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ODM product development · Start with just an idea
Plastic Product Development (ODM): From Idea to Mass Production
Only have an idea? Hongqing can develop it into a product ready for mass production. One team handles everything: product definition, industrial and mechanical design, electronics and prototype testing, then tooling in our own mold shop, injection molding, finishing and assembly. Mechanical design plus one 3D-printed prototype starts at USD 3,000, and the files and IP are yours once the design fee is paid.
We'll sign an NDA before you send drawings · Or email info@dghongqing.com
Reply within 1 business day
Design and manufacturing in one team
Design IP is yours
300+ clients · 450+ projects
Who this is for
Wherever you are today, we take it from there
For brands, start-ups and distributors who want to bring a product to market without their own factory or engineering team.
You have an idea or a requirements list
We start with an assessment
You know the problem, the customer and the price point, but have no drawings yet. We help you define the product first: functions, key dimensions, materials and target cost.
You have a reference product or sketches
We start with design
You have a competitor product, reference images or a hand sketch and want your own improved version. We start with styling and structure, with tooling and molding in mind from day one.
A design that can't be made
We start with a DFM review
You have renderings or a 3D model, but the structure ignores injection molding, or no factory will tool it. We review manufacturability first, then optimize the structure.
Development process
8 stages from idea to mass production
What happens and what you receive at each stage is written into the development plan before we start, and each stage can be commissioned and approved on its own.
01
Concept evaluation and product definition
We map use cases, target market, competitors and cost range, and fix the feature list, key dimensions and materials. You receive: a product definition and development plan.
02
Industrial design
Form, colors, materials and finishes. You receive: renderings, with 3 concepts and 2 rounds of revisions.
03
Mechanical design
Housing split, snap fits, screw bosses, ribs and assembly method, checked for moldability (DFM) as we go. You receive: a 3D mechanical model.
04
Electronics and mechanical fit
Layout and wiring space for the PCB, battery, buttons, connectors, lighting and sensors. You receive: a complete 3D assembly model.
05
Prototype testing
3D-printed or CNC prototypes, from 10 days, to check appearance, fit and user experience, followed by design changes. You receive: prototypes and the revised files.
06
Tooling and mold trials
Tooling in our own toolroom, commonly in S136 steel, to ±0.01 mm, from 30 days, with trials on 80T–1300T presses. You receive: T1 samples and inspection results.
07
Injection molding and surface finishing
Production on 90+ presses with painting, silk screen and pad printing, UV printing and laser marking; pilot runs from 100 pieces, production from 2,000. You receive: parts matching the approved sample.
08
Assembly, testing and shipping
Five assembly lines handle assembly, functional testing and packing; FOB or EXW, or we arrange sea, air or express shipping. You receive: finished products ready to sell.
Product experience
Products we have developed and produced, and what each one demanded
The process is the same; the hard parts depend on the product. These are the engineering points behind some typical products.
Personal Care
Electric toothbrushes, smart combs
Waterproof sealing, skin-friendly materials, two-shot molding, high-gloss and painted finishes.
Smart Home & Electrical
Timer switches, smart timers, LED lights
Flame-retardant PC/ABS, button feel, snap-fit assembly, light guides and diffusers.
HVAC & Thermal Control
TRV valves, temperature sensors, heating elements
Heat-resistant materials, dimensional accuracy, sensors and metal inserts molded in place.
Pet Products
Cat litter boxes, smart water fountains, feeders
Chew-resistant, durable materials, easy-clean designs and full product assembly.
Consumer Electronics & Accessories
Electronics enclosures, POS stands
Thin-walled precision housings, conductive-paint shielding, finishing and silk screen printing.
Appliances, automotive and industrial
Appliance parts, automotive parts, industrial housings
Medium and large molds, IATF 16949 quality system, consistent volume delivery.
Our approach
Designed for production from the first sketch
Our mechanical and mold engineers work in one team, so wall thickness, draft, snap fits and gates are designed for molding from the start instead of being fixed after tooling.
