QC Inspection Pre-Shipment Plumbing & Fluid Technology

Pre-Shipment Inspection — Alpha Press Battery Hydraulic Crimping Tool Kits

Luckee conducted a full-quantity pre-shipment QC inspection of 174 Alpha Press crimping tool kits across 6 product lines at the Emeads facility in Yuhuan, Taizhou. One major defect was identified — a 108mm M-profile collar failing the crimping roundness requirement — triggering a Pending verdict and corrective action hold.

ClientATS Proequipment (UK)

SupplierEmeads — Yuhuan, Taizhou

PO ReferencePO#1035 — Product Code 174

Inspection Date13 October

Inspection Result

PENDING

Pass

Critical

Fail

Major

Pass

Minor

Hold

Shipment

174 units

Full quantity inspected

6 models

SL-1930, ECO-2/3, PZ-3240, PZ-300, GES-60UNV

4 MPa

Pressure test — no leakage found

1 major

108mm collar oval — crimping failure

AQL Results

Inspection Outcome — AQL Critical 0.0 / Major 0.65 / Minor 1.5

Full quantity (174 units) inspected at General Inspection Level GII with Special S-1. Three defect classes assessed independently.

Critical Defects

Found

Accept limit

Passed

AQL standard: 0.0 — zero tolerance

Major Defects

Found

0/1

Accept / reject

Failed

AQL standard: 0.65 — 108mm collar crimping failure

Minor Defects

Found

21/22

Accept / reject

Passed

AQL standard: 1.5 — workmanship / die burrs

⚠️

Overall Result

PENDING — Shipment on hold pending corrective action on major defect

The 108mm STD M-profile collar failed the crimping roundness check — the collar produced an oval crimp, indicating a tooling or dimensional conformance issue. Shipment cannot proceed until this defect is resolved and a re-inspection is conducted on the affected collar size. Two product kits (JT-1632 M-profile and ED-1550) are also not yet complete and require additional production time.

Section B — Inspection Criteria

8-Point Product Specification Assessment

Each criterion assessed independently with defect counts by class. All criteria were measurable and applicable.

Inspection Requirement	Major	Minor	Status
B1 — Material should be certificated	0	0	Pass
B2 — All components correct and complete	0	0	Pass
B3 — Workmanship, finish and appearance	0	3	Minor ×3
B4 — Dimensions within tolerance range	0	0	Pass
B5 — Labels match approved files	0	0	Pass
B6 — Function test: crimping pipes	1	0	Major ×1
B7 — Product marking matches approved sample	0	0	Pass
B8 — Packaging safe and qualified	0	0	Pass

Defect Findings

3 Defects Documented — 1 Major, 2 Minor

Every defect was photographed and classified by type. The major defect triggers the shipment hold; minor defects are noted for corrective action on the next production run.

Major — B6

108mm STD M-Profile Collar — Oval Crimping Failure

The 108mm STD M-profile collar failed the crimping function test. When crimped, the collar produces an oval cross-section rather than a round one. This indicates a dimensional or tooling conformance issue with the 108mm collar die — a functional failure that would compromise joint integrity in a live plumbing installation.

Required action: Supplier to inspect all 108mm collar die stock, identify root cause (tooling wear or incoming component dimensional error), replace defective units, and submit for re-inspection before shipment can proceed.

Minor — B3

Sharp Burrs on 15, 22 & 28mm Die Profiles (JT-1632)

Testing with the JT-1632 manual crimping tool on 15mm, 22mm, and 28mm dies revealed sharp burrs on the crimped joint profile. The burrs are reduced compared to prior runs but remain present. This is a workmanship defect — a minor safety concern for installers handling finished joints and a cosmetic quality indicator for the end customer.

Noted for next run: Die finishing process to be reviewed to eliminate residual burrs at these profile sizes. Improvement already underway — continue deburring optimisation.

Minor — B3

PZ-2340 Case Cavity Incorrect — Two Remediation Options

The PZ-2340 hard case was flagged for two issues: the original case is heavier than specified, and the new case cavity does not correctly accommodate the tool layout. Two options are available: a 2-day interim fix using EVA foam inserts, or a 20-day solution involving a correctly moulded plastic cavity. The EVA foam route is recommended to avoid further shipment delays.

