Buyer Support
Menstrual Cup & Disc FAQ
OEM / ODM Buyer Answers
MOQ • Pricing • Customization • Certifications • Export • Packaging
Factory Direct from Xi'an — ISO 13485 • CE • FDA • SGS
How to Use This Page
Frequently Asked Questions for B2B Buyers
Manufacturer-level answers for procurement teams, Amazon operators, pharmacy buyers, and private-label founders — not end-user insertion tutorials (see how-to-use and beginner-guide). Deep guides live in our Sourcing Guide blog and download center.
Where should I start if I am evaluating Furuize as an OEM partner?
Begin with supplier selection, then factory vetting, request catalogs from resources, and submit an RFQ via inquiry form with target market and SKU count.
How are the six FAQ sections organized below?
MOQ & pricing → OEM/ODM process → material safety & certifications → shipping & export → packaging & private label → product usage & technical specs. Jump to the section matching your current procurement stage.
Section 1
MOQ, Pricing & Payment Questions
Tier ladders, EXW composition, and payment structures for international OEM.
What is your minimum order quantity (MOQ) for menstrual cups and discs?
MOQ depends on whether you order catalog geometry, custom packaging, or new mold steel. Catalog OEM cups and discs typically start around 500 units per SKU for export-ready production; custom printed cartons or pouches often require 500+ units per design to justify print MOQ at our packaging partners. Brand-new custom molds carry higher effective MOQ because tooling amortization — commonly discussed at 500+ units for first steel — though pilot programs exist for validated DTC launches. We do not publish one MOQ for every Alibaba visitor because pharmacy, FBA, and neutral wholesale carts have different compliance and pack-out costs. Share channel and SKU count; we return a tier ladder. Full wholesale ladders: menstrual cup wholesale. Budget context: cost breakdown.
How is unit price calculated — and why do quotes differ so much between suppliers?
A defensible EXW quote includes medical-grade LSR compound, cavitation yield, trim labor, in-process QC sampling, inner hygiene seal, outer pack, factory margin, and project management — not cup weight alone. Trading companies quoting $1.50 without mold ID or material grade omit regulatory cost you pay later. Furuize pricing reflects Wacker-class platinum silicone inputs, ISO 13485 overhead, and lot-release documentation. Volume breaks apply at negotiated tiers (e.g., 500 / 3k / 10k / 30k). Compare suppliers with identical rim OD, durometer, and pack spec — then read how to choose a supplier before treating lowest EXW as savings.
What payment terms do you accept for international OEM orders?
Standard structure is 30% deposit on PO confirmation, 70% before shipment via T/T wire for established projects. Sample and tooling invoices are often 100% upfront with sample cost credited toward first bulk PO when stated in writing. Larger annual frame orders may qualify for L/C at sight or split mold payments tied to FAI approval milestones. We do not recommend 100% prepaid bulk without production photos and pre-shipment inspection clauses. Payment method, currency (USD/CNY), and Incoterms (EXW, FOB, CIF) are fixed in proforma invoice — aligned with practices in our ordering from China guide.
Can I place a sample order before committing to bulk MOQ?
Yes. Paid samples (typically 3–10 pieces) ship with dimensional summary and material lot reference for your internal qualification. Sample silicone may share production lines with bulk lots but is not a substitute for First Article Inspection on your packaging revision. Sample cost and lead time (often 7–15 business days) are quoted separately from bulk. For pharmacy-tier buyers, we encourage parallel third-party plaque testing against factory SGS indices before artwork lock.
Do you offer volume rebates or annual frame contracts?
Partners forecasting 50k+ units annually across one or two hero SKUs may receive locked tier pricing, Q4 capacity reservation, and priority mold maintenance slots. Frame contracts define forecast rolling quarters, not punitive take-or-pay on unproven SKUs. Rebates tie to on-time payment and complaint-rate thresholds — protecting both factory scheduling and your MAP stability in wholesale markets.
Section 2
OEM/ODM Process & Customization
Engagement modes, timelines, mold ownership, and customization scope.
What is the difference between OEM and ODM at Furuize?
OEM usually means you brand Furuize-controlled cup or disc geometry — our mold ID, your logo, packaging, and IFU. ODM means co-developed or client-specified geometry requiring new or modified steel, unique stem architecture, disc rim notch patterns, or proprietary capacity targets. Catalog OEM is fastest to market; ODM is differentiation for DTC and pharmacy house brands. Engagement modes are mapped on OEM solutions and mold development without repeating workflow detail here.
What does the typical OEM onboarding timeline look like?
A pragmatic sequence: requirement brief → RFQ & sample → packaging/IFU draft → PO & deposit → production & QC release → export docs. Catalog OEM with existing pack art: 4–8 weeks to first ship after PO. New mold ODM: add 8–12 weeks for tooling, T1/T2 samples, and FAI sign-off. EU pharmacy or multi-market launches add regulatory document indexing — plan parallel tracks, not serial surprises. Full vetting steps: supplier audit checklist.
