How to Inquire

Step one: name the line

An inquiry should start by naming the line, panel type, or machine under consideration. A name gives the supplier a starting point, and it lets the supplier place the inquiry inside the published range. A buyer who names a line that the supplier publishes will receive a reply about that line, while a buyer who names a line outside the published range will receive a reply that says so, which is itself useful information.

Naming the line is not the same as choosing it. A buyer may name two lines under consideration, and may say which one seems closer and why. That shortlist discipline is better than naming one line in advance, because the supplier can then answer about the comparison, rather than defending or confirming a single name.

Step two: describe the task

An inquiry should describe the screening or processing task in plain terms. The task description should say what is being screened, crushed, washed, or upgraded, and what fractions or outcomes are sought. It should say which stage the task belongs to in the handling chain, and what happens before and after that stage.

A task description written that way gives the supplier a task to answer. A task description that names only a line, without a task, gives the supplier a name to guess at. The guides on this site explain how to describe each task type, and the inquiry checklist page gathers those descriptions into a brief.

Step three: describe the feed and the setting

An inquiry should describe the feed and the setting fully. The feed description should cover the material in general terms, how it flows, whether it is dry or damp, whether it tends to cling or to blind openings, and how abrasive it is. The setting description should cover the machine, the circuit, and the maintenance setting.

Feed and setting descriptions matter more than size descriptions alone, because size leaves out the behaviours that most affect line and panel choice. A buyer who describes feed and setting fully will receive a reply that addresses the actual task, while a buyer who describes only size will receive a reply that addresses size alone.

Step four: ask about availability, certificates, and timing

An inquiry should ask about availability for the line or panel type named in the brief, and about which certificates apply to that type and what documents the supplier can provide. Certificates are available upon request, and the brief should ask about them early, because a line that is available without the documents a buyer needs is not yet a complete order.

An inquiry should also ask about timing as buyer imperative sentences. Please confirm the minimum order quantity in your inquiry. Please confirm the lead time before placing an order. Please confirm the price, the minimum order quantity, and the lead time before payment. Those sentences belong in the brief alongside the technical questions.

Step five: send the inquiry and read the reply against the brief

An inquiry written from the steps above should be sent through the inquiry page, which carries the form for a screening inquiry. The form asks for a name, an email address, and a description of the screening task and the line under consideration, and the brief should be written into that description. The contact page carries the company phone and email for a buyer who prefers to contact the supplier directly.

When the reply arrives, it should be read against the brief: does it address the task, the feed, the setting, availability, certificates, and timing? A reply that addresses all six will usually settle the next step. A reply that addresses only some of them points to the questions that still need asking, and those questions should be asked in a follow-up that quotes the brief, so the supplier can answer the remaining questions in context.

What a good inquiry looks like, in outline

A good inquiry, in outline, names the line or panel type, describes the task and the stage it belongs to, describes the feed and the setting, and asks about availability, certificates, and timing. It confirms quantity and timing before payment, and it describes the maintenance setting. It does not invent figures, and it does not ask the supplier to guess at a task.

That outline is the whole method of this site in miniature. The line pages describe the lines, the guides describe the tasks, the checklist gathers the questions, and this page gathers the steps. A buyer who follows the outline will usually receive a reply that addresses the actual task, and that is the outcome this site exists to support.

Questions to settle before sending an inquiry

• Which line, panel type, or machine is under consideration?
• What task does it serve, and which stage does it belong to?
• What feed and setting should the brief describe?
• What should the brief ask about availability, certificates, and timing?