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.

ATS Proequipment (UK)
Emeads — Yuhuan, Taizhou
PO#1035 — Product Code 174
13 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
0
Found
0
Accept limit
Passed
AQL standard: 0.0 — zero tolerance
Major Defects
1
Found
0/1
Accept / reject
Failed
AQL standard: 0.65 — 108mm collar crimping failure
Minor Defects
3
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 Critical Major Minor Status
B1 — Material should be certificated 0 0 0 Pass
B2 — All components correct and complete 0 0 0 Pass
B3 — Workmanship, finish and appearance 0 0 3 Minor ×3
B4 — Dimensions within tolerance range 0 0 0 Pass
B5 — Labels match approved files 0 0 0 Pass
B6 — Function test: crimping pipes 0 1 0 Major ×1
B7 — Product marking matches approved sample 0 0 0 Pass
B8 — Packaging safe and qualified 0 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.

GES-60UNV kit showing collar die sizes
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.
Crimped copper fitting showing burr on press joint
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.
PZ-2340 hard case exterior showing case design issue
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 fixture with copper fitting and hydraulic 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.

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.

01
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.
02
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.
03
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.
04
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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