ODM samples (existing mold, your branding) take 7–15 working days at the factory, plus 3–5 days courier transit. OEM samples (new private mold) take 30–45 working days for mold fabrication and sample production. Neither timeline includes weekends or Chinese public holidays.
The difference is entirely about the mold. For ODM orders, the mold already exists and is production-ready. The factory only needs to schedule a small batch run, apply your decoration, inspect, and pack. For OEM orders, a new steel mold must be designed, machined, tempered, and tested before a single bottle can be produced.
Mold machining alone takes 15–25 working days for a typical cosmetic bottle. This is not a process that can be meaningfully rushed — the steel needs proper heat treatment to achieve the dimensional stability required for production tolerances of ±0.3mm.
| Stage | Working Days | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Design confirmation | 1–2 | Factory confirms shape, colour, LOGO file, cap selection |
| Sample production | 3–7 | Small batch run using existing mold, bottles annealed and inspected |
| Decoration | 2–4 | Silk print, hot stamp, or spray coating applied and cured |
| QC and packing | 1–2 | Dimension check, decoration durability test, individual foam packing |
| Courier transit | 3–5 | DHL/FedEx international express to Europe, US, or Middle East |
| Total | 10–20 calendar days |
| Stage | Working Days | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Design engineering | 3–5 | CAD/CAM from your drawing; DFM (design for manufacturability) review |
| Mold machining | 15–25 | CNC machining of steel mold, EDM finishing, polishing |
| First-off-tool trial | 2–3 | First production trial, bottle dimensions measured against spec |
| Mold correction (if needed) | 3–7 | Fine adjustments to mold cavities, re-trial |
| Decoration and QC | 3–5 | Decoration applied, full QC inspection |
| Courier transit | 3–5 | International express delivery |
| Total | 29–50 calendar days |
In our experience, most sample delays are caused by incomplete information at the start, not by factory issues. The most common causes:
Do not give approval based on appearance alone. Check these seven points before signing off:
If you are ordering a new shape for the first time, consider a two-stage approach: first request an undecorated sample to verify glass quality and dimensions, then request a decorated sample once the glass is approved. This adds 1–2 weeks to the total timeline but significantly reduces the risk of approving an expensive decorated sample on a glass body that has a dimensional issue you only discover later.
ODM samples (existing mold, your branding) take 7–15 working days to produce at the factory. Add 3–5 days for international courier (DHL/FedEx) to reach you in Europe or the US. OEM samples (new private mold) take 30–45 working days for mold fabrication plus sample production.
An ODM sample uses an existing factory mold — the bottle shape is already engineered, so the factory only needs to run a small production batch and apply your branding. An OEM sample requires machining a new steel mold from scratch, which takes 15–25 working days before a single bottle can be produced.
The most common delay causes are: incomplete design files (LOGO without specified Pantone colour), unclear fitment requirements (which pump or dropper standard), late approval of the 3D render or pre-production sample, and Chinese public holidays (CNY, National Day) which can add 1–3 weeks to any timeline.
ODM samples typically cost $80–$200 for a batch of 5–10 bottles including courier. OEM samples cost more because mold fabrication ($2,000–$8,000) is paid upfront before the sample is produced. Some factories deduct the sample fee from your first production order if you proceed.
Only if the factory has finished-goods inventory of that exact shape, colour, and size. This is rare for customised or decorated bottles. Rush samples are possible for plain (undecorated) stock shapes and typically take 3–5 working days plus courier time.
Yes — and this is a contractual protection, not just a courtesy. At Loci Glass, no bulk production begins without your written sample approval. This means reviewing the physical sample for dimensions, glass quality, cap fit, and decoration accuracy before a single unit of your order is produced.
Check seven things: (1) Overall dimensions against your spec sheet, (2) Glass wall thickness and weight, (3) Cap thread engagement and torque, (4) Decoration registration — is the LOGO centred and correctly positioned, (5) Colour match against your Pantone reference, (6) Surface finish — no bubbles, seeds, or mold lines at critical points, (7) Decoration durability — run the 75% alcohol wipe test yourself.
After written sample approval, the factory issues a formal production order confirmation. You pay the production deposit (typically 30% of order value). Production then begins — for a 3,000 pcs ODM run, production takes 20–30 working days. The factory conducts QC before packing and sends you a pre-shipment inspection report before final payment and release.
Stock-mold MOQ 3,000 pcs. 11 categories. All 6 decoration processes in-house. Reply within 1 business day.
Request a QuoteJiangxi Loci Glass Packaging Co., Ltd. (Brand: Loci Glass) is a factory-direct cosmetic glass packaging manufacturer based in Pingxiang, Jiangxi, China. We produce glass bottles for nail polish, perfume, serum, essential oil, lotion, reed diffuser, car fragrance, foundation, and ceramic categories — 11 product categories from one production facility.
MOQ from 3,000 pieces per style for stock-mold orders with custom decoration. All six decoration processes in-house. OEM and ODM available with client mold ownership in writing. NDA signed before any design review. Reply within 1 business day.
Website: www.locipack.com · Contact: aah@locipack.com · WhatsApp: +86 132 6399 5598