There are many manufacturers offering aluminum die casting services out there but not all of them are worth your money or time. You want to hire a reputable company that delivers high-quality work, adheres to service level agreements, and also quotes a reasonable price. Try these tried and tested B2B strategies to find aluminum die casting manufacturers for your needs.
Direct Contact
You can find a good company through direct contact, either through a visit contact via phone or email. A discovery visit or call can tell you a lot about the company you are thinking of hiring based on what you observe and how they respond to your questions. You can also find out if they have the right equipment and resources to meet your needs through direct contact before you engage their services.
Ask for Samples or Demo Products
One way to know if an aluminum die casting company can meet your needs is by asking for samples or demo products. Most will be willing to share their work so the client can determine their quality standards and technical expertise. If they don’t provide free samples, you can also order a real aluminum die-cast product and use it to determine if they meet your needs and quality standards.
Ask for A Referral
Traditional referrals are always the best when it comes to business-to-business deals such as hiring an aluminum die casting company or ordering finished aluminum die cast products. Referrals can be found in your professional network or from other company B2B procurement executives in your industry. Online B2B referrals have also become a popular method to get information about manufacturers but you need to verify who is making the referral and what they stand to gain from it.
Online Search
Good or reputable aluminum die casting manufacturers must have an online presence and good ratings on third-party company reviews portals like Google My Business and Yelp. These are the best places to find and hire good aluminum die casting manufacturers. However, don’t rely on online reviews alone because you may miss out on relatively new but good aluminum die casting manufacturers or those in non-English speaking countries.
You can also browse the aluminum die casting manufacturers’ website to get a feel of what they have to offer, their operational capacity and other aspects that may help you make that purchase decision. Generally, most good manufacturers have this information presented on their home page or service pages and are willing to provide more upon request.
When researching the company, find answers to the following questions:
- What services does the aluminum die casting company offer and do they meet my needs?
- Die casting methods employed
- What is their operational capacity and can they meet my needs?
- How long have they been in operation?
- Where are they located?
- What do they have in the portfolio?
- Do they have any client testimonials?
Generally, many manufacturers want to have as much information on their website and blog as possible as it is likely the first point of contact with their customers. However, use good judgment, do your due diligence, and try and speak to a person in the company before you initiate a business transaction even if you are ordering one or a few custom aluminum products.
Attend Trade Shows and Conferences on Aluminum
Trade shows and conferences are great places to identify or meet company representatives of organizations in the aluminum value chain. You can also use the opportunity to see what the aluminum Die casting manufacturers have to offer; their methods and capacity and what kind of innovation is in the pipeline in aluminum value addition.
One thing to be aware of when it comes to trade shows and conferences is the location and who is attending. Generally, you may want to prioritize trade shows and conferences in your desired location, like say, attending trade shows in China if you plan to source your aluminum products from China. Of course, international manufacturers often appear in international trade shows but these are usually the big ones.
Trade Organizations and Professional Associations
You can also find information about aluminum Die casting manufacturers from trade organizations in your industry. For instance, look for referrals or testimonials for the car parts manufacturing association if you are in that industry. It’s advisable to seek a second opinion or guidance from experts in these associations before you decide to work with a company. They can also guide important aspects of the deal like quality standards, regulatory environment, pricing, material suppliers, logistics, etc.
Selecting Your Aluminum Die Casting Company
Identifying die cast manufacturers with any or all of the above methods is the beginning of identifying a reliable partner for your business. In most cases, you will find a dozen or more viable manufacturers and may need to dig deeper to find one that meets your requirements and can deliver.
A Portfolio or list of capabilities and projects can help you determine if a die cast manufacturer can deliver. Most manufacturers publish their portfolio on their website or can send you material showing the kind of work they have done and their capabilities. Go over this information and see if they can deliver based on your requirements. Some things to look for in their portfolio include:
- Operational capacity
- Types of aluminum alloys they work with
- Aluminum die casting methods
- Availability of inputs- raw materials, labor, etc.
- Product Showcase
- Technical capacity, etc.
In addition to the portfolio, also do your due diligence on important aspects of the company such as years of operation, management, track record, pricing structure, etc.
All in all, hiring an external die casting company can be more cost-effective than setting up your die casting operation. There are plenty of ways to find good Die casting manufacturers to work with and equally many ways to determine if they can meet your needs.
Sunrise Metal offers precision aluminum die casting and machining, providing the best quality and cost-effective manufacturing solutions.