Xiamen Huimei Trade And Industry Co., Ltd. has been specializing in sheet metal processing services for many years. The most frequently asked question from customers is: "How is the quotation calculated?". The price of sheet metal processing is determined by multiple factors. We have summarized the following key factors to help customers quickly understand the cost structure and find ways to save on their budget.
Material costs form the foundation of the quotation. Prices vary significantly depending on the material. For example:
Stainless steel is 4 times more expensive than ordinary carbon steel.
Aluminum prices are noticeably affected by fluctuations in the international market.
Material thickness directly impacts both usage and processing difficulty. For instance:
The material cost of a 3mm thick steel sheet could be over twice that of a 1mm thick sheet.
Huimei’s Recommendation:
To reduce costs, customers should confirm material requirements in advance and consider bulk purchasing.
Material Type:
Stainless Steel (e.g., 304, 316):
Pros: Excellent corrosion resistance, ideal for outdoor equipment.
Cons: Higher unit cost.
Aluminum (e.g., 6061, 5052):
Pros: Lightweight, suitable for electronic enclosures.
Cons: Prone to deformation during machining.
Cold-Rolled Steel:
Pros: Low cost, good for structural parts.
Cons: Requires anti-rust surface treatment.
Huimei offers free material selection advice to help customers avoid unnecessary costs from choosing unsuitable materials.
Sheet Thickness:
Thicker sheets (over 3mm):
Require higher-power cutting & bending equipment.
Longer processing time increases labor costs.
Tight tolerance requirements (e.g., ±0.05mm):
Raise material procurement costs due to stricter quality standards.
Order Quantity:
Bulk orders (500+ units):
Material unit price can drop by 8%-15%.
Small batches (non-stock materials):
May incur additional sheet allocation fees.
The more complex the process, the higher the labor and equipment costs. Xiamen Huimei Trade and Industry Co., Ltd. is equipped with laser cutting machines, CNC bending machines, and other advanced equipment capable of handling high-difficulty processes, but complex machining requires more time. Key Process Analysis:
Cutting Methods:
Laser Cutting:High precision (±0.1mm), suitable for complex shapes, but the hourly processing cost is 20% higher than stamping.
Waterjet Cutting:No thermal deformation, ideal for thick plates (e.g., over 20mm), but slower speed increases costs by 30%-50%.
Stamping:Suitable for large batches of simple shapes, with mold costs calculated separately.
Bending & Forming:
Single 90° bends offer the lowest cost. Multi-stage bending (e.g., U-channels) requires repeated mold adjustments, increasing labor time.
Custom shapes (e.g., curled edges) need tailored rollers. Xiamen Huimei recommends early design consultation to optimize production efficiency.
Surface Treatment:
Powder Coating:
Cost: Approximately 0.7-0.7-1.2 per square meter
Advantages: Wide color selection
Limitations: Moderate adhesion
Electroplating:
Advantages: Excellent wear resistance
Limitations: Strict environmental requirements
Anodizing (for aluminum):
Cost: Approximately 1.5-1.5-2.2 per kilogram
Advantages: Enhanced surface properties
Limitations: Requires strict color consistency control
Huimei's Recommendation:
Discuss your specific surface treatment needs with our engineers to balance cost and performance requirements.
Xiamen Huimei Trade and Industry Co., Ltd.'s technical team provides free design review services to help customers optimize designs for manufacturability.
Key Considerations:
Drawing Standards:
Preferred formats: DXF/CAD files (reduces communication errors)
Unclear annotations (e.g., missing bend radius specifications) may incur trial-and-error costs
Tolerance Requirements:
Standard tolerance (±0.5mm): regular pricing
Precision tolerance (±0.1mm or tighter):Requires CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine) inspection，Cost increase: 20%-30%
Cost Comparison:
|
Order Quantity |
Unit Cost (Example) |
Cost Reduction |
|
50 pcs |
$85/pc |
Baseline |
|
500 pcs |
$65/pc |
23.5% lower |
|
5,000 pcs |
$45/pc |
47% lower |
Delivery Time Impact
Standard Lead Time (15-45 days): No additional charges.
Rush Orders (within 7 days):30% expedited fee applies，Production line priority may be required
Mold Costs:
Simple stamping molds approximately 500-500-1500, costs can be distributed across multiple orders for long-term cooperative customers.
Packaging & Shipping:
Export wooden crate packaging about 50 RMB/crate, domestic standard carton packaging incurs no additional fees.
Advantages of Xiamen Huimei Trade & Industry Co., Ltd.
Cost Control Solutions:
Free DFM (Design for Manufacturing) analysis to optimize designs and reduce processing difficulty.
Long-term partners enjoy shared material inventory to reduce procurement lead time.
Technology:
In-house electroplating and spray painting workshops to avoid outsourcing markups.
Service Commitment:
Provide detailed quotations within 24 hours.
Unconditional rework for quality issues.
Appendix: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do quotes from different manufacturers vary by up to 100% for parts with identical dimensions?
A: Possible reasons:
① Use of secondary materials or non-standard thicknesses
② Exclusion of post-processing surface treatment costs
③ High defect rates due to immature manufacturing processes
Q: How to further reduce costs?
A: ① Standardize material thickness where possible
② Minimize bending operations
③ Place orders 3 months in advance to lock in material prices
