Choosing a china sheet metal supplier is a process decision, not a price decision. The right supplier shows up in the drawings, the samples and the documents. Hebei Weizhi is our brand, established in 2023. It is backed by our Nanpi factory, producing since 1999. We have built 70,000+ different types of custom metal parts. This guide walks the order stage by stage. Each stage names the documents you should receive. Read it before your first RFQ, and the first call becomes a check, not a discovery.
Stage 1: RFQ and DFM
- You send: the drawing (STEP or DXF), quantity, material, target date.
- You receive: the quote, with the DFM notes marked on your drawing.
DFM is the design check before tooling. It flags bend radii, tolerances and nesting. The notes are suggestions; you accept what fits. A supplier who quotes without DFM is pricing a guess. Our drawing checklist is in the metal part drawing guide. That first email is the china sheet metal supplier relationship starting; read the notes line by line.
Stage 2: Sample
- You receive: a physical sample with a measurement note.
- You do: fit it, function it, mark the fixes.
- We freeze: the drawing version that the sample passed.
The sample is the cheapest inspection report you will buy. Our 72-hour program covers qualifying parts, with no sample charge. The full route comparison is in our sheet metal prototype guide. Do not skip it to save a week. You will spend the month paying for it.
Stage 3: Tooling and Commitment
- The die type and its functions, in writing.
- Ownership named in the contract: usually you.
- The tryout plan: article count and measured features.
- Payment split: a deposit, then the balance.
This stage decides the price you will live with for years. A one-page tooling schedule prevents most of the disputes we see later. It attaches to the contract, not to an email. Keep both, and keep them together.
Stage 4: Production and QC
- First articles measured against the frozen drawing.
- In-process sampling across the run, recorded.
- Final QC: dimensions, finish, count, packing.
- Photos and the report before the balance is due.
You should be able to see the numbers, not just the word “OK”. Our inspection flow and tools are on the quality control page. A remote buyer runs on paper. Good paper is the whole relationship.
Stage 5: Packing and Shipping
- The term: FOB, DDP or the one your broker names.
- The packing plan: layers, pallets, the photo set.
- The documents: invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificates.
- The date: committed in writing, per stage.
The term decides where your costs start and ours end. Our delivery and Incoterms page defines each one we quote. Packing is a quality step with a photo signature. Both belong in the same contract.
What to Ask at Every Stage
| Stage | Ask for | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| RFQ | DFM notes on the drawing | Price with no engineering view |
| Sample | Measurement note, not photos only | “It looks the same as the drawing” |
| Tooling | Ownership line in the contract | “Die included” with no terms |
| Production | FAI report before balance | Balance requested before the report |
| Shipping | Loading photos with the documents | No photo set, “trust us” |
Each ask takes one sentence. A china sheet metal supplier that answers all five in one day is the one worth the project. The supplier that dodges three is telling you about stages six through fifty.
When Volume Arrives
Your prototype may become a monthly order. That is the point where the process pays for itself. Stamping takes over from laser and bend. The die carries your part at several hundred pieces an hour. Our high-volume setup is explained in the high-volume stamping parts guide. Plan the break point in stage one, not in stage ten. The drawing that enters tooling should already know its volume.
Our Facts, In Writing
- Hebei Weizhi: the brand and export entity, established in 2023.
- Nanpi factory: producing metal parts since 1999.
- Nanpi, Hebei: China’s hardware manufacturing cluster.
- 70,000+ different types of custom metal parts built to date.
- ISO 9001:2015 at group level, with the certificate holder named on our certificates page.
Both facts are verifiable, and both sit on one page. The brand signs the contract; the factory runs the presses. That split is the dual-track model. It is what an honest china sheet metal supplier arrangement looks like. The numbers above are the same ones on our about page, every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start an order with a China sheet metal supplier?
Send the drawing, the quantity and the target date. You get the quote with DFM notes. The sample follows, then the contract. Five stages, one thread.
What documents do I get before paying?
The quote, the DFM notes, the tooling schedule and the sample report. The deposit unlocks material and tooling. The balance waits for QC photos and data.
Can you make small batches?
Yes. Small batches run on laser and bend, no die. Volume moves the route to stamping. The quote names the break point in writing.
How do I inspect parts before shipment?
Receive the FAI report, the in-process records and the final photos. We ship on your approval. A third-party inspection is welcome at our factory.
What if I only have a photo, no drawing?
Send the photo. We measure what is visible and name what is not. You get a drawing proposal before any price. The version number is frozen with you.
Start Your First RFQ
Send your drawing — the quote and DFM notes follow.
WhatsApp: +86 131 1007 5546 | Email: claire@hbweizhi.cn
Or contact us online.