Sampling & CNC Tooling
CNC mould making in-house, with first samples in 10-15 days for new shapes.
Mould making, glaze matching, sample approval
Service Highlights
CNC mould making in-house — no external tooling supplier
Existing moulds sample in 7-10 days, new moulds in 10-15 days
Glaze matched to a physical sample or Pantone reference
Introduction
Sampling is where a tableware programme is won or lost. We keep CNC mould making in-house, which means a shape change does not restart a supplier conversation — we cut a new mould and re-sample.
Existing moulds sample in 7-10 days. New moulds take 10-15 days, including CNC machining and first firing.
How It Works
Shape brief. Sketch, 3D file or physical sample. We confirm the forming route — roller, jiggering, pressing or casting.
CNC tooling. Mould cut on our CNC machines in the mould shop.
Body sampling. First pieces formed, dried and fired at 1230C.
Glaze matching. Reactive glaze developed or matched to your supplied sample or Pantone reference.
Decoration. Silk-screen, decal, hand painting or 3D embossment applied and fired at 180-780C.
Approval. Physical samples shipped with recorded tolerances for dimensional and glaze variation.
Service Pricing
Existing mould sample
Sample from a catalogue mould with your glaze or decoration.
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What's Included
- ✓Samples in 7-10 days
- ✓No tooling cost
Not Included
- ✕Courier charges on samples
- ✕Third-party lab testing
New mould
CNC tooling for a shape outside the current catalogue.
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What's Included
- ✓Samples in 10-15 days
- ✓Tooling quoted separately
Not Included
- ✕Courier charges on samples
- ✕Third-party lab testing
Sampling timeline
1. Shape brief and route
We confirm whether the shape rollers, jiggers, presses or casts.
2. CNC tooling
Mould machined in the in-house mould shop.
3. Sample firing
Body fired at 1230C, decoration fired at 180-780C.
4. Approval
Samples shipped with recorded tolerances.
Outcomes & Support
You approve a physical sample that fixes the body, glaze, decoration and tolerances the production run will be measured against. Moulds and glaze recipes stay with us, so reorders skip sampling entirely.
If a sample is rejected, we re-cut or adjust the glaze and re-sample before any production commitment.
What we need from you
Shape input
A sketch, 3D file or physical sample of the target shape.
Colour reference
A physical glaze sample or Pantone code for matching.
Decoration artwork
Vector artwork if decals or silk-screen are involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.