Engineering consultation · material selection
Picking the material before anyone picks the tool.
Most moulding problems we're asked to fix started with the wrong material, not the wrong mould. A short consultation on grade, cure system and hardness saves you a re-tool later.
The detail
Material selection consult, at group level.
We run platinum-cure and tin-cure silicones, polyurethanes, and a range of rubbers across the four divisions. That gives us no reason to steer you towards one of them. The consultation starts with what your part has to survive, not what's on our shelf.
You come away with a shortlist — usually two grades — the trade-offs between them, and the manufacturer data sheets so your own team can check our reasoning.
Back to An engineering conversation before you commit to a route.
What's involved
Six parts of the work.
What it touches
Food, skin, oils, solvents, alkaline concrete, cleaning chemicals. Contact is the first filter and usually rules out half the options straight away.
The temperature envelope
Freezer to oven, steam, autoclave, outdoor weather. We look at both extremes, not just the working temperature.
Hardness and feel
Shore hardness changes how a part flexes, seals and releases. We'll put physical samples of different hardnesses in your hand where it helps.
Cure chemistry
Platinum or tin cure, and what your master or insert is made of. Some pattern materials inhibit cure — we ask early so it doesn't surprise anyone.
Lifecycle
A mould used ten times and a seal flexed thousands of times want different grades. We match tear strength and fatigue to the real duty.
Paperwork you'll need
Food-contact declarations, medical-grade material documentation, weather ratings. We pick grades that come with the paperwork your auditor expects.
How it runs
Four steps, in order.
- 01
Tell us what the part does
Function, environment, volume. A paragraph and a photograph is plenty to start.
- 02
Shortlist
We come back with two or three candidate grades and the honest trade-offs.
- 03
Witness samples if useful
For unusual duties we cast small test pieces in the shortlisted grades before tooling.
- 04
Written recommendation
The chosen grade goes into your job file and the mould's material spec.
Is it right for you?
An honest fit check.
A good fit when
- You've been told 'silicone' and want to know why
- Your part sees a chemical or temperature you're unsure about
- You need food-contact or medical-grade paperwork
- You're switching from an overseas supplier and the grade is unknown
Probably not the answer when
- You already hold a fixed customer-approved grade — we'll just work to it
- You need a full laboratory test programme — we'll point you to a test house
- The material is outside silicone, PU and rubber altogether
At a glance
The idea in a picture.
One enquiry, the right team
- 01One enquiryTell us what you need
- 02Right divisionWe bring in the specialists
- 03One quoteCovering every part of the job
- 04Named contactOne person keeps it moving
- 05DeliveredMoulds, parts or both
Swipe to see the whole diagram
FAQs
Common questions.
Is this charged?
The first conversation isn't. If we need to cast witness samples for an unusual duty, we'll say so and scope it before we start.
Can you match an existing part's material?
Often, yes. Send a sample and whatever you know about it. We'll tell you how confident we can be.
Will you send data sheets?
Always. Every shortlisted grade comes with the manufacturer's data sheet.
Related
The rest of this service.
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The part works. Orders are climbing. The question is when to step up the tooling, and how to do it without changing…
An engineering conversation before you commit to a route.
You have a part in mind. You're not sure whether it wants silicone or polyurethane, cast or compression, prototype or…
The group
Delivered across the group
This work is coordinated by TCI Group and carried out by whichever of the four divisions suits your part.
Get in touch
Not sure which division? Tell us what you're making.
Send us a sketch, a photograph, or a paragraph. We'll come back with the right division, the right route, and an honest sense of what it will take.
Real people, a real workshop
You deal with the people who make it.
No call centre and no middlemen. When you contact TCI Group, you speak to the team who design, build and check your mould.
- A real Warwickshire workshopUnit 15, Waterloo Park, Bidford-on-Avon, Alcester B50 4JG.
- Real people on the phoneCall the team on 01789 224228, Monday to Friday.
- The same team on every jobDesign, production and aftercare come from the people you see here.
- Five brands, one teamMoulds, culinary, construction and contract products, all run from Bidford-on-Avon. See the divisions.
Thomas LaneManaging Director
George PrestonDesign & Project Manager
Kelly BallingerHead of Partnerships
Jim AndertonProduction Manager
TheodoreEmployee Welfare