Frequently Asked Questions

Fedele Autocore is an AS9100D certified CNC machining manufacturer based in India, specializing in precision components for Australian aerospace, defence, and oil & gas industries.

We provide cost-effective offshore manufacturing with the same quality standards as Australian suppliers, helping companies reduce procurement costs by 30-45% while maintaining AS9100D quality assurance.

Cost savings: 30-45% reduction in manufacturing costs, with ECTA providing 0% import duty on goods from India.

Quality standards: AS9100D certification ensures the same quality systems as Australian aerospace suppliers.

Capacity: Access to manufacturing capacity when Australian suppliers have 16+ week lead times or are fully booked.

Strategic advantage: English-speaking teams, compatible time zones (4.5 hours behind AEST), and established trade agreements make India a natural manufacturing partner for Australia.

We specialize in high-reliability industries requiring AS9100D certification:

• • Aerospace: Aircraft components, brackets, housings, structural parts
• • Defence: Weapon systems components, vehicle parts, specialized assemblies
• • Oil & Gas: Valve bodies, flanges, subsea components, corrosion-resistant parts
• • Mining: Heavy equipment components, wear-resistant parts
• • Medical: Surgical instruments, implantable device components

ECTA (Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement) is a trade agreement between Australia and India that came into effect in December 2022.

Key benefit: Import duty on manufactured goods from India has been reduced from 5% to 0%.

Real savings example: On $500K annual procurement, you save $25,000 per year in import duties alone.

Requirement: Valid Certificate of Origin (Form AIFTA) proving goods were manufactured in India. We handle all ECTA documentation for you.

We're flexible based on part complexity and setup costs:

• • Prototype/Samples: 1-3 parts (paid samples for qualification)
• • Simple parts: Typically 10-25 pieces minimum
• • Complex/5-axis parts: May require 25-50 pieces to amortize setup
• • Standard production: 100+ pieces for optimal pricing

We can accommodate lower quantities with setup fees, or you can bundle multiple part families in one order to meet MOQ thresholds. Contact us to discuss your specific requirements.

AS9100D is the internationally recognized quality management standard for aerospace manufacturing. It's based on ISO 9001 but includes additional requirements specific to aerospace and defence industries.

Why it matters:

• • Ensures consistent quality and traceability
• • Required by most aerospace/defence OEMs and tier-1 suppliers
• • Demonstrates commitment to continuous improvement
• • Third-party audited (we're certified by internationally recognized bodies)
• • Provides confidence that processes are controlled and documented

Our AS9100D certification is audited annually and we maintain full traceability on all aerospace/defence components.

We implement a comprehensive quality framework:

1. First Article Inspection (FAI): Complete dimensional inspection and material verification on initial production parts before full production begins.

2. In-Process Controls: Statistical process control (SPC) and regular inspections during production to catch issues early.

3. Material Traceability: EN 10204 3.1 material certificates with heat numbers traceable to the mill.

4. Documentation: Complete dimensional reports, test results, and certifications with every shipment.

5. Third-Party Verification: Independent inspection services available in India or Australia for critical components.

Standard tolerances: ±0.05mm (±0.002") for most machined features

Tight tolerances: ±0.01mm (±0.0004") for critical dimensions

Ultra-precision: ±0.005mm (±0.0002") achievable with grinding/honing

Surface finish: Ra 0.4 to 6.3 µm depending on requirements

All critical dimensions are 100% inspected with calibrated equipment (CMM, optical comparators, micrometers). Inspection reports included with every shipment.

We have a clear non-conformance process:

Immediate containment: Stop shipment/use of affected parts and quarantine inventory.

Root cause analysis: Investigate why the issue occurred and why it wasn't caught by inspection.

Corrective action: Implement fixes to prevent recurrence (process changes, additional checks, operator training).

Replacement: Manufacture and ship conforming parts at our cost, with expedited freight if needed.

Cost responsibility: We cover replacement parts, rework, and expedited shipping for manufacturing defects. Our contract clearly defines responsibility for different scenarios.

Typical savings: 30-45% on total landed cost

Example comparison (100 aluminum brackets):

• • Australian supplier: $18,000
• • Offshore manufacturing: $10,500
• • Freight (sea): $1,200
• • Import duty (ECTA): $0
• • Customs/handling: $350
• • Total landed cost: $12,050 (33% savings = $5,950)

Savings vary by part complexity, material, and quantity. We provide detailed landed cost breakdowns with every quote so you can compare accurately.

Complete door-to-door timeline:

• • Manufacturing: 4-6 weeks (depending on complexity and quantity)
• • Sea freight: 3-4 weeks (18-22 days transit + customs)
• • Air freight: 1 week (4-6 days transit + customs)
• • Total sea freight: 7-10 weeks
• • Total air freight: 5-7 weeks

For urgent requirements: Express air freight with expedited customs can deliver in 2-3 weeks from order placement.

Comparison: Many Australian suppliers currently quote 12-16 weeks due to capacity constraints, so our lead times are often competitive even with shipping included.

