Frequently Asked Questions

We've been asked a lot of questions - and have given a lot of answers - over the years. The questions most frequently asked and most informative have been archived below.

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For your convenience, we have also divided the material into the 4 principal information categories:

General Technical Shipping Financial

General

General Technical Shipping Financial

Q. Where are your molds manufactured?
A. In Maine, Portugal, Germany and Italy. Our mold making facility in Maine is dedicated mostly to molds for self skinning polyurethane. Some of our molds for the shoe industry are manufactured in Germany and Italy depending on specialty and capacity. Most injection molds are manufactured in Portugal.

Q. It is my understanding that tooling manufactured offshore has lost part of its competitive price edge to domestic sources. What is your comment?
A. The best way to answer this is to compare quotations on a project by project basis. We suggest utilizing our quotation services as often as you wish whether the project is new or one that has already been completed.

Q. How long does it take to provide a quotation? How long is it good for?
A. Quotations are typically given within three to five business days from receipt of request and can be provided sooner if requested. We suggest all requests for quotation be submitted with a date needed. Quotations are valid for thirty days.

All quotations are studied and provided by our engineering offices in Maine.

Q. When do you consider your quoted delivery to start?
A. Deliveries are considered to begin upon receipt of purchase order, down payment and approval to purchase raw materials. This approval is possible from review of a mold concept drawing that can be made available on request at the quotation stage of a project.

Q. Your quotations show delivery quoted to the first test of the mold, how long after this will I receive the mold?
A. Under normal conditions anywhere from two to eight weeks depending on the speed at which comments to parts from each test are given, engineering changes needed and method of shipment chosen. Understandably this window of time fluctuates from project to project, and industry to industry.

Q. How many times do you test a mold?
A "typical" mold will undergo three tests. First test is made when full part geometry is achieved. At this time, the mold may run with limited cooling, venting and would most likely lack final polish. A second test is made after comments to parts from first test are received. This test is done with any changes or corrections that may be required. For this test, the mold would have full cooling, venting and final polish. Often, review of parts from the second test lead to the approval to proceed with special finishing like texture or plating. A final test is reserved to evaluate the textured parts and any additional changes that may have been requested.

Q. How long is each test? How many parts are produced at each test? How many parts will I receive? How long does it take for me to receive these parts?
A. Traditionally the first test is "a short one" as the mold is being mechanically evaluated and it is likely that some of the components are not with the required treatments. For the remaining tests we try to achieve process stability, and run for an appropriate amount of cycles necessary to prove function and repetitiveness for production. Unless otherwise specified we normally supply for evaluation at least six cycles from each test.

Parts are sent direct to our customers and delivered within two to three business days of the test. Upon request, additional parts can be sent directly to "other" related parties involved in the project for a nominal shipment fee.

Q. Can a mold be tested in your facility in Maine?
A. No, arrangements are normally made with the customer so a test can be made at his facility (or his molder's).

Q. Do you test all the molds that are manufactured abroad in the US?
A. No, molds manufactured away from our Maine facilities are extensively tested on location and under our employees supervision. From each test parts are submitted for evaluation, comment and approval. After final inspections, molds are delivered ready for production.

Q. Is there any work expected to be done after delivery of the mold(s).
A. Minor adjustments to gates and vents can be expected. Traditionally gate sizes and vents are only adjusted to final sizing on site for the press to be used in production.

Q. For molds manufactured in Portugal, is it possible to run a production of parts prior to mold shipping?
A. Yes. Cost for such runs is based on nominal charges for raw materials, press time and shipping.

Production runs are frequently requested to meet introduction deadlines, agency approvals, testing or other market requirements. It is suggested that arrangements be made as early as possible so the exact raw materials can be available at the time of production.

Q. Do you place a warranty on the mold(s) you supply?
A. CREATIVE warranties materials and workmanship on the mold(s) to the molder of choice assuming proper care, maintenance and attention after delivery.

Q. Should a mold be manufactured in Portugal, are trips required during the mold manufacturing phase for review and evaluation? If so, when is the best time to go?
A. No, trips are not required but can be made if desired. If a decision is made to visit our offices in Portugal, we suggest maximizing the value of the trip by going either for the second test (after initial review of first test parts) or for the final test to provide approval for shipment.

General Technical Shipping Financial

Technical

General Technical Shipping Financial

Q. Can you quote a project from 3D data? In what format should the data be supplied?
A. Yes. Preferably in STL formats otherwise IGES translations of "surface" or "wire frames".

Q. Can anyone from CREATIVE be available for early product development meetings?
A. Yes. We consider these meetings very important for our early involvement and offer our time as part of our customer service. A representative from CREATIVE can be available for any meeting at any stage of product development.

Q. What is the fastest way to send you digital data?
A. By modem, E-mail or through our or your FTP site. Our modem lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Q. Can you build molds solely from computer generated CAD files? If so, what do you require for files and related information?
A. Yes. A 2D "critical to function" control drawing file identifying dimensions to be inspected and surface finishing (textured surfaces, etc.) is suggested early in the project to assist in the development of mold design. Trimmed 3D surface files are also required for the project to review and machine part surfaces. We request that all 3D digital data be supplied in IGES format.

