| Mould Design Capability | Ability to convert sofa cushion drawings, 3D files, draft angles, inserts and parting lines into a production-ready mould design. | The supplier should provide a 3D mould model, 2D manufacturing drawings, draft-angle details, parting-line locations, vent layout and demoulding plan before machining. | Design review records, drawing revision history and an approved design-for-manufacturing checklist. | 15% |
| Dimensional Accuracy | Control of cavity dimensions, symmetry, mounting points and critical cushion profile features. | Use project-specific tolerances approved on the drawing. A buyer may use ±0.10 mm for selected machined features and ±0.20 mm for less critical areas only when the design and process support those limits. | Coordinate-measuring-machine report, inspection plan and first-article report linked to drawing dimensions. | 15% |
| Foam Density Compatibility | Whether the mould is suitable for the specified flexible polyurethane foam formulation and target density. | Flexible PU foam density is commonly specified in kg/m³. The mould supplier should confirm compatibility with the buyer’s formulation, free-rise density, moulded density, cream time, rise time and cure behavior. | Material-processing questionnaire, trial records and density test results measured according to ISO 845 or ASTM D3574. | 10% |
| Mould Material and Surface Finish | Material selection, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, polish level and release-agent compatibility. | Material grade and surface-finish requirements must be stated on the technical specification. The selected finish should support easy demoulding without creating visible marks on the cushion surface. | Material certificate, hardness record, surface-roughness report and photographs of cavity surfaces. | 10% |
| Venting and Air-Release Design | Prevention of trapped air, voids, surface defects, incomplete filling and local density variation. | The design should identify vent locations, vent-cleaning access and any vacuum or assisted-air-release requirements. Venting must be validated during mould trials rather than judged only from drawings. | Mould-flow or process review, trial photographs, defect-rate records and corrective-action reports. | 10% |
| Heating and Temperature Uniformity | Uniform heating, temperature-control method, sensor placement and prevention of cold or overheated zones. | The supplier should define the operating temperature range required by the foam system and demonstrate temperature stability at multiple cavity locations during a trial. | Temperature-mapping report, sensor calibration records and production trial data. | 8% |
| Cooling, Demoulding and Cycle Time | Ease of opening, release-agent access, manual or automatic demoulding and repeatable cycle time. | Cycle time should be established through a production-representative trial, including filling, curing, opening, demoulding, cleaning and reset time. | Time-stamped trial records, operator work instructions and cycle-time capability data. | 8% |
| Foam Performance Verification | Whether trial cushions meet the agreed density, hardness, resilience, tensile strength, tear strength and compression-set requirements. | Acceptance limits must be defined in the purchase specification. Relevant test methods may include ISO 845 or ASTM D3574 for density, ISO 3386-1 for hardness, ISO 1798 for tensile and elongation, and ISO 1856 for compression set. | Independent or in-house laboratory reports using the agreed test method, sample conditioning and acceptance limits. | 12% |
| Quality Management | Control of incoming materials, machining, assembly, trial production, final inspection and nonconforming products. | A documented quality system should include inspection checkpoints, calibrated measuring equipment, traceability and corrective-action procedures. ISO 9001 certification can support evaluation but does not replace product inspection. | Quality manual, valid certificate where applicable, process-control plan, calibration list and sample inspection records. | 8% |
| Prototype and Trial Support | Ability to conduct design validation, mould trials, sample approval and corrective iterations before mass production. | The supplier should provide a trial plan covering sample quantity, foam formulation, processing conditions, dimensional inspection, surface inspection and approval criteria. | Trial protocol, sample approval form, defect list, corrective-action plan and final trial report. | 7% |
| Delivery and Project Control | Control of design approval, material procurement, machining, assembly, trial, inspection, packing and shipment. | The supplier should provide a milestone schedule with named deliverables, revision control and a clear method for reporting delays or technical changes. | Project schedule, weekly progress reports, packing specification and shipment inspection checklist. | 5% |
| After-Sales Service and Spare Parts | Availability of technical support, replacement components, maintenance instructions and response procedures. | The contract should define warranty scope, response time, replacement-part identification, preventive-maintenance intervals and responsibility for approved design changes. | Warranty terms, spare-parts list, maintenance manual and documented service-response process. | 5% |
| Total Suggested Evaluation Weight | 100% |