Quality · claims, rework, contract risk

Dimensional Claims, Rework and Penalty Clauses

The buyer bears the risk of an unenforceable dimensional claim when the drawing never names a tolerance standard. EN 755-9 is the reference; without it, “out of tolerance” has no definition. Close the gap with three contract paths: rework at seller cost, concession acceptance with a written credit, or remake of the non-conforming metres.

Tolerance reference: EN 755-9 (name it on the PO)
Claim window: 7 days transit / 30 days dimensional
Three paths: Rework · concession · remake
Read: 11 minutes

Quality lab measuring aluminium T-slot extrusions with calipers and height gauge

Short answer

A dimensional claim only works if the purchase order and drawing name EN 755-9 for extruded tolerances (and EN ISO 7599 when anodising is specified; GB/T 6892 may sit alongside for China-mill lots). Visible transit damage must be notified within 7 days of delivery; dimensional and alloy defects within 30 days, with caliper or CMM readings, bar IDs and the mill certificate attached. Once a claim is accepted, the three remedies are rework of the out-of-tolerance metres, concession acceptance against a negotiated credit, or remake/replacement of the rejected quantity. First-article approval on a new die (sample metres signed before the full press run) is what stops a batch dispute. Payment remains T/T 30% deposit + 70% before shipment or L/C at sight; Incoterms FOB / CIF / DAP / DDP decide who holds the goods when the clock starts.

Inspector measuring aluminium extrusion wall thickness with digital calipers — Record wall, slot mouth and CCD at both ends of the bar against EN 755-9.

What warranty do you give on anodised 2020

Anodising warranty covers coating class and adhesion under EN ISO 7599 for the named AA thickness — not unlimited colour permanence or damage from handling, machining or outdoor chalking beyond that class.

For silver or black anodised T-slot (including 20×20 and every other common section), the PO should state AA15 or AA20 to EN ISO 7599. The warranty period we write into supply terms is 12 months from the ship date against coating failure: thickness below the named class, soft film, or peel under agreed tape/adhesion checks. Colour is matched within the same bath lot; mixing lots across a visible frame face is a buyer decision. Dimensional warranty stays under EN 755-9 and is separate from the coating warranty. The table below uses the same structure for every section size buyers ask about.

Section	Finish standard	What is warranted	Window & exclusions	Buyer action
100×100	EN ISO 7599 AA15 / AA20 clear or black	Coating thickness & adhesion per batch cert; colour match on same rack lot	12 months from ship date against coating failure (peel, soft film, thickness below named AA class); excludes mechanical abuse and outdoor chalking beyond stated class	Name AA class + EN ISO 7599 on PO; keep bath-lot ID
160×80	EN ISO 7599 AA15 / AA20 clear or black	Coating thickness & adhesion per batch cert; colour match on same rack lot	12 months from ship date against coating failure (peel, soft film, thickness below named AA class); excludes mechanical abuse and outdoor chalking beyond stated class	Name AA class + EN ISO 7599 on PO; keep bath-lot ID
20×20	EN ISO 7599 AA15 / AA20 clear or black	Coating thickness & adhesion per batch cert; colour match on same rack lot	12 months from ship date against coating failure (peel, soft film, thickness below named AA class); excludes mechanical abuse and outdoor chalking beyond stated class	Name AA class + EN ISO 7599 on PO; keep bath-lot ID
30×30	EN ISO 7599 AA15 / AA20 clear or black	Coating thickness & adhesion per batch cert; colour match on same rack lot	12 months from ship date against coating failure (peel, soft film, thickness below named AA class); excludes mechanical abuse and outdoor chalking beyond stated class	Name AA class + EN ISO 7599 on PO; keep bath-lot ID
40×40	EN ISO 7599 AA15 / AA20 clear or black	Coating thickness & adhesion per batch cert; colour match on same rack lot	12 months from ship date against coating failure (peel, soft film, thickness below named AA class); excludes mechanical abuse and outdoor chalking beyond stated class	Name AA class + EN ISO 7599 on PO; keep bath-lot ID
40×80	EN ISO 7599 AA15 / AA20 clear or black	Coating thickness & adhesion per batch cert; colour match on same rack lot	12 months from ship date against coating failure (peel, soft film, thickness below named AA class); excludes mechanical abuse and outdoor chalking beyond stated class	Name AA class + EN ISO 7599 on PO; keep bath-lot ID
45×45	EN ISO 7599 AA15 / AA20 clear or black	Coating thickness & adhesion per batch cert; colour match on same rack lot	12 months from ship date against coating failure (peel, soft film, thickness below named AA class); excludes mechanical abuse and outdoor chalking beyond stated class	Name AA class + EN ISO 7599 on PO; keep bath-lot ID
45×90	EN ISO 7599 AA15 / AA20 clear or black	Coating thickness & adhesion per batch cert; colour match on same rack lot	12 months from ship date against coating failure (peel, soft film, thickness below named AA class); excludes mechanical abuse and outdoor chalking beyond stated class	Name AA class + EN ISO 7599 on PO; keep bath-lot ID
50×50	EN ISO 7599 AA15 / AA20 clear or black	Coating thickness & adhesion per batch cert; colour match on same rack lot	12 months from ship date against coating failure (peel, soft film, thickness below named AA class); excludes mechanical abuse and outdoor chalking beyond stated class	Name AA class + EN ISO 7599 on PO; keep bath-lot ID
80×80	EN ISO 7599 AA15 / AA20 clear or black	Coating thickness & adhesion per batch cert; colour match on same rack lot	12 months from ship date against coating failure (peel, soft film, thickness below named AA class); excludes mechanical abuse and outdoor chalking beyond stated class	Name AA class + EN ISO 7599 on PO; keep bath-lot ID
90×90	EN ISO 7599 AA15 / AA20 clear or black	Coating thickness & adhesion per batch cert; colour match on same rack lot	12 months from ship date against coating failure (peel, soft film, thickness below named AA class); excludes mechanical abuse and outdoor chalking beyond stated class	Name AA class + EN ISO 7599 on PO; keep bath-lot ID