Q. Who is responsible for mold design and engineering?
A. CREATIVE is responsible for mold design, unless otherwise requested. Molds are designed and drawn by or under the supervision of our engineering departments.

Q. Do you provide progress reports during manufacturing? How often?
A. Yes. Weekly progress reports and timelines are sent by fax early each work week.

Q. What standards do the mold components and accessories follow?
A. Unless otherwise specified mold components and accessories follow U.S. standards.

Q. What types of steel do you use for injection molds manufactured in Portugal? Are certificates of origin available?
A. Pre hardened P20's, H13's and Carbon steels from Uddeholm (Sweden) and Thyssen (Germany). Stainless steel is supplied from Uddeholm and S7 from Uddeholm, Thyssen or Columbia.

Certificates of origin are available on request.

Q. How do you handle ECO's?
A. Engineering changes requested prior to and after the first test of the mold are quoted for price and effect on delivery. Work begins when approval to proceed is received with supporting drawing and purchase order documentation. Engineering changes received after the first test of a mold would likely cause an acceleration of the remaining payments on the mold leaving the cost of changes outstanding. Terms of payment for engineering changes are due upon presentation of parts with changes made.

Q. Can you test a mold in Portugal in the exact resin and color specified?
A. Depends on the resin and color needed. Most general purpose and engineering resins are readily available on the European market. If a specific grade of resin or custom color is required, we suggest a quantity of material be sent early in the project by sea freight at the nominal shipping charge. Our offices in Maine can arrange for such shipments if requested to do so.

Q. Do you provide reports from each test?
A. Yes. Reports of press and related information are available when parts from each test are delivered.

Q. Is a first article inspection report included with first samples?
A. No. On request, dimensional inspections of the mold can be provided. We recommend first article inspections be made only after second tests, when molds can be fully operational.

Q. Can molds be textured in Portugal?
A. Yes. The sources are Mold Tech or Nova Texture. All films available in the US are available in Portugal. While costs are nearly the same, deliveries can be advantageous in that a mold can be textured while parts from a second test are going through analysis and approvals.

Q. Can molds be nickel plated in Portugal?
A. Yes, but deliveries can be long due to limited resources.

Q. Do you perform a final inspection on the mold prior to shipment? Can I review this report?
A. Yes. Final inspection reports are available by fax prior to shipment of each mold.

General Technical Shipping Financial

Shipping

General Technical Shipping Financial

Q. What are the arrangements made for the shipment of the mold once completed?
A. Typically molds manufactured in Portugal are received through the nearest major international airport to the final destination and transported via ground freight. If the final destination location is given at the quoting stage, our costs are inclusive of air and ground freight charges. Most molds manufactured abroad are inspected and tested by our International group and are not shipped through our facility in Maine.

Q. If a mold is manufactured in Portugal how long does it take for a mold to ship by air freight?
A. Typically three to four business days. Molds are shipped by air through major commercial airlines. All entry procedures, custom clearances and documentation are handled by CREATIVE's shipping department.

Q. Can a mold manufactured in Portugal be shipped by sea?
A. Yes. Although actual "sail" time is about 10 days, transit of four to five weeks can be expected from pier to pier (to allow for typical sea shipment practices of transfers and consolidations).

Q. Does your quote include the cost to ship sample parts via Express Service?
A. Yes. Parts from routine mold tests are typically received domestically within two to three business days from the test. Parts are sent direct from the test facility to our customers. Additional parts can be shipped to other project related addresses at a nominal shipment fee.

Q. My company routinely handles International shipments. Would I have the opportunity to handle my own mold shipment? If so, would I receive a freight credit?
A. Yes. Although we feel our service provided is unparalleled in the industry and it is likely that you would incur additional charges, special arrangements can be made for your freight forwarder to pick up the mold at our facilities in Portugal. Appropriate documentation would be provided to include a commercial invoice for the sale of the mold.

General Technical Shipping Financial

Financial

General Technical Shipping Financial

Q. Our terms of payment are different from yours. Can we use ours?

A. Requests for changes in terms of payment will be reviewed on a project by project basis. Quotations submitted reflect the terms stated. A change in terms if acceptable, may result in changes to the quoted prices.

Q. Do you accept payments by letter of Credit?
A. Request should be made through CREATIVE's management on a project by project basis.

Q. Do you work with financial penalties and premiums?
A. No. Penalties and premiums are not acceptable practices for CREATIVE.

Q. Once a tool has been delivered, if the tool must be returned, who pays for the freight?
A. This depends on why the mold is being returned. If the mold is returned for a correction, it will be CREATIVE's responsibility. If it is for engineering changes, shipping charges can be quoted together with the cost of the changes.

Q. Who pays the duty for mold(s) manufactured abroad? Who handles the entry of the mold(s) to the U.S.?
A. All molds are quoted including duty and entry charges. All necessary documentation and communication to handle the entry is done domestically by CREATIVE whether the molds are manufactured in Maine or abroad.

General Technical Shipping Financial

Creative Mold Company