Dongying (Suzhou Dongying Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.) is a mold maker and injection molder in Suzhou, China. Projects run in one of two delivery modes: the mold is handed over to the customer or the customer's chosen molder, or Dongying holds the mold and supplies molded parts. The checklist below applies to the first mode, and to any later move of a mold that started in the second.
What a mold transfer checklist should cover
Short answer: a complete checklist covers five areas, namely ownership and scope, documentation, physical condition, fit to the receiving press, and packing and re-qualification.
Plastics Technology describes tool transfer as a staged process: disclosure of existing documents, conversion of those documents at the new molder, tool evaluation, a validation sample run and a formal qualification step (Plastics Technology). The same logic works for an export move, with two extra concerns: the mold crosses a border, and the receiving plant may use different machines, connectors and utilities.
| Stage | Main question | Owner (agree in writing) |
|---|---|---|
| Before shipment | Is everything that belongs to the mold identified and recorded? | Mold maker and buyer |
| At the last run | Does the mold still make approved parts, and is there proof? | Current molder |
| Machine fit | Will the mold mount, connect and run on the target press? | Buyer and receiving molder |
| Packing and transport | Who packs, insures and carries the risk in transit? | Seller and buyer per the trade term |
| Arrival | Did it arrive complete and undamaged, and do parts match the reference? | Receiving molder and buyer |
Settle ownership, scope and trade terms first
Short answer: confirm who owns the mold, what exactly is included and which trade term applies before any packing starts, because these points decide every later responsibility.
Write down which items are part of the handover: the mold itself, spare inserts and wear parts, electrodes if agreed, the hot-runner controller if it belongs to the mold, gauges and fixtures, and end-of-arm tooling. Our tooling and supply scope page lists the points we agree with customers at the start of a project, including mold documentation, packing, transport and maintenance owners.
For shipping, the ICC's Incoterms 2020 rules define where delivery happens and how costs and transit risk are split between seller and buyer (ICC). They do not settle who owns the mold, so keep proof of ownership, such as the paid tooling invoice and purchase order, separate from the shipping terms.
Documentation to hand over with the mold
Short answer: the receiving plant needs the mold design, the approved part definition, the last validated process and the mold's history, because it cannot rebuild these from the steel.
| Item | What to hand over | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Part definition | Released drawing and 3D model at the current revision, plus any approved deviations | The new molder must know which revision the mold makes |
| Mold design | Mold assembly drawing, 3D mold data as agreed, cavity and insert layout | Needed for repair and spare parts |
| Mold bill of materials | Steels, standard components, hot-runner make and model, purchased parts | Allows ordering of matching spares |
| Cooling layout | Circuit diagram with inlet and outlet marks | Wrong hook-up changes part dimensions |
| Hot-runner data | Zone map, wiring and thermocouple type, controller settings | Avoids damaged heaters and mixed zones |
| Process record | Last approved setup sheet and the press it was run on | Starting point, not a final recipe |
| Quality records | Sample inspection reports, approved reference parts, cosmetic limit samples | Defines what "good" looks like |
| Mold history | Maintenance log, repairs, modifications, known issues | Prevents repeating old problems |
Revision control deserves extra care. If the drawing changed during sampling, make sure the mold, the drawing and the reference parts all match the same revision; see how we handle drawings and revisions.
Check the mold's condition before it leaves
Short answer: run the mold, record its condition with photos and a written report, and keep labeled last-shot parts, so that any damage or change found later can be traced.
Keep the last shots from each cavity, labeled with date and cavity number, and agree how many go with the mold and how many stay with the buyer. The checklist for the physical inspection usually includes:
- Cavity and core surfaces, texture and polish, with photos of critical areas.
- Parting line, vents and shut-offs for wear or damage.
- Ejector pins, lifters and slides moving without binding, with no missing parts.
- Cooling circuits flowing and leak-tested; water fully drained afterwards.
- Hot-runner zones heating correctly, with every connector and nozzle tip present.
- Spare parts counted against the mold bill of materials.
For inserted parts, such as busbar insert molding projects, also hand over the insert drawings and how inserts are loaded, since the new plant may load them in a different way.
Confirm the mold fits the receiving press
Short answer: compare the mold's mounting, ejection, cooling and electrical interfaces with the target machine before shipment, because a mismatch found on arrival stops production.
Ask the receiving molder for the press data sheet and compare it with the mold: clamp force and shot size, platen and tie-bar space, mold height range, opening stroke, locating ring and nozzle radius, ejector pattern and coupling, and clamping method. EUROMAP publishes technical guidelines for mold fixing and connection dimensions (EUROMAP 2) and for the electrical interfaces of core pullers and hot runners (EUROMAP 13 and 14), which give both sides a shared reference (EUROMAP). Many plants use their own standards, so check each point.
Utilities need the same review: water fitting types and thread standards, hydraulic couplings for core pulls, the hot-runner connector type and pin assignment, and whether the controller voltage matches local supply.
