The die casting companies in Mexico have a specific pricing mechanism that stays unknown to the ancillary industries outside Mexico. When an insider approaches a firm, they ask how the die cast prices are being set by the ancillary industry leaders. Some of the price determinants in the die cast industry include the below:
- Die cast component weight
- Die cast component size
- Aluminum or steel die cast
- Die cast tools and technology
- Component specifications
- Labor requirements
- Component-wise tolerances
Generally, the heavy automotive components tolerate the machine-applied pressure in die casting. The tolerances are different for components aluminum and zinc in pressure die casting, gravity casting, as well as in sand casting. The tolerances are gauged as per the component weight, millimeter-wise. Some automotive components are thin and others are thick.
Part of the price set by the die casting companies is derived as per the component weight and size, machine run time, inspection and raw material costs incurred. Generally, the components are tested through a visual test, dimension test, penetration test, advanced X-ray test, and pressure test. The tests ensure premium cast component finish.
The component quantity and prescribed die-cast quality have a bearing on the factory machines and even the manual labor. The components in pressure die casting require added labor to conclude a chain of works including component inspection and one-time documentation.
The process carefully molds a metal component by using die-cast tools and the technology at hand. One of the technologies, which the die casting companies use, is the Computer Numeric Control equipment. The CNC equipment automates a chain of casting events through pre-programmed sequences set in a computer.
If there were polishing, ball burnishing, bead blasting, anodizing requirements to be done on an automotive component, the time taken to die cast would be less. After the process gets done, some die casting companies package cast components organically and send them packing to a Mexican conglomerate. The overall price that your automobile group may bear would also include the price of packaging too.
Note that Mexican die casters safeguard the environment through the usage of capital-intensive technology and sequential tests. However, the ancillary industry leaders set service charges explicitly known to the client and not hidden.