I. Total Price Calculation Framework
Framework for calculating the total price. According to industry data, the price of custom conveyor lines is typically calculated based on this breakdown: raw material costs (40%–50%), processing and assembly costs (20%–30%), electrical control components (20%–25%), and profit/taxes (10%–15%).
Design fees (covering process analysis, 3D modeling, simulation verification, and engineering drawings) account for 5%–10% of the total cost; installation and commissioning account for 5%–10%; and a provision of 3%–5% of the equipment value is made for after-sales service. Final quotes are adjusted slightly based on specific requirements.
II. Calculating Material Costs
How material costs are calculated. Based on industry formulas, material cost equals the net weight of the material multiplied by (1 + processing loss coefficient) and the composite price per ton.
For non-standard machined parts, the cost includes raw materials plus processing fees;
for standard parts, costs are calculated by extracting brand, specifications, and quantities from the Bill of Materials (BOM). Material costs form the foundation of the custom quote, with visible components—such as profiles, chains, motors, gear reducers, controllers, and sensors—accounting for 40%–50% of the total.
III. Mechanical Processing Costs
Mechanical and processing costs.
According to industry data, mechanical structures (frames, sheet metal, non-standard parts) account for over 30%–35% of the total equipment cost.
Simple sheet metal work typically incurs a markup of 30%–50%, while complex milling, cavity machining, and precision finishing incur markups of 50%–80%. CNC machining costs approximately 280–450 RMB per hour, and sheet metal bending costs 15–30 RMB per bend. Processing fees are calculated by multiplying the total equipment weight by the unit processing price; process complexity directly drives up the unit price.
IV. Electrical Control Costs
How are electrical control costs calculated?
Industry data indicates that the cost of a standard asynchronous motor with fixed-frequency control accounts for approximately 10% of the total quote, whereas a servo motor combined with a PLC control system can reach 25%–30%; the higher the level of automation, the more significant the price premium for electrical controls. Specific requirements drive costs up: variable speed drives (VFDs) add 5,000–20,000 RMB; servo systems enable precise positioning; explosion-proof requirements necessitate specialized motors and control cabinets (increasing the total machine price by 25%–40%);
and intelligent linkage requires PLCs and touchscreens (with remote monitoring adding 30,000–80,000 RMB).
Electrical control configurations are selected based on specific needs.
V. Labor, Management, and Profit Markups
Markups for labor, management, and profit. Based on industry practice, labor costs for assembly and commissioning are typically estimated at 8%–12% of total material costs. Adding 5%–8% for management fees and 10%–15% for reasonable profit yields a realistic price range. The comprehensive formula is: Price = Processing Costs + Packaging & Shipping + Management Fees + Tooling Costs + Profit.
For example, if material costs are 10,000 RMB, the reasonable total price would be approximately 13,500 to 15,500 RMB.
Conclusion
How is the price for a custom non-standard assembly line calculated? The conclusion is a method of “itemized listing and tiered markups”: first, calculate material costs (net weight × waste factor × unit price; accounting for 40%–50% of the total); then add processing and assembly costs (20%–30%; higher precision commands higher prices), electrical control components (10%–30%; servo/PLC systems cost more than standard motor setups), design fees (5%–10%), and installation/commissioning costs (5%–10%); finally, add management fees (5%–8%) and profit (10%–15%).
In accordance with industry practice, suppliers should be required to provide an itemized quotation—listing design fees, material costs, costs for purchased components, processing fees, transportation costs, commissioning fees, administrative overhead, and profit margins separately, with the tax-inclusive price calculated by adding VAT to the pre-tax unit price.
Only by verifying these items against the required parameters (weight of conveyed material, production capacity, on-site length, and level of automation) can a truly reasonable custom price be determined.
