Guides
All guides
How to approve a sample from a Chinese factory
What to measure, photograph and record before approving a factory sample.
Sourcing
~6 min read
Import VAT and customs duty on a first order from China
Customs duty, import VAT and importer responsibilities on your first EU order.
Sourcing
~6 min read
CE marking for small electronics sold in the EU
Required documents and checks before selling small electronics in the European Union.
Sourcing
~7 min read
How to read a China quote
What a factory quote includes, what is missing and how to compare costs.
Sourcing
~7 min read
Minimum order quantities for custom apparel from China
Why clothing factories set minimums and how to plan a smaller first run.
Sourcing
~6 min read
The EUR 3 EU parcel charge from July 2026
Who pays the EUR 3 parcel duty and why consolidated orders differ.
Sourcing
~5 min read
The GPSR responsible person for goods made in China
Who handles product safety responsibilities for goods imported from China.
Sourcing
~6 min read
Cost of prototyping
What each stage costs, from appearance model to pilot run.
Prototyping
~10 min read
Design for manufacturing
Wall thickness, draft, tolerances, materials, fasteners and finish.
Prototyping
~8 min read
Electronics manufacturing services for founders
What an electronics manufacturing services partner does, and when you need one.
Prototyping
~4 min read
How we verify factories
Five checks on a Chinese factory, from legal identity to transaction consistency.
Sourcing
~3 min read
New product introduction
From frozen design to shipping product: tooling, first article and pilot run.
Prototyping
~8 min read
Not recommended for new design parts
What the lifecycle flag means and how to check your bill of materials.
Prototyping
~5 min read
Printed circuit board prototyping
Layout, fabrication, assembly and test, kept transferable to production.
Prototyping
~9 min read
Production readiness
Check whether a factory can build your design before paying for prototypes.
Prototyping
~6 min read
Prototype manufacturing
Choosing a process, checking a manufacturer and avoiding common mistakes.
Prototyping
~9 min read
Rapid injection moulding
Aluminium and steel tooling: costs, trade-offs and when to use each.
Prototyping
~9 min read