Can i replace a damaged 2020 section without replacing the frame

Yes — a single damaged bar can be cut out and replaced if the replacement shares the same die geometry, slot mouth and core-hole diameter as the frame already built.

T-slot frames are modular: one bent or scratched 6 m bar does not force a full teardown when hardware and slot geometry match. Order the same section and finish, prefer the same die number, and cut the insert to measured length on site. For load-bearing uprights, check twist and straightness of the replacement against EN 755-9 form limits before bolting. The table collapses the same answer across the sizes buyers name in the question.

Section	Replace one bar?	Match requirement	Practical tip	BOM note
100×100	Yes — cut-in replacement bar if slot/CCD match	Same die number + finish lot preferred	Measure damaged length; order +10% spare for install scrap	Keep die number on frame BOM
160×80	Yes — cut-in replacement bar if slot/CCD match	Same die number + finish lot preferred	Measure damaged length; order +10% spare for install scrap	Keep die number on frame BOM
20×20	Yes — cut-in replacement bar if slot/CCD match	Same die number + finish lot preferred	Measure damaged length; order +10% spare for install scrap	Keep die number on frame BOM
30×30	Yes — cut-in replacement bar if slot/CCD match	Same die number + finish lot preferred	Measure damaged length; order +10% spare for install scrap	Keep die number on frame BOM
40×40	Yes — cut-in replacement bar if slot/CCD match	Same die number + finish lot preferred	Measure damaged length; order +10% spare for install scrap	Keep die number on frame BOM
40×80	Yes — cut-in replacement bar if slot/CCD match	Same die number + finish lot preferred	Measure damaged length; order +10% spare for install scrap	Keep die number on frame BOM
45×45	Yes — cut-in replacement bar if slot/CCD match	Same die number + finish lot preferred	Measure damaged length; order +10% spare for install scrap	Keep die number on frame BOM
45×90	Yes — cut-in replacement bar if slot/CCD match	Same die number + finish lot preferred	Measure damaged length; order +10% spare for install scrap	Keep die number on frame BOM
50×50	Yes — cut-in replacement bar if slot/CCD match	Same die number + finish lot preferred	Measure damaged length; order +10% spare for install scrap	Keep die number on frame BOM
80×80	Yes — cut-in replacement bar if slot/CCD match	Same die number + finish lot preferred	Measure damaged length; order +10% spare for install scrap	Keep die number on frame BOM
90×90	Yes — cut-in replacement bar if slot/CCD match	Same die number + finish lot preferred	Measure damaged length; order +10% spare for install scrap	Keep die number on frame BOM

What is your policy on dimensional claims after delivery

Dimensional claims after delivery are accepted only against the standard named on the PO — EN 755-9 for extruded dimensions and form — with measured evidence filed inside the claim window.

Notify visible transit damage within 7 days of delivery (photos of packing and the bar, carrier note if available). Notify dimensional or form defects within 30 days, attaching readings for the critical dimensions, bar/bundle IDs and the mill certificate. Do not machine, anodise further or install the contested metres before we agree a path; processing can void a claim. Accepted claims follow one of three paths: (1) rework where the geometry allows, (2) concession acceptance with a written price credit, or (3) remake/replacement of the non-conforming quantity on the next press slot. Payment terms stay T/T 30% + 70% before shipment or L/C at sight; under FOB the claim clock starts at destination receipt of the goods the buyer arranged to move.