In-house R&D team
Industrial designers and mechanical, electronics and mold engineers work as one team. Complex industrial design is done with 1S DESIGN, a studio founded by Hongqing's owner.
See design and engineering →
Prototypes before tooling
3D-printed or CNC prototypes from 10 days let you check appearance and fit first, so there are fewer changes after tooling.
Prototyping →
Own toolroom and molding floor
Sodick EDM and wire EDM, Makino machining centers and 90+ presses mean tooling and production both stay in our own factory.
Factory and capabilities →Cost and timing
What development costs and how long it takes
Prices are starting prices in US dollars for reference only; the final price is the written quote we issue after reviewing your requirements.
Industrial design
From US$1,500 per product, with 3 concepts and 2 revision rounds
Mechanical design + one set of 3D-printed prototypes
From US$3,000 per product
Simple product, idea to first prototype
From about US$4,500
Not included
Electronics and PCB design, product certification and molds are quoted separately
Prototype lead time
From 10 days
Tooling lead time
From 30 days, depending on structure and mold complexity
Minimum order (MOQ)
Pilot run from 100 pcs; production from 2,000 pcs
Intellectual property
Once design fees are paid, files and design are yours; the mold is yours too
Even an idea is enough to start
A short description, a few reference images or competitor links are enough for us to start the assessment. Our Sales Manager, Coya Xiang, replies within one business day, and we can sign an NDA first.
Where does ODM development start, and what do I need to prepare?
Hongqing's ODM development starts with concept evaluation and product definition. We map the use cases, target market, competitors and cost range, then fix the feature list, key dimensions and material direction. All you need is a short product description covering the problem it solves, who will buy it and the target price; reference images, competitor links or hand sketches help. If you already have sketches, we can start from industrial and mechanical design; if you have a 3D model that can't be tooled, we start with a DFM review and design optimization.
How much does it cost to take a simple product from idea to first prototype?
At Hongqing, a simple product costs from about USD 4,500 to take from idea to first prototype. That covers two parts: industrial design from USD 1,500 per product, including 3 concepts and 2 rounds of revisions, and mechanical design plus one 3D-printed prototype from USD 3,000 per product. Electronics and PCB design, product certification such as CE or FCC, and tooling are not included and are quoted separately. Products with more parts or complex structures cost more; after reviewing your brief, we issue a written USD quote listing the cost and deliverables of each stage.
Who owns the design and CAD files from ODM development?
For ODM development at Hongqing, once the design fee is paid, the 3D files and the design IP belong to you. The files delivered at each stage, such as the product definition, renderings, 3D mechanical model, full assembly model and the files revised after prototype testing, are listed item by item in the development plan. Molds made for your project are also yours, stated in the contract, and can be moved out. You are not locked into producing with Hongqing; whether to tool and produce with us is your decision.
How does ODM development handle the electronics in a product?
Hongqing's R&D team includes electronics engineers. For products with electronic functions, they handle the electronics concept, PCB layout and fit with the enclosure, and functional testing, working with our mechanical engineers on the placement and routing space for the PCB, battery, buttons, connectors, lighting and sensors. We have developed timer switches, smart timers, electric toothbrushes and smart pet water fountains. Electronics and PCB design are quoted separately; certification testing such as CE or FCC is done by third-party labs and is not included in the development fee.
Can ODM development be commissioned stage by stage?
Each of the eight stages of Hongqing's ODM development can be commissioned and approved separately. On a tight budget, a common approach is to start with product definition and industrial design (from USD 1,500 per product), move to mechanical design and one 3D-printed prototype (from USD 3,000) once the direction is set, and get a tooling quote after the prototype passes. You approve each stage's deliverables before deciding on the next, which keeps upfront spending low and controls risk before tooling.
Send us what you have. We'll map out the route to mass production.
Wherever you are in development, we'll propose the right manufacturing plan, from early design review through tooling and molding to finishing, assembly and shipping, and move your project step by step to mass production.
Helpful to include: sketches, drawings or 3D files, annual volume and target market.
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