Production line sourcing with fewer surprises and stronger technical control.
CISH supports African manufacturers that need to source machinery, assemblies, controls, or line components without taking unnecessary procurement risk. We help define requirements, compare supplier offers properly, verify what will actually be delivered, and connect offshore sourcing decisions to real installation and production outcomes on the ground.
The right fit when your team needs buying support, not a black box.
First-time importers
Manufacturers sourcing from China for the first time and needing help with supplier filtering, contract structure, FAT, and shipping readiness.
Teams replacing part of a line
Plants buying a machine, module, or controls package rather than a full turnkey line, but still needing technical oversight to avoid mismatch with existing equipment.
Clients with a preferred vendor
Businesses that already know the supplier they want, but need an independent buyer-side representative to verify scope, quality, delivery realism, and FAT readiness.
Projects that need local accountability
Owners who want China pricing and manufacturing depth, while still having a partner in Africa who understands local installation, spares, duty, and commissioning realities.
Pick the modules you need — no forced bundles.
| Module | Description | Indicative pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier shortlist | 3–5 vetted candidates against your spec, with capability report | Fixed fee from USD 2 500 |
| Factory audit | Physical visit, photo report, certifications check, references | From USD 1 800 per audit |
| Negotiation & contract | English/Mandarin contract, INCOTERMS, payment terms, IP protection | % of contract value or fixed |
| FAT witnessing | On-site FAT, protocol against your spec, video record, signed report | Fixed fee per day on site |
| Logistics & customs | Freight booking, insurance, customs documentation support | Cost-plus or fixed |
| Pre-shipment inspection | Independent inspection before container loads | Fixed fee per container |
| Translation & liaison | Live engineering meetings in Mandarin/English | Hourly |
The six most common China-procurement mistakes — and how we prevent them.
MISTAKE
Trusting the Alibaba "Gold Supplier" badge
Many are trading companies fronting for a factory you've never met.
Our move: Physical audit of every supplier before a cent is paid.
MISTAKE
Signing the supplier's "standard contract"
It will favour them. It always does.
Our move: Bilingual contract (English governs). Payment backloaded: 30% / 50% FAT / 20% SAT. Liquidated damages. Neutral arbitration.
MISTAKE
Skipping FAT to save a trip
Once the container is on the boat, your leverage is gone.
Our move: Video FAT is the floor. In-person FAT recommended above USD 500 000. We witness on your behalf.
MISTAKE
Discovering customs duty is wrong at the port
HS classification errors are common and expensive.
Our move: We validate HS codes before contract signing, not at clearance.
What we help clients source
- Full machines and packaged line sections
- Controls, drives, instrumentation, and automation hardware
- Fabricated assemblies and machine frames
- Retrofit components and replacement systems
- Spare parts and planned support packages
Why total project cost matters more than machine price
The lowest quoted machine cost is often not the lowest project cost. Technical fit, FAT quality, shipping assumptions, installation readiness, spares availability, and local serviceability usually decide whether a sourcing decision was actually good business.
We do not take commissions from suppliers.
Our income is fees from clients only. That matters because procurement advice stops being trustworthy the moment a sourcing partner is quietly being paid to prefer one supplier over another.
Our guarantee
If you ever discover that we received a payment from a supplier on your project that was not disclosed upfront, our full fee for that project will be refunded.
That is the only way this promise means anything commercially.
An audited network — not a catalogue of anyone with a website.
Suppliers enter our database only after:
- Physical factory audit — photo report, certifications, engineering interview
- Reference check — at least three completed projects, references contacted
- First-transaction validation — a real project completed on time, on spec, on budget
Suppliers can also be removed — for missed schedules, quality regression, or ownership changes that affect engineering depth. The database is a living document.
Our network depth is in: food & beverage processing · plastics and packaging · building materials · metal fabrication · agro-processing · material handling · automation and utilities.
The hidden gaps that create expensive rework later.
Weak specifications
If the RFQ is vague, suppliers will quote against different assumptions, and price comparisons become meaningless.
FAT treated as optional
Without a clear FAT and acceptance criteria, you discover missing features or quality issues when the machine is already on the boat.
No install reality check
Machines get bought as if they will exist alone, without anyone checking utilities, footprint, site constraints, or how the package will integrate with existing plant systems.
If your project is large enough that these issues would materially affect startup, it may be better handled as a Turnkey Production Line rather than as a pure sourcing engagement.
Common questions on China sourcing.
These are usually the questions that sit between “we found a supplier” and “we are ready to commit money.” The answers matter because procurement problems become installation problems very quickly.
Procurement and sourcing in practice.
Worried about the money side? See how to pay a Chinese supplier safely and managing forex risk on a China import. Importing beyond South Africa? See importing into Nigeria or Kenya.
China procurement & FAT rescue
A direct-buy line drifting off-spec, 80% paid. Recovered mid-project — net slip cut from 30+ to ~10 weeks.
Chinese supplier audit checklist
What to verify on site, what to ignore, and the failure modes audits exist to catch.
Importing a production line from China
The full 12-stage sequence and what to budget on top of FOB.
Already know what you want to buy?
Send us your specification, current quote set, or bill of materials. We will tell you whether you need a shortlist, a supplier audit, a FAT plan, or a full delivery structure.