01Discovery & Commercial Brief
The first stage defines what the product must achieve and how the business plans to sell it.
We ask about target users, product category, destination market, reference products, expected order quantity, annual forecast, target cost, launch date and preferred packaging.
If the concept is still early, a photo, sketch or physical sample may be enough to begin a useful discussion.
If CAD data already exists, we review file format, dimensions and critical functions.
Clear commercial context helps the technical team recommend a mold route that is appropriate for the program rather than overengineering or underengineering the product.
02CAD Review & Design for Manufacturing
Our engineering review examines wall thickness, draft angles, parting lines, shutoffs, ribs, undercuts, suction features, radii, venting, gate position and likely deformation.
Silicone is flexible, but flexibility does not remove the need for disciplined design.
A product that looks attractive in a rendering may be difficult to demold, may trap air or may not hold its intended shape.
Design-for-manufacturing work converts the concept into geometry that can be molded repeatedly.
Recommended changes are discussed with the customer, and the controlled drawing or 3D model becomes the technical basis for quotation and mold development.
03Material, Hardness & Color Definition
The product specification identifies whether platinum-cured LSR or HCR is the better route, along with target hardness, color, transparency and performance needs.
A soft bib, a suction plate and a large ice mold may all use food-grade silicone, but they need different handling characteristics.
We consider flexibility, rebound, tear resistance, weight, wall thickness and temperature exposure.
Pantone references are used for custom colors, while the approved physical sample remains the most useful production reference.
Material information is recorded so that purchasing, preparation, molding and quality teams work from the same requirement.
04Mold Engineering & CNC Machining
Naike Silicone's in-house mold center coordinates mold design and CNC machining for custom projects.
The mold structure is planned around the selected process, cavity count, expected volume, surface finish, venting, flash control and demolding method.
Keeping tooling development connected to production reduces communication gaps and helps protect customer intellectual property.
A typical custom mold-development cycle is approximately 15 to 25 days, depending on geometry, cavity count, complexity and approval speed.
During this stage, branding details and product surfaces are finalized because embossed, debossed and textured features are created directly in the tool.
05Trial, Prototype & Sample Approval
The first mold trial is used to evaluate filling, curing, demolding, flash, dimensions, function, color and appearance.
Existing-style samples typically require about 3 to 5 days, while custom-tooling samples typically require about 7 to 12 days after the relevant tooling stage is ready.
Stock samples can be provided free within three days; custom samples are charged at tooling cost and that cost can be refundable against production orders according to the agreed commercial terms.
Feedback is recorded, necessary changes are implemented and a final approved sample becomes the reference for mass production.
06Branding & Packaging Validation
Logo appearance and packaging fit are approved before volume production.
For molded logos, the sample confirms depth, clarity and placement.
For printing, laser engraving or heat-transfer labeling, the decoration sample confirms color, registration, adhesion and overall presentation.
Packaging trials check how the product sits in an insert or box, whether surfaces are protected and whether the pack is efficient for master cartons and export shipment.
This validation prevents a technically correct silicone product from being delayed by avoidable branding or packaging changes at the end of production.
07Pilot Run & Quality Planning
Before a large custom order, a pilot run can confirm the complete production route.
Incoming quality control verifies raw silicone identity and batch information.
In-process quality control monitors molding, vulcanization, post-cure, dimensions, color, appearance and critical functions.
Outgoing quality control verifies finished products, quantities, branding, packaging and agreed reports.
The quality plan identifies inspection points, methods, frequency and acceptance references.
Any adjustment is documented before the full order proceeds.
This creates a stable bridge between an approved development sample and repeatable commercial manufacturing.
08Mass Production & Repeat Supply
After approval, production is scheduled across three hydraulic compression molding lines and two LSR injection molding lines.
Monthly capacity exceeds 300,000 pieces across the core product categories.
Standard orders typically require about 15 to 25 days, while bulk custom production commonly requires about 30 to 40 days, subject to product complexity, quantity, decoration and packaging.
Stock-design MOQ begins at 500 pieces per SKU.
Custom molding normally begins around 1,000 to 3,000 pieces depending on complexity.
Approved specifications, samples and tooling records support consistent repeat orders and future collection extensions.