Decision required from buyer: Confirm whether EVA foam insert (2 days) or correct plastic cavity moulding (20 days) is the preferred resolution before production can finalise.

Function Testing — Leakage

4 MPa Water Pressure Test — No Leakage Found

Independent pressure testing was conducted on-site using the PZ-3240 battery press tool with 15mm and 35mm M-jaw dies. Press-fit copper fittings were crimped and pressurised to 4 MPa via manual hydraulic test pump.

Pressure Test — Close-up

Copper press-fit fitting under test. Hydraulic pump provides measured 4 MPa via calibrated dial gauge. No leakage observed at either joint during the test period.

✓ Leakage Test — Passed

Test pressure4 MPa (40 bar)

Tool usedPZ-3240 Battery Press

Jaw sizes tested15mm M-jaw, 35mm M-jaw

Fitting materialCopper press-fit

ResultNo leakage found

Additional tested15–35mm jaws random + 42–108mm collars

Inspection Photo Evidence

All Photos Taken During the Inspection

Every photo was taken on 13 October during the on-site inspection. Click any image to enlarge.

Quantity & Packaging

174 units palletised — carton quantity and labelling confirmed against PO#1035.

Packaging — Minor Defect

PZ-2340 case cavity incorrect — pending buyer decision on EVA foam (2 days) vs plastic cavity (20 days).

Product — PZ-3240

PZ-3240 kit inspected open — all components present, ATS qualification certificate confirmed.

Product — PZ-300

PZ-300 with full collar die range (12 dies) — all accessories present and ATS certification confirmed.

Product — GES-60UNV

GES-60UNV universal kit — copper and carbon steel die sets, 90-degree head attachment included.

Function Test

4 MPa pressure test setup — copper fitting under load, calibrated gauge monitoring, no leakage detected.

Function Test

Full copper pipe run under 4 MPa pressure — multiple crimped joints tested simultaneously.

Minor Defect — B3

Sharp burrs on crimped joint profile — visible on 15, 22, 28mm dies with JT-1632. Reduced but not eliminated.

Product — JT-1632

JT-1632 manual hydraulic crimping tool — red carry case, collar dies, and instruction booklet. Incomplete at main inspection; photographed on completion.

Required Corrective Actions

Actions Before Shipment Can Proceed

Four items require resolution. The first is a hard blocker for shipment; the remaining three are required before the next production run or can be resolved in parallel.

HOLD — 108mm M-profile collar: root cause investigation and re-inspection required

Supplier must identify whether the oval crimping defect originates from tooling wear in the crimping die, incoming collar dimensional non-conformance, or a process parameter issue. All 108mm collar stock must be quarantined, root cause confirmed, defective units replaced, and a re-inspection conducted by Luckee before shipment is approved.

PZ-2340 case: buyer to confirm EVA foam or plastic cavity solution

The case cavity does not correctly fit the PZ-2340 tool layout. Buyer to confirm preferred solution: 2-day EVA foam insert (can proceed in parallel with the collar re-inspection) or 20-day plastic cavity remould. EVA foam recommended to avoid further delay.

JT-1632 M-profile kit: 4 more production days required

The JT-1632 M-profile manual crimping tool kit was not complete at the time of inspection. Supplier advised 4 more production days are needed. To be re-inspected as part of the corrective action re-visit.

ED-1550: 2 more production days required

The ED-1550 was also not complete at inspection. Supplier advised 2 more production days. To be included in the re-inspection scope alongside the JT-1632 and the 108mm collar correction.

Inspector's Comment

Quality requirements have been inconsistent at this facility, attributed to staff turnover and management gaps. Luckee recommends that ATS Proequipment requires a corrective action response plan from Emeads addressing the quality management system improvements before the next production order is placed — not only the specific defects from this inspection.

Inspection Verdict

Pending — Shipment Held Pending 108mm Collar Re-Inspection

The inspection identified one major functional failure (108mm M-profile collar — oval crimp) and three minor defects. Critical passed with zero findings. Pressure testing at 4 MPa confirmed zero leakage across all tested jaw sizes. Shipment is approved to proceed only after the 108mm collar defect is resolved, the JT-1632 and ED-1550 kits are completed, and a Luckee re-inspection confirms conformance.

Overall Result

PENDING

Pass

Critical Defects

Fail

Major Defects

Pass

Minor Defects

Pass

4 MPa Pressure Test

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