Pack and ship the mold safely
Short answer: dry and protect the mold, fix all loose parts, use compliant packing and match insurance to the agreed trade term.
- Blow out and dry every water circuit, then apply rust preventive to steel surfaces as agreed.
- Close the mold with its safety strap or latch plate and protect exposed fittings and connectors.
- Pack spares, documents and last-shot parts in labeled boxes listed on the packing list.
- If the crate or pallet is wood, it should meet ISPM 15, the international standard for wood packaging, to avoid problems at destination customs (IPPC).
- Arrange insurance by the party that carries transit risk under the agreed Incoterms rule.
Receive, inspect and re-qualify
Short answer: treat the transferred mold as a new start at the receiving plant, with an arrival check, a trial run and part approval against the reference samples.
On arrival, compare the mold and spares with the pre-shipment report and photos before the mold goes into a press. The receiving molder then develops its own process on its own machine, using the old setup sheet only as a starting point. Parts from the trial are measured and compared with the approved reference parts and drawing. Automotive programs often require a new part approval under the AIAG Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) after a change of production site; agree with your customer which elements apply (AIAG). Our page on inspection and approval explains how sample review is set up on our side.
Before you request a mold quote
Short answer: say early whether the mold will be handed over and where it will run, so that the design, documents and packing can be planned for that plant.
Tell the mold maker the target press, the receiving molder's interface standards, the documents you expect at handover and who packs and ships. The SPI mold classes in the PLASTICS guide "Customs and Practices of the Moldmaking Industry" are a useful shared language for expected mold life and build level (PLASTICS). Read more about our mold making or send your drawing.
FAQ
What is a mold transfer checklist?
A mold transfer checklist is a structured list of what must be verified and handed over when an injection mold moves from one plant to another. It usually covers ownership and scope, mold and part documentation, the mold's physical condition, fit to the receiving press, packing and shipping, and re-qualification at the new site. Using one checklist on both sides makes missing items visible before the mold ships.
Which documents should come with a transferred injection mold?
The core documents are the released part drawing and 3D model at the current revision, the mold assembly drawing, the mold bill of materials, the cooling circuit diagram, hot-runner zone map and wiring, the last approved setup sheet, sample inspection reports and the maintenance log. Approved reference parts and cosmetic limit samples should travel with the documents, because they define what an acceptable part looks like.
Do Incoterms decide who owns the mold?
No. The ICC Incoterms 2020 rules set where delivery takes place and how transport costs and transit risk are split between seller and buyer. They do not deal with transfer of ownership. Keep ownership evidence, such as the paid tooling invoice, the purchase order and any tooling agreement, separate from the shipping term, and state clearly which spares, gauges and controllers belong to the mold.
How do I check that a mold will fit an overseas press?
Compare the mold data with the receiving press data sheet before shipment: clamp force, shot size, tie-bar space, mold height range, opening stroke, locating ring, nozzle radius, ejector pattern and clamping method. Then check utilities, including water fittings, hydraulic couplings, hot-runner connectors and controller voltage. EUROMAP guidelines on mold fixing and electrical interfaces give a shared reference, but local plant standards may differ.
How should an injection mold be packed for export?
Drain and dry every cooling circuit, apply rust preventive to steel surfaces, close the mold with its safety strap and protect exposed fittings and connectors. Pack spares, documents and last-shot parts in labeled boxes listed on the packing list. Wooden crates and pallets should meet the IPPC ISPM 15 standard for wood packaging, and insurance should be arranged by the party carrying transit risk.
Does a transferred mold need new part approval?
In most cases, yes. The receiving plant runs the mold on a different press with different auxiliaries, so its process has to be developed again and parts checked against the drawing and approved reference samples. Automotive programs often require a new submission under the AIAG Production Part Approval Process after a change of production site. Agree the approval steps with your customer before the mold ships.
Related pages
Sources
- Plastics Technology, "Eight Steps Toward a Seamless Mold Transfer" (staged transfer and validation process): https://www.ptonline.com/articles/eight-steps-toward-a-seamless-mold-transfer
- ICC, Incoterms rules (Incoterms 2020; delivery, costs and risk between seller and buyer): https://iccwbo.org/business-solutions/incoterms-rules/
- EUROMAP, Technical Recommendations (EUROMAP 2 mould fixing and connection dimensions; EUROMAP 13 core pullers and EUROMAP 14 hot runners, electrical interface): https://www.euromap.org/technical-issues/technical-recommendations
- IPPC, ISPM 15 Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade: https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/640/
- AIAG, PPAP-4 Production Part Approval Process: https://www.aiag.org/training-and-resources/manuals/details/PPAP-4
- Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), AR-101 Customs and Practices of the Moldmaking Industry (SPI mold classifications): https://access.plasticsindustry.org/plasticsindustry/PLASTICS/Item_Detail.aspx?iProductCode=AR101