How to Write a Release Agent Enquiry That Gets a Correct Quotation First Time

How to Write a Release Agent Enquiry That Gets a Correct Quotation First Time

Most of the slow quotations we receive are slow for the same reason: the enquiry does not say what the release agent has to do. A request for "mould release agent, 100 kg" cannot be quoted correctly, because the right answer ranges from a general-purpose water-based grade to a low-residue grade for parts that must be painted - and the price difference is significant.

The purpose of an enquiry is not to get a price. It is to get the right grade, at the right dilution, at the right volume. This guide is the information checklist that gets you there in one exchange instead of four.

The Seven Things a Supplier Actually Needs

Items 1, 2 and 5 are the ones that most often go unanswered - and they are the ones that decide whether the quotation is right.

If You Are Cleaning Moulds Rather Than Releasing Parts

Mould cleaners need different information. A cleaning enquiry should state:

• Mould material and whether it is coated - PTFE, chrome-plated or bare steel changes the answer completely (abrasive methods and aggressive chemistry must both be avoided on coated tools)

• What the deposit is - cured polymer, carbon, rust, scale, or release-agent residue

• How old and how thick - a deposit built over six months needs a different strength and contact time from a light film

• Cleaning method available - wipe, soak bath, spray booth, ultrasonic

• Frequency and downtime tolerance - a line that cannot stop prefers a grade that works fast at preventive strength

• Water quality, if the grade is aqueous - hard water changes dilution behaviour and residue behaviour

A Ready-to-Send Enquiry

Copy this structure into your message and fill in the blanks. It is what a competent supplier needs to quote accurately, and it will also tell you quickly whether you are talking to someone who asks the right follow-up questions:

1. Product needed: mould release agent / mould cleaner

2. Mould material: e.g. aluminium 6061 die casting die / silicone tool / 45# steel

3. Material being released: e.g. LSR silicone / NBR rubber / PU

4. Process: e.g. compression moulding, 150 degC mould temperature

5. Part requirement: e.g. cosmetic surface / will be painted and bonded / technical surface

6. Application method: dip / spray / wipe / brush / internal addition

7. Current product and what is wrong with it: e.g. fisheyes, high consumption, sticking in corners, frequent cleaning

8. Trial quantity: e.g. 5 kg sample / 1 drum trial / 500 kg per month

9. Destination country and preferred delivery term

10. Documents required: TDS / SDS / COA / RoHS / REACH

What a Good Supplier Response Looks Like

A useful quotation is more than a price and a lead time. Look for the supplier who:

• Asks about your process before proposing a grade, or at least asks the questions you did not answer.

• Specifies the dilution explicitly - "dilute 1:20 to 1:50" - and says whether it is for a bath or spray.

• States pH and application, and mentions a limitation of the recommended product. A supplier who names no downside is not answering the question.

• Offers a sample before a full order. Testing on your own mould, with your own part, is the only verification that matters.

• Sends documents unprompted - TDS and SDS at minimum, COA with the shipment.

At LONGWEI this is standard: we ask about the mould material, the material being released, the process and the post-production requirement before recommending a grade, we supply samples in 5 kg, 20 kg and 25 kg packs, we provide TDS, SDS, COA and RoHS / REACH reports, and samples can be shipped DDP with clearance and duties on our account so you need no courier account.

Where the Grades Sit

For reference, so you can name the right category in your enquiry:

• Silicone / LSR / HTV - LW-361 (pH 8), LW-366 (pH 9, low residue for painted / printed / bonded parts)

• Rubber - FKM, NBR, EPDM - LW-365 (pH 8, 20-50x), LW-365G (multi-material incl. silicone, PU, thermoset)

• PU - LW-369-2

• Paper-plastic / pulp moulding - LW-362

• Release plus lubrication - LW-368 (pH 10); internal release - LW-358 (no dilution film)

• Mould cleaners - LW-303 / LW-303S (semi-aqueous), LW-301 (iron and steel, pH 12), LW-305 (water-soluble concentrate for die casting dies), LW-313 (acidic for aluminium), LW-308P (PTFE-coated moulds)

Send us the seven items above and we will come back with a grade, a dilution and a price - and a sample if you want to test before committing.

Contact LONGWEI for a free sample and technical consultation. Tell us your process, material and mould temperature, and our engineers will recommend a matched grade.