Foreign-owned, foreign-managed factory (Sofeast group) with English-speaking staff in every department
Dongguan · Chang'anPR-07 · Process hubs
Die casting 压铸

- Typical lead time (how long it takes)
- 5–8 weeks for tooling
- Typical cost
- Tooling higher than plastic molds; parts need trimming and machining
- Minimum order (MOQ: the smallest order a shop will accept)
- Often 1,000+
- Best for
- Metal housings, heat sinks and structural parts in thousands of units or more
What is it?
Die casting is like injection molding, but for metal. Molten zinc or aluminum is forced into a steel mold (called a die) to make strong metal parts with fine detail, like housings and heat sinks. The die is expensive, so it suits larger quantities. For a handful of metal parts, CNC machining is usually cheaper.
Design tips (DFM: designing so it's easy to make)
- 01Keep walls uniform and add draft
- 02Plan secondary CNC machining for precise features
- 03Choose zinc for fine detail and plating, aluminum for light weight
- 04Specify surface finish early (powder coat, anodizing isn't ideal on cast aluminum)
Shops for this process
DMG 5-axis and rows of 3-axis CNC in a 5,000 m² Chang'an base
Dongguan · Chang'anProprietary zinc multi-slide die casting, invented in 1936
Dongguan · DalangSino-British founders (CEO Vader Yu and James Murphy) and English-speaking project managers
Shenzhen · Bao'anEnglish-speaking NPI partner for startups, builds from 5 units
Shenzhen · LonghuaInstant online quotes with automated DFM feedback for mechanical parts
Shenzhen · Bao'anIn-house tool shop next to the casting floor
Dongguan · Dongguan (other town)Kaierwo
凯尔沃New-energy prototypes: battery packs, charger housings, inverters, cooling modules
Shenzhen · GuangmingGet 3 quotes
Get 3 quotes: Die casting
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4 guides
Guides & articles
Everything we've written about Die casting, starting with the basics.
Start hereWhat is die casting? A plain-English guide
How die casting works, which metals it uses, what it's good and bad at, what drives the cost, and how to get die-cast parts made in Shenzhen and Dongguan. Written for first-timers.
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01Choosing · 7 minDie casting vs CNC machining
When should a metal part be CNC machined, and when is it worth paying for a die-casting tool? A plain-English comparison of cost, quantity, quality and finish, with a simple break-even method.
02Choosing · 7 minZinc vs aluminum die casting
Should your die-cast part be zinc or aluminum? Weight, detail, finish, tooling life and cost compared in plain words, with a simple way to decide.
03Choosing · 8 minAnodizing vs powder coating vs painting
Three common ways to finish a part, compared in plain words. What each one is, which materials it works on, how it looks and wears, and how to choose for your product.
Common questions
Die casting or CNC?
CNC for low volume; die casting once volumes justify the tooling.
Can die-cast parts be anodized?
Cast aluminum anodizes poorly; powder coating or painting is more common.