Short answer: Private label industrial plugs are normally made to order from an existing mould. You supply the artwork, the factory prints or laser-marks your brand, packs to your carton specification, and ships. Minimum order is usually a few hundred pieces per model for a logo, lower for neutral packaging; the certification stays in the name of the factory unless you run your own conformity assessment.
What OEM actually covers
There are three levels, and they cost very differently:
- Level 1 - branding only. Same product, your logo on the body and your design on the box. No mould change. Lowest cost, fastest.
- Level 2 - appearance change. Custom housing colour, different insert colour, your own label design, custom retail packaging. Still the same mould.
- Level 3 - new mould. A shape, rating or configuration that does not exist in the range of the factory. Tooling cost and 30-60 days of development.
Most importers start at Level 1 and move up only when volume justifies it.
MOQ in real numbers
- Neutral packaging, no logo - from a few hundred pieces, mixed models allowed
- Laser logo on body - 500-1,000 per model
- Custom printed colour box - 1,000-2,000 per model
- New mould - amortised over the first order, usually 3,000-10,000
These are ranges, not rules: the actual number depends on how many models you combine in one production run.
Logo methods compared
Laser marking is permanent, sits flush with the surface, and survives cleaning. It is the standard for professional ranges. Pad printing is cheaper and allows multi-colour, but wears off on a part that is handled daily. Moulded-in logo requires a mould insert and is only worth it at high volume.
Packaging: the part buyers underestimate
Packaging is where a private label program succeeds or fails in the warehouse. Specify four things up front: pieces per inner box, pieces per master carton, carton dimensions and weight limit, and whether the carton carries your barcode and shipping marks. A carton that exceeds a manual handling weight or does not fit a standard pallet pattern costs money on every shipment.
Retail-ready options - colour box, polybag with header, shrink pack - need artwork files and usually add one to two weeks to the first production run.
Who holds the certification
If you sell under your own brand in the EU, you become the entity responsible for the CE declaration. In practice most importers rely on the existing test reports of the factory and issue their own declaration of conformity referencing them. Confirm this arrangement in writing before the first order, and make sure the factory will supply updated reports when standards change.
Lead times to plan for
Standard items from stock: about one week. Branded standard items: two to three weeks. Custom packaging: three to four weeks including artwork approval. New mould: six to ten weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put my brand on the product and keep the certification of the factory valid? Yes, provided the product is unchanged and the declaration of the factory supports it. You add your own declaration as the importer of record.
Do I have to order one model at a time? No. Mixed models are normally combined in one production run to reach MOQ.
Can I get free samples with my logo? Plain samples are usually free. A logo sample normally carries a small setup charge, refundable on the first order.
About Hefeng Electric - Hefeng Electric is a manufacturer of IEC 60309 industrial plugs, sockets and connectors in Fujian, China. OEM and private label supported from existing moulds, CE (LVD + EMC), ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Contact: sales@electroconn.com