Many purchasing professionals out there are unaware of essential component information that a rubber manufacturer needs for quoting in their rubber project. If they fail to provide the required information, there could be delays in quote generation or issues before the production phase actually begins. Excessive requirements can drive up the cost of a rubber project. However, it is essential for purchasing professionals to lay down all their requirements so that they can get an accurate quote.
The basic information required by rubber manufacturers to quote a rubber project includes:
The material that’s required should be specifically stated. Simply saying “rubber’ isn’t enough as there are many varieties of rubber; synthetic rubber, silicone, natural rubber etc. Moreover, level of hardness ranges from medium, soft, hard to foam and sponge. The right choice for the purchaser depends on the requirements of their application. Hardness specification should be included when listing the required material. If the customer is unsure, they can consult the experts to figure out what rubber would best serve their needs.
A typical material request could be “EPDM Rubber 60 +/- 10 Shore A”. Notice that the type of material required is specified as “EPDM Rubber” and thus, the manufacturer won’t mistake it for other materials. The hardness required is also stipulated to be between the range of 50 and 70 as per the Shore A scale of measurement.
Engineering drawings may be provided as 2D or 3D print/data file. It is best to provide both 2D drawing and 3D drawing files to the rubber manufacturer to get an accurate quote. The professional drawing should also clearly state the requirements of the part. The color, material, tolerances, test standards and all other important characteristics should be identified in the drawing.
Sometimes purchasers – despite providing all the required information – receive a “no quote” from rubber manufacturers on their project. Why does this happen? The purchaser should ask the manufacturer about this. The company’s estimator should be able to answer why their project wasn’t quoted. Most rubber manufacturers aren’t able to quote the project because of broken drawing files or missing information. The most common reason we would “no-quote” a request is because it calls for a material or process that we do not offer.
Purchasing professionals sometimes receive a higher quote than they have estimated for their project. In that case, they should get a quote from multiple rubber manufacturers to determine whether their project was rightly priced. If the majority of manufacturers are giving a quote that’s high, it means that their project is more complicated and requires more work than they thought. In that case, purchasing professionals should ask their engineers to review all the specifications of the project to see if they can compromise on material brands or any other requirement.
If you’re looking for quality rubber products that fit your specific needs, contact Sperry Rice today to discuss what you’re looking for.
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Sperry & Rice LLC has been in the rubber & sponge business since the 1940s. We are proud to offer innovative engineering solutions, advanced manufacturing processes, and comprehensive quality controls to produce precision rubber and cellular components.
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