MOQ is a mould decision before it is a commercial one
A compression mould carries a fixed number of cavities. One cycle produces that many parts, and a run has to be long enough to amortise setup, material batching and inspection. That is why MOQ moves with the part rather than with the customer:
- Cavity count. A single-cavity mould for a large part needs many more cycles per hundred pieces than an eight-cavity mould for a small one.
- Material batch. Compound is ordered in batch; a run far below a batch leaves unused material that still has to be paid for.
- Colour. A custom colour adds a cleaning cycle between runs, so the minimum rises.
- Secondary operations. Printing, laser marking, assembly or individual bagging each add a setup.
- Packaging. Retail-ready packing is usually the largest fixed cost on a small order.
Because of this, we publish MOQ per listing rather than per category, and confirm it in the quotation once the part and packing are known. A supplier quoting one flat MOQ across an entire catalogue is usually quoting the listing, not the part.
What moves the unit price
| Variable | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|
| Part weight | Material is billed by weight; heavier parts cost more before any labour |
| Material grade | A platinum-cured compound for food or skin contact costs more than a general-purpose grade |
| Wall thickness and geometry | Thick sections and deep undercuts lengthen the cycle; cycle time is machine time |
| Tolerance | A tight tolerance may mean a slower cycle, extra trimming or a gauging step |
| Number of colours | Each colour is a separate run with cleaning in between |
| Secondary operations | Printing, assembly, individual packing |
| Order quantity | Fixed costs spread over more pieces, which is why quotes are tiered |
Why quotes are tiered
Tooling and setup are paid once; material and machine time are paid per piece. A tiered quote simply spreads the fixed part across different quantities. This is also why comparing two suppliers at different quantities tells you nothing — ask both for the same quantity, the same packing and the same delivery term.
What to send for a comparable quote
- A drawing or a 3D file, and a reference sample if you have one
- Material expectation: general purpose, food contact or skin contact
- Hardness, if the part is handled or seals against something
- Colour, and whether it must match a Pantone reference
- Packing: bulk carton, polybag, or retail-ready
- Target quantity, and whether that is a trial order or a forecast
- Delivery term: FOB, CIF, EXW or DDP, and the destination port
Tooling is a separate line
Ask for the mould cost on its own line, and ask who owns it. Paying for a mould should give you the mould, its maintenance history and a clear statement about where it is stored and whether it can be transferred. A lump-sum quote that hides tooling inside the unit price makes both the price and the exit unclear.