Last updated 2026-11-12
Custom caster order process: MOQ, tooling and lead time
A realistic walkthrough of a custom caster order — inquiry, samples, tooling, production and shipment — including the three approval stalls where projects quietly lose a week.
A custom caster order runs in eight stages — inquiry, costed quote, samples, approvals, deposit and production, tooling if the design is new, QC, then balance and shipment. Without new tooling, drawing to container typically takes four to six weeks; a new wheel or bracket design adds a 25–35 day tooling stage. The variable that actually decides the schedule is not the factory — it is the approval round. Here is the whole process as it runs, with the three places where projects quietly lose a week.
The timeline, step by step
| Stage | What happens | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Inquiry | Total weight, caster count, floor type, mounting — plus drawing or photo if available | — |
| 2. Costed quote | Offer, matching 2D drawing and MOQ, by email | within 24 h |
| 3. Samples | 2–3 free samples to qualified distributors (freight collect) | dispatch in 3 working days |
| 4. Approvals | Logo artwork, colour standard, packaging design | buyer's schedule — the risk stage |
| 5. Deposit & production | 30% T/T opens the order; standard models 7–15 days ex-stock, production orders 20–25 days | 1–3 weeks |
| 6. New tooling (if any) | In-house tooling for a new design | 25–35 days |
| 7. QC & documents | Functional tests, reports for your duty cycle | in-line |
| 8. Balance & shipment | 70% against B/L copy; FOB Shenzhen / Nansha, CIF and DDP available | per route |
Not sure what to put in the inquiry? The 7-step selection guide and the caster load capacity chart cover the numbers — and a photo of the existing caster is enough to start.
Where the week is lost
Approvals, not production. Machines do not stall orders — unsigned artwork does. The three classic stalls:
- Logo artwork bounces between marketing and the factory because the vector file was never sent. Fix: attach the .ai/.pdf logo with the purchase order.
- Colour standard is agreed verbally ("same as last time"). Fix: reference a physical standard or a Pantone/RAL number in writing on the order.
- Packaging design is decided after production starts. Fix: approve the carton mark (simple line art is enough) with the deposit.
Each one costs about a week; together they are the difference between a 30-day and a 50-day order.
Do you need new tooling?
Not every custom order pays for tooling. The line is drawn between OEM customisation on a standard platform and a genuinely new caster:
- No new tooling: your logo on the bracket, custom colours, hub markings, your packaging and artwork — all of it runs on standard catalogue platforms. Browse the JLS caster catalogue for the base models.
- New tooling, 25–35 days, built in-house: a new wheel diameter, a different bracket shape, or a design no standard platform carries. Because the tooling is made in our own workshop, the lead time is quoted with the drawing instead of discovered later.
Say which of the two you need in the first email — it is the difference between a quote that starts production and one that starts a tooling conversation.
What happens during production
Once the deposit opens the order, brackets are stamped on the same automated lines that build the catalogue models and assembly runs on 30 automatic lines. Before shipment, casters from your batch go through in-house load and function checks, and the functional test reports for your duty cycle join the drawings in the document pack. You are not buying a one-off — you are buying a catalogue platform with your name on it, and the test paper to prove it.
The numbers buyers ask about
- MOQ: 100 pcs per SKU for standard models; 500 pcs for custom colours or hub markings. Mixed-SKU container orders are welcome — most distributors start with a 20 ft container combining 8–15 SKUs.
- Payment: 30% T/T deposit, 70% against B/L copy, or L/C at sight.
- Files: every catalogue model has a 2D PDF drawing and a STEP file — register with your company email and the CAD package arrives within one working day.
The pattern behind smooth orders: decisions in writing, artwork with the order, one approval round instead of three. Send the drawing — even a photo of the existing frame — and the timeline above starts the same day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOQ for custom casters?
100 pcs per SKU for standard models and 500 pcs for custom colours or hub markings. Mixed-SKU container orders are welcome — most distributors start with a 20 ft container combining 8–15 SKUs.
How long does a custom caster order take?
Standard models ship in 7–15 days ex-stock and production orders run 20–25 days. A new wheel or bracket design adds a 25–35 day in-house tooling stage. The approval round — logo, colour and packaging sign-off — is the schedule variable the buyer controls.
Do I need new tooling for my custom caster?
Only if the wheel, bracket or mounting is a new design. Logos, custom colours, hub markings and packaging run on standard catalogue platforms with no tooling charge and a lower MOQ.
What are the payment terms for a custom caster order?
30% T/T deposit to open the order and 70% against the B/L copy, or L/C at sight. FOB Shenzhen / Nansha is standard; CIF and DDP are available on request.
Can I get samples before placing a full order?
Yes — 2–3 free samples ship to qualified distributors and OEM customers, freight collect, dispatched within 3 working days of the approved drawing.
Zehong Dong — Technical sales manager, JIELISHI
Handles OEM and distribution enquiries for casters — load and mounting selection, sample approval, custom tooling and the production follow-up in between.