What happens if the alloy grade is wrong on the mill certificate

If the mill certificate shows a different alloy or temper than the PO, the lot is non-conforming on documentation even when the bars look correct — hold the metal and open a claim before install.

Alloy and temper (for example EN AW-6063-T5 vs 6061-T6) decide mechanical properties and, under EN 755-9, which alloy group’s tolerance table applies. A wrong grade on the EN 10204 3.1 certificate is treated as a material non-conformity: options are quarantine and remake on the correct billet, or laboratory verification (spectrometer / tensile) if the certificate alone is suspected wrong. Do not build structural frames on an unverified grade. GB/T 6892 may appear on China-mill paperwork alongside the EN designation; both must match the ordered grade.

What is the claim window for dimensional defects

The claim window for dimensional defects is 30 days from delivery at the named place, with 7 days for obvious transit and packing damage.

Evidence must include the PO line, the named standard (EN 755-9), measured values with instrument type, photos of the bar ID, and the mill certificate. Claims opened after the window, or after the buyer has cut, machined or installed the contested metres without prior written agreement, are handled as commercial discussions, not warranty claims. First-article approval on a new die — typically a few sample metres signed before the bulk run — is the practical way to keep the 30-day window from becoming a batch dispute.

Who pays for rework if the profile is out of tolerance

When the profile is proven out of tolerance against the named EN 755-9 limits, the seller pays for agreed rework or remake of the non-conforming metres; the buyer pays for rework caused by drawing errors, unstated critical dimensions, or damage after receipt.

Path A — rework: straighten, recut or machine within agreed limits at seller cost when salvage is technical and economic. Path B — concession: buyer keeps the metal against a written credit, useful when the out-of-tolerance feature is non-critical. Path C — remake: reject and replace the metres; tooling title stays as agreed under die ownership terms, and die making time does not restart unless the drawing changes. Freight for return of rejected bars follows the Incoterm and the claim settlement note. Never assume unlimited consequential damages — supply terms cap remedy at repair, replace or credit on the affected line.

Is there a penalty clause for late delivery of (by size)

Late-delivery liquidated damages apply only when the PO names a firm ship week, the buyer paid the deposit on time, and the delay is on the seller’s production path — section size does not change the clause structure.

We do not write open-ended penalties. The workable clause is a weekly percentage of the delayed line value with a hard cap, excluding consequential loss (lost install labour, third-party penalties the buyer accepted alone). Ocean delay after FOB hand-over sits with the carrier schedule, not the extrusion calendar. Tie the ship week to die status: a new die adds 7–12 days before any bar exists, which must be inside the agreed calendar, not treated as a surprise penalty trigger. See also die making adds 7–12 days and how die cost amortises per meter.

Scenario	Who bears it	What the contract should say	Mitigation
Late FOB ship of 100×100	Seller bears agreed liquidated damages only if PO names a firm ship week and buyer met deposit date	Cap damages at 0.5% of delayed line value per full week, max 5%; no consequential loss	Build +7 day buffer; air samples if install is fixed
Late FOB ship of 160×80	Seller bears agreed liquidated damages only if PO names a firm ship week and buyer met deposit date	Cap damages at 0.5% of delayed line value per full week, max 5%; no consequential loss	Build +7 day buffer; air samples if install is fixed
Late FOB ship of 20×20	Seller bears agreed liquidated damages only if PO names a firm ship week and buyer met deposit date	Cap damages at 0.5% of delayed line value per full week, max 5%; no consequential loss	Build +7 day buffer; air samples if install is fixed
Late FOB ship of 30×30	Seller bears agreed liquidated damages only if PO names a firm ship week and buyer met deposit date	Cap damages at 0.5% of delayed line value per full week, max 5%; no consequential loss	Build +7 day buffer; air samples if install is fixed
Late FOB ship of 40×40	Seller bears agreed liquidated damages only if PO names a firm ship week and buyer met deposit date	Cap damages at 0.5% of delayed line value per full week, max 5%; no consequential loss	Build +7 day buffer; air samples if install is fixed
Late FOB ship of 40×80	Seller bears agreed liquidated damages only if PO names a firm ship week and buyer met deposit date	Cap damages at 0.5% of delayed line value per full week, max 5%; no consequential loss	Build +7 day buffer; air samples if install is fixed
Late FOB ship of 45×45	Seller bears agreed liquidated damages only if PO names a firm ship week and buyer met deposit date	Cap damages at 0.5% of delayed line value per full week, max 5%; no consequential loss	Build +7 day buffer; air samples if install is fixed
Late FOB ship of 45×90	Seller bears agreed liquidated damages only if PO names a firm ship week and buyer met deposit date	Cap damages at 0.5% of delayed line value per full week, max 5%; no consequential loss	Build +7 day buffer; air samples if install is fixed
Late FOB ship of 50×50	Seller bears agreed liquidated damages only if PO names a firm ship week and buyer met deposit date	Cap damages at 0.5% of delayed line value per full week, max 5%; no consequential loss	Build +7 day buffer; air samples if install is fixed
Late FOB ship of 80×80	Seller bears agreed liquidated damages only if PO names a firm ship week and buyer met deposit date	Cap damages at 0.5% of delayed line value per full week, max 5%; no consequential loss	Build +7 day buffer; air samples if install is fixed
Late FOB ship of 90×90	Seller bears agreed liquidated damages only if PO names a firm ship week and buyer met deposit date	Cap damages at 0.5% of delayed line value per full week, max 5%; no consequential loss	Build +7 day buffer; air samples if install is fixed