Who owns the mold — my brand or the factory?
For paid custom molds, Furuize supports contracts where the brand owns steel after full tooling payment, with storage and maintenance terms defined upfront. Catalog molds remain factory property — you own branding and packaging IP, not the bell geometry. Mold ownership clarity prevents hostage scenarios if you later dual-source or transfer production. Always execute a mold exhibit with cavity ID, steel vendor, and transfer logistics before deposit.
What customization options exist beyond logo printing?
Rim diameter bands, body height, stem style (ball, ring, hollow, solid), durometer (soft teen vs firm sport), color (pigmented medical silicone within biocompat-tested families), capacity targets, disc auto-dump notch geometry, and accessory kitting (sterilizing cup, second disc). Each parameter must map to measurable spec sheet entries — not adjectives alone. OEM dimensional philosophy is explained on size guide for brands writing IFU charts.
Can you sign NDAs and exclusivity for geography or channel?
Mutual NDAs precede CAD sharing on ODM projects. Geographic or channel exclusivity is negotiable against minimum annual volume and marketing investment — we avoid blanket global exclusivity on catalog molds that other partners already market. Exclusivity requests should cite target countries and proof of regulatory registration progress.
Section 3
Material Safety & Certifications
LSR grades, ISO/CE/FDA/SGS evidence, and marketplace audit packs.
What silicone material do you use — and is it medical grade?
Furuize molds with platinum-cured liquid silicone rubber (LSR) from tier-one suppliers such as Wacker — not peroxide-cured industrial gum disguised as "food grade." Material families are qualified for biocompatibility panels relevant to prolonged mucosal contact. Each production lot ties to incoming material COA and outbound finished-goods COA. Material science depth: silicone material page.
Which certifications does Furuize hold for menstrual cups and discs?
Core factory credentials include ISO 13485 quality management with medical device manufacturing scope, CE technical file support for Class I menstrual devices, FDA establishment registration for US market manufacturing references, and SGS third-party testing on material and product performance. Certificates are version-controlled — we provide index sheets for your vendor portals, not random PDF attachments. Dedicated pages: ISO, CE, FDA, SGS.
Can you supply test reports for Amazon, EU MDR, or pharmacy audits?
Yes — structured evidence packs map SGS report numbers to material lots, include ISO audit summaries under NDA, and provide CE technical-file table-of-contents templates for your brand's market authorization role. US marketplace chemical documentation and EU MDR depth differ — we do not issue your Declaration of Conformity, but we manufacture under records that support it. Read marketplace & pharmacy gates and EU vs FDA pathway for role clarity.
How do you prevent certificate fraud — a common Alibaba problem?
We expect buyers to verify registrar numbers, scope lines, and establishment IDs independently — same discipline as our 40-point audit guide. Red flags elsewhere: ISO 9001 only, expired certificates, scope excluding medical devices, or Photoshop SGS reports. Furuize provides traceable report IDs, facility address matching business license, and on-site audit availability for pharmacy-tier partners.
Are colored cups as safe as clear — and what about odor or dye bleed?
Pigments must live inside approved masterbatch families with migration testing — not craft dyes. We run bleed checks on white wipe protocols during sample approval. Persistent odor in bulk lots triggers lot hold and CAPA — not "normal silicone smell" dismissals. Consumer troubleshooting for end users is separate on cleaning; OEM buyers receive lot-level root cause summaries.
Section 4
Shipping, Lead Time & Export
Production lead times, freight modes, export docs, and lot traceability.
What is standard production lead time after PO confirmation?
Catalog OEM bulk: typically 25–40 calendar days production after packaging approval and deposit, excluding Chinese New Year shutdowns (plan +3–4 weeks if PO crosses January–February). New mold first mass run adds tooling buffer. Rush air-freight production is not guaranteed in Q4 peak — forecast early. Production stages are visible on production process.
Which shipping methods do you support — sea, air, rail, express?
We coordinate sea FCL/LCL (most economical for 3k+ units), air freight for launch urgency, China-Europe rail for certain EU lanes, and express courier for samples. Incoterms commonly quoted: EXW Xi'an, FOB Shenzhen/Shanghai, CIF destination port. Final mile to FBA or EU warehouse is usually buyer-arranged unless DDP is negotiated with a qualified freight partner.
What export documents ship with each lot?
Commercial invoice, packing list, COA per lot, bill of lading or airway bill, and certificate of origin where applicable. HS classification and material description are harmonized to your importer's technical file — mismatches cause customs holds. Pharmacy importers may require additional declaration language; specify at PO. Testing and export QA: testing lab.
