The lead time for castings from India is the sum of pattern making, sampling and approval, the production run, finishing and shipping. For a new casting, the pattern and sample stages usually take longer than the production run itself.
We do not quote fixed days because they depend on the foundry, the part and the season. This article shows where the time goes so that you can plan and ask the right questions.
How long does the pattern take?
For a new part, the foundry must make a pattern or a core box, usually in wood, resin or metal. Complex parts with cores take longer. A foundry that has your pattern already can start sooner.
Ask the foundry to confirm its pattern shop capacity and whether the pattern is made in-house or sent out, which adds time. Pattern cost and ownership explains what to agree about the pattern.
What happens in the sample stage?
The foundry pours trial castings and checks them for fill, defects, dimensions and material properties. You then review the report and approve or request changes. Each correction loop adds time.
The steps are:
- Pattern approval against the drawing.
- Trial casting, with chemical and mechanical tests.
- Dimensional inspection and machining trial, if machining is included.
- Your approval, in writing, before production begins.
What decides production time?
Once approved, production time depends on the foundry's pouring schedule, the order size, heat treatment, fettling, machining and inspection. Foundries often pour in batches, so your order may wait for a melt.
Raw material supply, monsoon-related foundry slowdowns and festival holidays can all stretch schedules. Add time for packing, inland transport to the port and shipping. Developing a new casting walks through the full route.
Lead time also depends on the number of different parts you order. A single part in large quantity is easier to schedule than many small orders of different castings, each of which needs its own moulding set-up and test.
Finally, shipping adds its own time: inland movement to the port, container booking, port formalities and sailing. Ask your freight forwarder for a current estimate, because schedules change from season to season.
How do you keep the schedule under control?
Ask for a written timeline with dates for each stage, and request weekly progress photographs. Approve samples quickly, because your delay becomes the foundry's reason for delay.
Agree what happens if the foundry misses the date, and consider scheduled follow-up visits at key stages. For new buyers, a first order with a margin in your own timeline is wise.
Ask about the foundry's capacity and current order book before you commit. A foundry that is fully booked may accept your order and delay it, and a sudden rush from other buyers can push yours back. Ask what share of the capacity your order will use and how often the foundry runs the relevant alloy.
Machined castings add more stages. If machining is in the scope, ask whether it is done in-house and how long it takes, because outsourced machining is a frequent source of delay.
Next step
We find and audit foundries, track each stage against the agreed timeline, and supervise inspection and loading. To plan a casting project, book a free sourcing review.