Submit your RFQ with:

• • Technical drawings (PDF or native CAD formats)
• • Material specifications
• • Quantity required
• • Any special requirements (coatings, heat treatment, inspection)
• • Delivery timeline needed

Turnaround: We provide detailed quotes within 48 hours (24 hours for urgent requests).

Quote includes:

• • Manufacturing cost per piece (with volume pricing tiers)
• • Estimated freight cost (air and sea options)
• • Import duties (0% with ECTA)
• • Total landed cost to your facility
• • Lead time breakdown

Standard payment structure:

• • 30% deposit on order confirmation
• • 40% on production completion (before shipment)
• • 30% Net 15 days after goods receipt

For established customers (after 3-6 months):

• • Net 30 terms available
• • Purchase order based invoicing
• • Monthly statements

Payment methods: Bank transfer (preferred), letter of credit for large orders, international payment platforms (Wise, OFX).

Yes, we provide complete door-to-door service:

• • We arrange international freight (air or sea)
• • Customs broker handles Australian customs clearance
• • All ECTA documentation prepared by us
• • Local delivery to your facility
• • Single point of contact throughout the process

Alternatively: If you prefer to use your own freight forwarder, we can deliver FOB (Free On Board) from Indian port and provide all export documentation.

Either way, we provide complete visibility: tracking numbers, customs status updates, and delivery confirmation.

Sea Freight (Recommended for most orders):

• • Cost: $1,200-$1,800 for typical shipment
• • Transit: 18-22 days
• • Best for: Planned production, bulk orders, cost-sensitive shipments
• • Savings: 60-75% cheaper than air freight

Air Freight (For urgent requirements):

• • Cost: $2,800-$3,500 for 50kg shipment
• • Transit: 4-6 days
• • Best for: Urgent production needs, high-value parts, samples, critical path items

Strategy: Most customers use sea freight for regular orders and air freight for samples or urgent replenishment. We can help you optimize based on your delivery timeline and budget.

We provide all required documentation:

• • Commercial Invoice: Detailed breakdown of goods and value
• • Packing List: Contents, weights, dimensions
• • Certificate of Origin (ECTA): Form AIFTA for 0% duty eligibility
• • Bill of Lading / Air Waybill: Proof of shipment
• • Material Certificates: EN 10204 3.1 with traceability
• • Inspection Reports: Dimensional and quality documentation

Our customs broker handles the Australian Border Force submission. Typical clearance time: 3-5 days. You don't need to do anything except provide your ABN and import registration (if required for your industry).

Our packaging process:

• • Parts individually wrapped or bagged to prevent scratching
• • Foam padding, bubble wrap, or custom inserts for protection
• • Heavy-duty cardboard boxes or wooden crates for sea freight
• • ISPM 15 compliant heat-treated timber pallets (no quarantine delays)
• • Clearly marked with PO numbers and handling instructions
• • VCI (vapor corrosion inhibitor) paper for corrosion protection during sea transit

All shipments are insured for loss or damage. Photo documentation of packaging available on request.

We machine 50+ material grades including:

Stainless Steel: 304/304L, 316/316L, 17-4 PH, 303, 321, 410, 416, Duplex 2205/2507

Aluminum: 6061-T6, 7075-T6, 2024-T3, 5083-H321, MIC-6

Titanium: Grade 2, Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V), Grade 9, Grade 23

Nickel Alloys: Inconel 625/718, Hastelloy C-276, Monel 400

Other: Bronze, brass, tool steels, engineering plastics

All materials come with full traceability and EN 10204 3.1 material certificates. View our complete materials database: Materials Index

Equipment capabilities:

• • 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis CNC machining centers
• • CNC turning (lathes) with live tooling
• • Swiss-type automatic lathes for small precision parts
• • Size range: 5mm to 1200mm parts, up to 500kg
• • Tolerances: ±0.005mm achievable

Value-added services:

• • Heat treatment (hardening, stress relief, annealing)
• • Surface finishing (anodizing, plating, powder coating, passivation)
• • Assembly and sub-assembly
• • Welding and fabrication
• • Testing and inspection (CMM, optical, NDT)

We accept all standard formats:

• • 2D Drawings: PDF, DWG, DXF
• • 3D Models: STEP, IGES, Parasolid, STL
• • Native CAD: SolidWorks, Inventor, CATIA, Creo, Fusion 360

For accurate quotes, please include:

• • All dimensions and tolerances clearly marked
• • Material specification (grade, condition, form)
• • Surface finish requirements (if any)
• • Any special requirements (heat treatment, coatings, inspection)
• • Quantity needed

Yes, we provide free DFM reviews:

Our engineering team will review your designs and suggest optimizations to:

• • Reduce manufacturing costs (tool access, setup time, special tooling)
• • Improve producibility (eliminate difficult features)
• • Maintain or enhance functionality
• • Reduce lead times

Example savings: Changing a non-standard bore diameter to a standard size can eliminate custom tooling and save $12+ per part forever.

We provide DFM feedback with quotes at no charge. Share your designs early in the development process for maximum cost savings.