How is lot traceability maintained from mold to carton?
Lot travelers link LSR batch, press cavity, trim shift, QC sample retention, and inner pack heat-seal time. Outer carton labels carry lot code and manufacturing date aligned to COA PDF. This chain is what Amazon and pharmacy portals ask for when a consumer complaint references a sticker — not a generic "made in China" line.
Do you ship DDP to US FBA or EU fulfillment centers?
DDP can be arranged through partner forwarders for experienced importers; first-time brands often learn faster with FOB + their broker, then graduate to DDP. Duties and FDA prior notice for US are importer responsibilities unless DDP contract explicitly includes them. Discuss destination early — disc vs cup HS nuances and label language affect clearance.
Section 5
Packaging & Private Label
Carton, pouch, blister formats, artwork rules, and kitting.
What private-label packaging formats can Furuize produce?
Options span matte or gloss cartons, zip pouches, blister cards for pharmacy, tins for premium kits, and neutral master cartons with sticker labels for distributors. IFU booklets, single-page quick-start cards, and localized inserts are produced in-house or with vetted print partners. Full packaging OEM scope: packaging and private label.
What artwork files do you need — and who approves regulatory text?
Print-ready PDF or AI with bleed, Pantone or CMYK references, barcode/EAN from your GS1 account, and disposal symbols per target market. Regulatory claims on pack (e.g., "medical grade," "12-hour wear," "reusable 10 years") require RA review — we flag EU MDR and FDA-adjacent phrases that trigger marketplace takedowns. Brands own final label approval signature; factory manufactures to approved revision number only.
Can I get neutral packaging for re-label distributors?
Yes. Neutral export cartons with removable stickers are common for GCC, Latin America, and Eastern Europe partners who localize language after port clearance. MOQ on neutral is often lower than fully custom retail color boxes. Wholesale programs: wholesale OEM and distribution guide.
Do you offer kitting — cup + sterilizing container + disc bundles?
Kitting lines assemble multi-SKU retail sets with combined BOM and single outer UPC when required. Kit BOM changes affect FBA inbound cubic weight and pharmacy shelf facings — model both before PO. SKU ladder strategy: portfolio article.
How long does packaging tooling take?
Digital print pouches: ~7–12 days proof cycle. Folding carton dies: ~10–18 days after art approval. Blister thermoform tools: ~3–5 weeks. Parallel-path packaging while mold FAI runs saves calendar time — share dielines at RFQ, not after steel cuts.
Section 6
Product Usage & Technical Questions
Spec-sheet and IFU-authoring topics for brand RA and product teams.
What dimensional tolerances should I expect on OEM cups and discs?
Rim outer diameter is commonly controlled to ±0.3–0.5 mm depending on cavity age; body height and stem length carry similar bands. Capacity is gravimetrically verified, typically within ±3–5 ml of nominal at testing-lab temperature. FAI reports document actuals vs CAD — critical before you print IFU "ml" claims. Dimensional naming conventions: size guide.
What durometer (Shore A) options are available — and how do they affect fold profile?
Consumer-facing "soft" cups often land Shore A 40–50; firmer sport or high-seal cups 50–60. Teen lines may dip softer with reduced wall thickness — both change fold footprint and pop-open behavior in IFU diagrams. Specify target durometer on RFQ; do not assume competitor "soft" equals your mold without plaque measurement.
What usage duration and lifespan claims are supportable for IFU?
With approved platinum LSR and user care per boil-sterilization guidance, multi-year reuse claims are common in OEM documentation — often cited up to ten years when IFU includes inspection for cuts, thinning, and odor persistence. Claims must match material aging data and market advertising law. Care instructions for packaging inserts: cleaning. Do not promise "lifetime" without defined failure criteria.
Cup vs disc — what should my brand IFU emphasize differently?
Cups require suction seal and stem removal technique; discs require posterior rim tuck and may document auto-dump behavior during urination on specific geometries. Mixing instructions across formats causes return spikes. Format comparison for positioning: comparisons and product pages cups / discs.
What QC tests run on each production lot before release?
Typical release includes visual AQL, dimensional sampling, capacity spot check, stem pull integrity, and packaging seal verification. Retained samples are stored per QMS period for complaint lookup. Full QC philosophy: quality control. Buyers may contract additional AQL levels for pharmacy POs.
Can Furuize supply white-label consumer education for my retail box?
Yes — OEM partners may license manufacturer-reviewed insertion, removal, and cleaning diagrams aligned to your SKU geometry. This reduces support tickets and Amazon return reasons without copying competitor IFU illegally. Consumer pathways: how-to-use, beginner-guide. Technical change control applies when you revise mold between print runs.
Question Not Answered Here?
Send your RFQ with target market, SKU count, and compliance tier — our OEM team responds with a structured quote and document index.