do you ship directly from Asia?
That depends on your needs. For some customers we ship directly. For others we keep stock in the EU.
Are your suppliers certified ISO 9001?
Many of our suppliers are certified ISO 9001. We keep track of supplier certificates, expiry dates, and recertifications.
We've never imported from Asia before. How does it work with taxes, VAT, customs clearance etc.?
We’ll handle the administrative part. Actually, it’s a central part of our setup. We provide a seamless transfer by delivering as a local supplier.
Won't it be complicated and expensive with the new CBAM regulations?
Don’t worry. We will take care of it all.
The manufacturing setup
What production machines do you have access to?
CNC machines, turning, casting, extrusion – you name it. We have an extensive network of manufacturers with the newest manufacturing technology.
For further information on our capabilities, have a look at our manufacturing solutions here.
Our new product is going to be a success, I’m sure of it. How scalable is your setup?
Congratulations! It’s always a pleasure to see our customers thrive.
We have a very flexible setup that allows our customers to follow their market demands.
One of our customers recently had great success. To meet the customer needs it was necessary to have 20 CNC machines running simultaneously in the end. Find the customer story here.
What quantities can you manufacture?
We manufacture any order size you need. From small batches to big-scale production.
Does the manufacturing happen in orderly conditions?
Yes. We regularly audit our suppliers to ensure that they follow our code of conduct.
It’s understandable that you ask the question though. You’ve probably heard many horror stories about production plants in Asia. These stories are true but not for all manufacturing sites.
All the more reason to carefully select suppliers and audit them both before and during doing business with them.
Do you provide assembly?
Yes, we have an in-house assembly team. The team does both mechanical and electronic assemblies of all complexities.
Quality control and auditing
How can we be sure to get good quality? My uncle knows someone who once sourced from Asia. That only went well the first time.
It sounds like your uncle’s friend didn’t do his research properly. It’s a common misconception that all products from Asia are bad quality.
If you have the right suppliers and experience in how to talk to them about quality, it’s not an issue.
We select our suppliers carefully and do our own quality control. That’s how you can be sure to get good quality.
What certificates do you have?
We have ISO 9001 and IPC-A-610. Amongst our suppliers, you’ll find ISO 9001, ISO 14001, IATF 16949, ISO 13485, and ISO 45001:2018.
How do you manage quality control?
Delivering high quality is important to us. That’s why our QC management system is developed according to our many years of experience and our customers’ needs.
Take a look at this case on how we collaborate with a customer to improve the quality.
We’ve implemented the 5S principles in our assembly service and keep training our quality control team.
We are required to do our own audits. Is it possible to visit your suppliers?
Yes, it’s no problem. Just let us know and we’ll arrange for you to visit. Feel free to contact us here.
PVD
What colors can we get?
PVD is a versatile method that offers a wide range of colors. Gold, silver, black, purple, and green are just some of them.
You can have a look in our color catalog for inspiration. Get in contact here.
Does a matt PVD surface require varnish?
No. The matt quality comes from the pre-treatment. Firstly, the surface is polished.
It is then sandblasted, which creates a rough texture that doesn’t reflect light sharply. Lastly, the PVD coating is applied, giving the desired color and finish.
Is PVD scratch-resistant?
It depends. There are two types of PVD: (1) Functional PVD is scratch-resistant. (2) Decorative PVD is not.
Do we need chrome plating?
It depends on the material. PVD can be applied directly to stainless steel and titanium. For other materials, chrome is used as a primer or intermediate layer.
Is PVD possible on glass?
Yes, we have a supplier that does PVD on glass.
What is the layer thickness?
Generally, 2.0-5.0 μm for functional PVD and 0.2-0.5 μm for decorative PVD.
Can PVD be used on all metals?
With proper preparation, decorative PVD can be used on most metals. Functional PVD is a bit trickier.
This is because of high temperatures. The part will be exposed to 400-500 °C. For some metals, you’ll risk deformation at these temperatures. Functional PVD is better suited for stainless steel and brass.
Which casting method should I use?
High-volume – complex shapes
Die casting offers low unit prices but carries high tooling costs.
Great if you need higher volumes, but it would be expensive at lower quantities.
Low-volume casting – simple parts with smooth surface
Gravity casting is a cost-effective method to manufacture smaller quantities.
Note, that if your tolerances are very tight, you should use another method.
Low-volume – larger parts
Sand casting offers a low tooling cost. This means that it’s easier to change design.
A disadvantage of this method is that the surface is relatively rough and secondary processing can be necessary.
Low-volume – small intricate parts
With lost wax casting you get net to near-net precision parts.
This method is more expensive in tooling but produces a part with an excellent surface.
