Tool Ownership Clauses When the Steel Sits in Another Factory
Legal title to injection tooling requires separate bailment contracts, explicit payment milestone transfers, and permanent asset tagging to defeat possessory liens.
Asset Tagging Plates
Meaning
Identification hardware affixed to injection tooling provides permanent physical tracking of ownership, mold history, and asset valuation across production facilities. Engraved metal identification markers known as asset tagging plates attach directly to the mold base to verify physical custody during off-site processing or repair. These physical plates prevent misplacement of tooling during transfer between custom molders and contract processors.
A missing or damaged plate complicates asset audits and delays insurance verification when tooling moves across international borders.
Mold Identification
Stamped stainless steel or anodized aluminum tags record critical mold specifications including cavity count, dry weight, resin compatibility, and original toolmaker identifiers. Mechanics secure asset tagging plates using drive screws or high-temperature rivets capable of surviving continuous mold heating cycles. Rivet selection remains vital because thermal expansion differences cause adhesive labels to fail during high-temp molding operations.
Ownership Verification
Financial auditors examine asset plates to confirm equipment ownership for tax depreciation and secured lending collateral. Custom injection molds stored on vendor premises require clear asset tagging plates to prevent unapproved tool usage or co-mingling with competitor inventory. Ownership disputes arise when contract molders fold, making legible physical tagging the primary evidence during asset recovery proceedings.
Maintenance Tracking
Toolmakers engrave maintenance revision codes onto secondary fields within asset tagging plates to track major rebuilds. Shot counts are verified against physical tag numbers during scheduled refurbishments.