Automotive housings and structural parts
Structural loads, machined datums, porosity acceptance and production approval.
High-pressure die casting · Machining · FinishingAluminum die casting.
Aluminum die casting.
From first article to repeat supply.
Housings, brackets, lighting components and thermal parts made to drawing through our long-term strategic manufacturing bases. Review the tooling, production route, quality plan and total cost with one Ningbo Empire team.
A controlled route into production
Agree the supply plan before the first production release.
The actual producing site, machine, tooling responsibilities and inspection scope are confirmed against your component.
01 · Review the part
Send drawings, alloy requirements, critical features and demand. Review draft, wall sections, machining stock and the proposed process.
02 · Approve tooling & samples
Agree the tooling scope, first-article measurements, material checks and any leak or porosity acceptance criteria.
03 · Plan repeat production
Confirm releases, quality controls, packing, material purchasing and tooling maintenance responsibilities.
04 · Manage delivery & changes
Set shipment documents, delivery terms and customer-approval rules for material, tooling, process or site changes.
Verified Equipment Summary
50 Die-Casting Machines Across the Strategic Manufacturing Network
The consolidated equipment inventory covers 46 aluminum-alloy machines and 4 zinc-alloy machines across Ningbo and Jiangsu. Project routing is confirmed against part size, projected area, alloy and annual volume.
Aluminum Die-Casting — 46 Machines
| 130–280T | 130T ×3 · 160T ×3 · 180T ×1 · 200T ×2 · 280T ×6 |
|---|---|
| 350–630T | 350T ×1 · 400T ×4 · 500T ×3 · 530T ×2 · 630T ×1 |
| 700–1,000T | 700T ×2 · 800T ×5 · 840T ×1 · 850T ×3 · 1,000T ×1 |
| 1,250–4,400T | 1,250T ×2 · 1,300T ×1 · 1,600T ×2 · 1,800T ×1 · 2,500T ×1 · 4,400T ×1 |
Zinc Die-Casting — 4 Machines
| 88T | 1 machine |
|---|---|
| 100T | 1 machine |
| 138T | 1 machine |
| 160T | 1 machine |
The network also supports downstream CNC machining, spray coating, assembly and project-defined inspection.
| Equipment group | Location | System | Aluminum | Zinc | Routing notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ningbo facility A | Ningbo, Zhejiang | TS | 15 machines | — | Large-tonnage aluminum route |
| Ningbo facility B | Ningbo, Zhejiang | TS | 10 machines | 2 | Aluminum and zinc routes · In-house spray process |
| Ningbo facility C | Ningbo, Zhejiang | ISO | 9 machines | — | Broad mid-tonnage coverage |
| Jiangsu facility | Jiangsu | ISO | 6 machines | — | Regional aluminum capacity |
| Ningbo facility D | Ningbo, Zhejiang | ISO | 6 machines | 2 | Aluminum and zinc routes · In-house spray process |
Product range
Aluminum Die Casting — Product Gallery
Representative component forms. Your material, geometry, finish and inspection requirements define the quoted part.
Process selection
When does die casting make commercial sense?
Die casting can combine complex geometry with repeatable production once the volume supports the tooling investment. Compare it with other casting routes or machining against the actual part and demand.
- Integrated features: bosses, ribs and mounting geometry can reduce downstream work when designed into the casting.
- Repeat-order economics: assess tooling amortization, cavities, scrap assumptions and secondary operations alongside unit cost.
- Machined interfaces: identify the datums, bores, sealing faces and other features that need secondary machining.
- Application fit: pressure tightness, structural loading and appearance require their own acceptance criteria.
Typical component requirements
| Component | Key review points |
|---|---|
| Electronics enclosures | Sealing faces, connector interfaces, grounding and finish. |
| Motor & gearbox housings | Bearing bores, concentricity, mounting datums and thermal requirements. |
| LED lighting housings | Thermal path, fin geometry, mounting, appearance and weather exposure. |
| Automotive brackets | Load cases, critical features, traceability and customer qualification. |
| Power-tool housings | Assembly interfaces, impact requirements, finish and production quantity. |
Capability review
Match the equipment and process to the drawing.