RFQ checklist — claims & rework

Tolerance standard — EN 755-9 on drawing and PO; EN ISO 7599 + AA class if anodised.
Critical dimensions — mark which walls, slot mouth or CCD are fit-critical.
First article — sample metres to approve before bulk press on a new die.
Claim contacts — email and phone for 7-day / 30-day notices.
Incoterm — FOB / CIF / DAP / DDP so the delivery clock is unambiguous.

Send the drawing with EN 755-9 named and the critical dimensions circled. That single step prevents most post-delivery arguments.

Four claim failures to avoid

No standard on the POWithout EN 755-9, “out of tolerance” is an opinion, not a claim.

Late noticeAfter 30 days, or after machining the bars, evidence is compromised.

Photo-only claimsClaims need measurements, bar IDs and the mill certificate.

Open-ended penaltiesUncapped late fees are rarely enforceable; use a capped weekly %.

Related on this site

how die cost amortises per meter — cost side when remake metres are priced
minimum order with a new die — sample vs bulk gates
die making adds 7–12 days — calendar inside any late-ship clause
who owns the die — tooling title if remake moves supplier

Terms used in this article

EN 755-9: European standard for dimensional and form tolerances on extruded aluminium profiles.
EN ISO 7599: Anodising specification standard; pair with AA15 / AA20 thickness class.
Concession: Buyer accepts non-conforming metres against a written price credit.
First article: Sample metres approved before the full production press run.
Liquidated damages: Pre-agreed, capped sum for late delivery — not open consequential loss.

Questions buyers ask

How do i protect myself against a price increase after ordering

Lock metal and process prices on the confirmed PO with a validity date (typically 14 days on the quote, then firm on deposit). T/T 30% deposit + 70% before shipment or L/C at sight freezes the commercial deal. Open quotes are not protected; confirmed lines are invoiced at the PO price unless both parties sign a change order.

What is your policy on price changes during a contract

Call-off or annual frame contracts state the index or review date in writing. Confirmed releases already accepted keep their unit price. Future releases follow the reviewed schedule after the notice period in the frame agreement. No silent mid-shipment increases on a confirmed line.

What happens if the first article is out of tolerance

Stop the bulk run. Measure against EN 755-9, decide rework on the sample die setup, adjust the tool, or re-cut the die. Bulk metal is not pressed until the signed first article is within limits. That is the cheapest place to catch a dimensional error.

What if the goods arrive out of tolerance

Notify within 30 days with measurements and the mill certificate. Do not install the contested metres. Agreed remedies are rework, concession credit, or remake of the non-conforming quantity under the named EN 755-9 limits.

Who owns the tooling

Die ownership follows the written tooling agreement — buyer-paid dies are typically buyer-titled after full die payment; supplier-amortised dies stay with the supplier until an agreed buy-out. Remake claims do not automatically transfer title. See who owns the die.

Also searched as: aluminium extrusion dimensional claims, EN 755-9 claim window, who pays rework out of tolerance profile, anodised 2020 warranty, penalty clause late delivery T-slot, first article aluminium extrusion, mill certificate wrong alloy.

Send the drawing with EN 755-9 named

Circle critical dimensions, state AA class if anodised, and say whether you need first-article metres before the bulk run. We return a claim-ready PO wording with the 7-day / 30-day windows and the three remedy paths.

Request claim-ready PO wording