What is a China plus one sourcing strategy?

China plus one is a procurement strategy where a company keeps some supply in China but adds a second source in another country to reduce risk. For precision castings, that second source is increasingly India, because Indian foundries combine competitive cost, English-language engineering, broad alloy capability and international quality certifications.

Is India a good alternative to China for precision castings?

Yes, for most stainless steel, alloy steel, carbon steel and superalloy castings. India produces a large and growing share of the world's castings, has a deep base of skilled foundries, and offers English-language engineering, clear IP and contract terms, and ISO-certified quality. Trushape casts parts from 0.003 to 90 kg (0.007 to 198 lb) in 50+ alloy grades for buyers across North America and Europe.

How do I de-risk moving my castings to a new supplier?

Treat it as a qualification, not a switch. Start by dual-sourcing rather than replacing everything at once, pick representative non-critical parts first, run a first-article or pilot batch, and audit the documentation and certifications, not just the unit price. A single-source foundry that casts, machines, finishes and inspects in-house reduces the number of handoffs you have to qualify.

Can I source stainless steel castings from India for the US or Europe?

Yes. Trushape is an export-focused foundry that ships finished, inspected castings to procurement teams, design engineers and OEM and Tier-1 and Tier-2 supply chains across North America and all of Europe. We supply EN 10204 3.1 material test certificates and full traceability, so each part arrives with the documentation that buyers in those markets expect.

What certifications should an India casting supplier have?

At a minimum, ISO 9001 for quality management. For regulated work, look for sector-specific certification. Trushape holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 13485:2016 for medical device quality. We are honest about the gaps: we are not AS9100, NADCAP, IATF 16949, PED or ASME certified, and we support aerospace, automotive series and pressure work as MRO, aftermarket and prototype, backed by EN 10204 3.1 documentation.

How long does it take to qualify a new casting supplier in India?

It depends on the part, the alloy and your approval process, so we do not quote a single number. A typical path runs from a drawing or sample review and quotation, to tooling and a first-article sample, to a pilot batch, and then to series supply. Because Trushape casts, machines, finishes and inspects in-house, fewer separate vendors need to be qualified, which keeps the timeline tighter.