Are you based in Dudley in the West Midlands?
- No, we are based in Lutterworth, South Leicestershire ;-)

Do you make the injection mould tooling and also do the moulding yourself?
- Yes, Dudley Associates Ltd are designers, consultants, toolmakers and injection moulders. We are an integrated ‘one-stop-shop’ for tool making and plastic injection moulding. (see our Toolmaking T&Cs)

Can you maintain the confidentiality of my design or enquiry?
- Yes, We work on a large number of confidential high-end development projects and would recommend that you send us Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to sending any data. Please contact us if you would like advice on this. Our services are UK based, and in house – we do not have tooling made by ‘cheap’ foreign suppliers or act as an agent for the services of any other Company.

What information do you need in order to be able to quote?
- If you have 2D or 3D CAD (computer aided design) data simply email it to us along with details of the quantity of parts required, timescales and materials if known (we can advise on product design, process suitability, and choice of plastics), and we can then contact you to talk the project through. We accept all commercial CAD file formats.

Can you quote if I do not have CAD data?
- If you do not have CAD data, we would need a sample part or a drawing of the part, detailing the sizes and shape of the component along details of the quantity of parts required, timescales and materials. We advise on product design and polymer selection and can provide consultancy services if needed.

- To start manufacture of most tooling you would first require a 3D CAD data file of the part to enable a computer program to be created for the machining process. We can create this 3D CAD data for you.

What are minimum and maximum sizes of the parts that you can produce in house?
- Minimum sizes are 1.9mm (approx 0.2gm), maximum sizes are 1mtr x 1mtr (approx 1.2kg). We are happy to discuss various options if you need mouldings that are greater in size or weight.

Do I need a mould tool to be made first in order to receive my plastic parts?
- Yes, we supply plastic parts manufactured using the injection moulding process - using a mould tool to form the part. We do not fabricate or machine plastics.

I only need a handful of parts for very simple appraisal of ‘look’, ‘fit’ or ‘form’?
- We can help by utilising other prototyping techniques, and can normally have models made in a day or so that are used specifically for this purpose – please ask.

Why don’t you advertise 3 day leadtimes and flashy prices?
- We believe it reflects badly on any Company which potentially misguides Clients by advertising delivery times and costs based on extremely simple, part finished components. These ‘claims’ normally have rules attached such as supplying your own polymers (not easy or cheap!), compromising design, low tool life, strict deadlines, subcontracted manufacture in Asia or elsewhere, and payment up-front.

Another tool making company supplied a quote with a shorter lead time?
- It is likely that they are not quoting on a like-for like basis. Similarly, check that you are being quoted for a complete tool rather than just for tooling inserts, and that they have not compromised any important aspects of your original specification such as the tool life and quality. It is worth checking the Toolmakers credit rating and current references as some may happily offer (and miss) shorter leadtimes. If the supplier is outside the UK, beware the pitfalls regarding legal accountability and confidentiality.

When I order a tool, am I buying a complete tool or just the core/cavity insert plates?
- We quote for exactly what the Client requires - we do not later claim ownership of any parts of the tooling (the bolster plates or fittings, for example, in order to make transfer of tooling to another supplier as difficult as possible), neither do we charge for ‘tooling’ and then only manufacture modular inserts which fit inside our own standard ‘master’ tools. (see our Toolmaking T&Cs)

Do I own the mould tool once it’s made?
- Yes, once you have approved the samples and paid the final balance the tooling becomes your property to do with as you wish. (see our Toolmaking T&Cs)

Do you stock any standard plastic items ‘on the shelf’?
– We manufacture mould tools specifically to our Clients own designs and then provide mouldings from their tooling. We do not have our own product range or stock plastic items.

Can you mould Rubber or silicone?
- The moulding of natural rubber is a different process to plastic injection moulding. However as an alternative we can mould equivalent plastics that closely simulate the various types of rubber very closely. Typically these are used on gaskets, treads, wristbands, handle grips, interior and exterior trim.

Do you supply plastic extrusions, or moulds made from plastic?
- Please refer to an extrusion company

Do you supply raw polymer or plastic bar?
- Please contact the distributors directly

Do you produce aluminium or metal components?
– Please refer to metal forming suppliers directly

What is the typical tooling & sampling route?
- After the quotation or development stages, the product design is agreed and locked. 3D CAD data is produced. A mould tool is then designed and manufactured to that data. The tool is then moulded and plastic parts produced. The ‘first off’ parts (tool samples) are sent to you for approval. Once approval is received, the tool can then be set up again and re-moulded to supply ‘production’ parts. If part development or tool modification is required, the process simply starts over again. (see our Toolmaking T&Cs)