Accuride's vast range of standard products is able to deliver great performance in a large variety of applications. Nevertheless, there are cases in which one can only fulfill the requirements through product customization or the development of a custom product. This project management process works in the following way:
Determining the technical requirements
Accuride will support you in determining the requirements of our product in your application. This mainly comprises:
- Nature of the application
- Dimensional requirements and constraints such as length, height, thickness and travel
- How the product will be mounted
- Applied weights, forces and environmental conditions
- Desired features, e.g. self close, easy close, detents or dampers
Developing the technical solution
Our Sales and Engineering teams will use this information to propose a design that fulfills your requirements and work closely with your engineering team to integrate it into the application. Preferably, we provide CAD models that one of your engineers can integrate into their own assembly to verify dimensions, fixing strategy and assembly. Once we have jointly validated the design in CAD, we can provide samples so you can perform a final validation.
Validation tests
At Accuride, we have facilities to carry out necessary validation tests in generic substitute systems. Alternatively, Accuride can provide product samples so you can perform these tests in your own product yourself. For larger projects we will agree a design verification plan (DVP) with you.
Samples
Products that are not yet in series production need to be built in our sample shop. The sample shop relies on semi-finished parts from the production lines and applies necessary modifications by machining and manual tools to achieve the desired design and functionality. New plastic parts will be made using additive manufacturing technologies.
Due to the need for parts from series production and due to capacity constraints, the lead time for samples can vary from several days to several weeks. We will always inform you about the expected completion date of your samples and let you know when they have been shipped.
Quoting
Once we have jointly established technical solution, our pricing department will issue a quotation for the custom product that outlines part prices, tooling prices, lead times and all other applicable terms and conditions related to the project.
Tooling, initial series and PPAP
Once we have agreed on the design and the specification of your product, we will ask you to approve our drawing or send us your own drawing for approval by our engineering team.
After that, we need your initial order and, if customer-owned tooling is required, your tooling order, to prepare for producing your product for the first time. We will confirm the dispatch date of the first products within a few days. Tooling lead time varies between a few weeks for simple tools up to several months for complex tools or automated equipment.
Depending on your requirements, we can also provide initial sample documentation according to automotive standards, which you will have to evaluate and approve to authorize subsequent deliveries.