Ready to put your own brand on spray bottles? OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) lets you create custom spray bottles with your design, your logo, and your colors — giving you a product that no competitor can undercut because nobody else sells it. This guide covers everything: mold costs, customization options, the OEM process from concept to delivery, and what to expect at each stage.
1. OEM vs ODM vs Private Label: What Is the Difference?
| Service | What You Get | MOQ | Lead Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Label | Your logo on our stock bottle. Standard colors. | 1,000-3,000 pcs | 20-25 days | Logo printing: +$0.03-0.06/unit |
| OEM (Custom Color) | Your brand color on stock bottle + logo. | 3,000-10,000 pcs | 25-35 days | Color masterbatch: +$0.02-0.05/unit |
| OEM (Custom Mold) | Entirely custom bottle shape + your color + logo. | 10,000 pcs | 50-65 days | Mold: $1,500-5,000 one-time + 10-20% unit premium |
| ODM (Design Provided) | You provide concept; we design the bottle. | 10,000 pcs | 60-80 days | Design fee: $500-3,000 + mold + unit cost |
2. The Custom Mold Process (Step by Step)
- Design & 3D Modeling (Week 1-2): You provide concept sketches, reference products, or CAD files. Our engineering team creates the 3D model and DFM (Design for Manufacturing) analysis — checking for: draft angles (minimum 1-2° for ejection), uniform wall thickness (1.5-2.5mm typical for PET/HDPE), gate location (affects appearance and strength), and parting line placement.
- Mold Design Review (Week 2-3): We present the mold design (2D + 3D drawings) showing: number of cavities (1, 2, 4, or 8 — more cavities = faster production = lower unit cost), cooling channel layout (affects cycle time and part quality), ejector pin placement (should not mark visible surfaces), and runner system (hot runner vs cold runner).
- Mold Fabrication (Week 3-5): Mold steel is machined, hardened, and polished. Standard mold steel: S136 (stainless tool steel) for cosmetic-quality finish; 718H for general-purpose molds; P20 for economy molds. Mold life: 500,000-1,000,000 shots for standard steel; 2,000,000+ shots for premium steel.
- T0 Sample (Week 5-6): First trial samples (T0). These will have minor imperfections: flash (excess plastic at parting line), sink marks, short shots. The mold is adjusted and refined.
- T1 Sample (Week 6-7): Second trial. Should be 90-95% of final quality. You approve or request final adjustments.
- T2/T-Final Sample (Week 7-8): Final trial. This becomes the sealed sample (封样). Production begins.
3. Customization Options and Costs
| Customization | Process | MOQ | Cost per Unit | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silk Screen Printing | Ink pushed through mesh screen onto bottle | 1,000 | +$0.03-0.06 | Good — 1-2 color, may wear with abrasion |
| Hot Stamping (Foil) | Metallic foil heat-pressed onto surface | 2,000 | +$0.05-0.10 | Excellent — metallic gold/silver, premium look |
| UV Coating | UV-cured clear coat applied to print area | 2,000 | +$0.02-0.04 | Enhances print durability and gloss |
| Spray Coating | Full-body color spray (matte, glossy, gradient) | 3,000 | +$0.10-0.25 | Good — soft-touch or pearlescent finishes |
| Custom Color Masterbatch | Color pellets mixed with plastic resin pre-molding | 3,000 | +$0.02-0.05 | Permanent — color is part of the plastic |
| Custom Packaging | Custom box, insert, hang tag, barcode | 2,000 | +$0.15-0.50 | N/A |
FAQ
What is the minimum order for a custom spray bottle mold?
MOQ for custom molds is 10,000 pcs for standard bottle shapes. Complex designs may require 15,000-20,000 pcs. The mold itself costs $1,500-5,000 (one-time) depending on cavitation and steel grade. This mold belongs to you — you can take it to another factory if needed.
Can I patent my custom spray bottle design?
Yes. You own the design. We recommend filing a design patent or utility model in your target markets before production begins. Desikyspray signs NDA agreements and recognizes our customers' IP rights. We can also assist with Chinese IP registration.
How long does OEM production take?
From concept to delivery: 50-65 days for custom mold projects (including 25-35 days mold development), 25-35 days for custom color + logo on stock bottles, 15-25 days for logo-only private label. Always add 2-4 weeks for sea freight to your timeline.
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