Machine tonnage is not a part-size guarantee. Projected area, cavity count, alloy, part envelope and process requirements determine the proposed machine and tooling.
| Item | Scope | Confirm during quotation |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum clamping-force range | 130–4,400 tons across the reported network | Machine assignment, shot requirements, availability and production location. |
| Equipment total | 46 aluminum machines; 4 zinc machines across five reported groups | The equipment summary is a network inventory, not reserved capacity for a new order. |
| Manufacturing locations | Ningbo, Zhejiang and Jiangsu | Producing site and relevant quality documents. |
| Aluminum alloys | A380, ADC12, A360 and A413 are reviewed against the application | Required standard, composition, properties and material records. |
| Secondary operations | CNC machining, drilling, tapping and finishing | Datums, tolerances, surface requirements and the approved operation sequence. |
| Wall sections & dimensions | Evaluated per feature and casting geometry | Fill behavior, draft, porosity risk and any machining allowance. |
| Surface finish | As-cast, machined and coating routes | Appearance sample, surface roughness, coating thickness and corrosion requirements. |
| Separate zinc route | 88–160-ton equipment for zinc die-casting projects | Review zinc components → |
Specify the alloy, not a presumed equivalent.
A380 and ADC12 are distinct designations. Do not replace one with the other without reviewing the applicable composition limits, required properties and customer approval.
| Material | Selection discussion |
|---|---|
| A380 | Common aluminum-silicon-copper die-casting alloy; review the exact drawing standard. |
| ADC12 | A separate aluminum die-casting designation; verify the specified JIS requirements rather than treating it as A380. |
| A360 / A413 | Evaluate against the part's corrosion, casting and pressure-integrity requirements. |
Background reference: NADCA alloy-data guide (2015 edition, PDF). Use the current agreed specification for purchasing and acceptance.
Define quality where the component needs it.
- Dimensions: critical features, datums, measurement method and sampling.
- Porosity: relevant zones, inspection method and acceptance limits for the application.
- Leak performance: test medium, pressure, dwell time and permissible leak rate, where required.
- Finish: approved appearance, surface preparation, coating and masking requirements.
- Documents: material records, FAI and any agreed PPAP package.
Vacuum assistance, impregnation or additional inspection may be considered where appropriate; no process option replaces component-level validation.
Quality planning and certification records →Long-term strategic manufacturing bases
Casting, machining & inspection.
A closer look at the facilities and equipment in our metal-manufacturing network.
Factory campus
Die-casting cell
CNC machining line
Coordinate measuring equipment
Producing site and equipment assignment are confirmed for each project.
Application Engineering
Where aluminum die castings Fit
Typical component uses and the requirements to discuss before quotation. Suitability depends on your design and validation criteria.
Electronic equipment enclosures
Gasket lands, EMI contact zones, connector locations and thermal interfaces.
Industrial automation components
Mounting stiffness, assembly stack-up and repeat machining accuracy.
Consumer product components
Cosmetic surfaces, integrated features, alloy and finishing cost.
Applications & sourcing guides
Explore the requirements for your component.
Automotive housings
Interfaces, machining, traceability and production qualification.
Telecom & 5G enclosures
RF cavities, outdoor sealing and thermal design.
Battery & energy storage
Electrical enclosures and thermal-management components.
LED lighting & heat sinks
Lighting bodies, thermal paths, fin geometry and mounting components.
Electronics & heat sinks
Enclosures, thermal interfaces and manufacturing-route selection.
Large structural castings
Part envelope, equipment selection and critical features.
A380 vs ADC12 guide · Porosity & leak control · Surface-finish selection
Frequently asked questions
Are A380 and ADC12 interchangeable?
No automatic substitution should be assumed. A380 and ADC12 are distinct aluminum die-casting designations with different composition limits. Specify the required standard and edition, then confirm composition, properties and customer approval for any proposed alternative.
What determines die-casting tooling cost and ownership?
Part size, cavity count, slides, tool material, expected production volume and maintenance requirements all influence the quotation. Tool ownership, payment milestones, maintenance, storage and transfer conditions should be agreed in writing before the tooling order.
What is the minimum order quantity?
The practical order quantity depends on the part, tooling, alloy and production route. Share sample quantity, annual demand and release sizes so we can compare the proposed die-casting route with alternatives such as CNC-machined prototypes. MOQ and lead time are confirmed in the quotation.
Can die-cast aluminum parts be anodized?
Some die-cast alloys can be anodized, but alloy composition and casting quality affect the result. High-silicon casting alloys can show cosmetic variation. Agree a finish sample and the required appearance, corrosion performance and dimensional allowance before selecting anodizing or a coating alternative.
Have a housing, bracket or thermal part to source?
Send the drawing, annual volume, finish and acceptance requirements. We will review the proposed manufacturing route and quotation inputs.