Automotive Head Seal Specification Example for Export Programmes: Two-Piece Construction
Automotive Head Seal Specification Example for Export Programmes: Two-Piece Construction
This is a worked specification for automotive head seal in a two-piece construction programme. It is the document we would send a buyer who asks what exactly they are getting: the material, the dimensions that are actually controlled, the finish, and the checks that happen before anything is packed.
The two-piece construction version exists because the duty cycle on export programmes is not the same as on a showroom vehicle. Where the two are specified identically, something fails later — usually inconsistent hardness between lots.
Example specification
| Item | Automotive Head Seal |
|---|---|
| Application | Export Programmes |
| Version | Two-Piece Construction |
| Base material | Cast Iron |
| Controlled dimensions | 3 key dimensions, recorded per lot |
| Tolerance band | ±0.2 mm |
| Finish | as machined |
| MOQ | 200 pieces per specification |
| Sampling | 14 working days, 5 days per revision |
| Compliance | IATF 16949 |
How the example is built up
- Start from the duty cycle, not from the catalogue photograph.
- Fix the base material in writing — Cast Iron, in this example.
- List the dimensions that are actually controlled and the tolerance on each.
- Name the finish and what it has to survive.
- State the inspection level and who pays when a lot fails.
Processes involved
- CNC machining
- heat treatment
- sintering
- precision stamping
- rubber vulcanisation
- electroplating
Where this example applies
Programmes that run two-piece construction most often specify this build for export programmes. Related applications include boat trailers, emergency vehicles, assembly programmes, workshop replacements, aftermarket retail.
Checks before packing
- Dimensional report against the approved drawing.
- AQL 1.5 sampling on the finished lot.
- Finish inspection under agreed lighting.
- Carton drop test on the first lot of a new packing specification.
Questions buyers ask
What testing is included?
Standard lots ship with dimensional and hardness reports. IATF 16949 documentation is issued with the shipment when your market requires it.
Can you match an existing sample?
Send a sample and we will reverse-engineer the specification, then produce a counter sample for approval before any bulk starts.
How long does sampling take?
Samples leave the factory in 14 working days, and each revision round adds about 5 days once you have seen the first piece.
Can the specification be held on file?
Yes. Once approved, the specification is recorded against your part number so a reorder reproduces the IATF 16949-compliant build instead of a fresh interpretation.
Ask for the current catalogue and the specification sheet for this line.
