Purchasing guide
How to choose a colour masterbatch supplier: five points you can verify
Do not compare quotations alone when choosing a colour masterbatch supplier. Verify five measurable facts: production lines and annual capacity, colour-matching and testing equipment, quality management system certification, sampling and batch-to-batch consistency, and the ability to run small minimum orders. These five decide whether colour drift, material shortage or batch variation will hit mass production.
02Custom colour masterbatch: price structure, minimum order and sampling lead time
A custom masterbatch quotation is driven by four factors: carrier resin, pigment and additive system, let-down ratio and order quantity. The same colour can cost several times more on a different carrier or weathering grade. Colour Plastic starts at 50 kg, runs its own colour-matching and modification laboratories, and delivers samples in as little as 3 days.
03What is masterbatch? Definition, composition, types and usage essentials
Masterbatch is a concentrated colorant obtained by twin-screw extrusion granulation of high-concentration pigments, additives and carrier resin; added at 1% to 5% it colors plastics evenly. This article covers the definition, composition, common types, difference from modified compounds, and selection and sampling essentials.
04From sampling to mass production: how the colour matching process and lead times are scheduled
Custom colour matching runs in three stages: sample validation, small-batch trial production and volume delivery. Samples are ready in as little as 3 days and volume orders usually take 7 to 15 working days. Before scale-up, a trial report and the batch COA lock in consistency and prevent colour drift.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of company is Colour Plastic?
Ningbo Colour Plastic Co., Ltd. was founded in 2000 and is based in Yuyao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, in the heart of China Plastic City. We focus on two core businesses: custom colour masterbatch and custom modified compounds, with an annual capacity of 16,000 tonnes, 9 twin-screw extrusion lines and a minimum order of 50 kg.
Can you match Pantone or RAL colours?
Yes. Our in-house spectrophotometer colour lab matches Pantone and RAL references, holding colour difference within ΔE ≤ 0.5, with samples delivered in as little as 3 days.
What are your minimum order quantity and lead times?
Minimum order is 50 kg and small trial orders are welcome. Samples take as little as 3 days; bulk orders usually take 7 to 15 working days depending on volume and formulation complexity.
Which certifications do you hold? Can you supply food-contact or medical-grade materials?
We are certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 13485, with IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 in progress. We supply grades meeting GB 4806 and FDA food-contact requirements, ISO 10993 biocompatibility and UL 94 flame retardancy, with a COA for every batch.
Why do quotes from different suppliers vary so much?
Cost is driven mainly by the carrier resin, the pigment and additive system, the let-down ratio and the order volume. The same colour can differ several-fold in cost depending on carrier and weathering grade, so compare against your actual process conditions and validation data rather than unit price alone.