I know you worry about sharing your private designs for undercarriage parts. Will your valuable data fall into the wrong hands? I have asked myself this question many times when working with new suppliers.
You need a clear Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to protect your custom designs, brand, and trade secrets in B2B manufacturing. We protect your information through strict internal protocols, limited data access, and a legally binding contract that outlines clear penalties for any breaches.
Sharing technical drawings and brand details is a necessary step to start production. This process should feel secure, not risky. Let us discuss how we make sure your valuable intellectual property stays safe.
Do You Have a Standard NDA Template I Can Review?
I always want to make sure my business is secure before sending any sensitive data. It is important to know the rules of the game upfront.
Yes, we have a standard Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) template ready for your review, and we can quickly adapt it to your specific legal needs.
We know that a strong NDA is the first layer of defense for your intellectual property (IP) 1. We provide a formal NDA template right away. You can review this document with your legal team. Our standard NDA template covers all the key areas. These areas include what information is confidential, the required level of care, and what happens if the agreement is broken.
What Makes Our NDA Template Strong?
Our NDA is more than just a piece of paper. It is a legal promise. The document clearly defines what we call "Confidential Information." This term includes more than just your CAD files for the track rollers or sprockets. It also covers your brand's unique specifications, pricing strategies, and even the names of your key contacts. We make sure the language is precise. This means there is no room for confusion about what we must keep secret.
A simple NDA may not be enough when dealing with an overseas manufacturer 2. For this reason, our NDA has elements of a Non-Disclosure, Non-Use, and Non-Circumvention (NNN) agreement. An NNN agreement is stronger than a regular NDA.
- Non-Disclosure: We promise not to tell anyone your secrets.
- Non-Use: We promise not to use your designs to make and sell our own version of your product. We will only use your design to make your parts.
- Non-Circumvention: We promise not to bypass you and sell directly to your customers.
These three points close the common loopholes that can hurt an importer like you. Our template also includes clear clauses about the ownership of the tooling and molds 3 we create for your custom parts. You pay for the tooling. This means you own it. We cannot use it for anyone else.
Why You Should Also Consider a Patent
An NDA is a contract. A contract is only as good as the party signing it. A patent is a government-granted right. It gives you the power to stop anyone from making, using, or selling your invention for a set time.
| Protection Type | Legal Basis | Protection Scope | Ideal Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDA/NNN | Contract Law | Protects secrets and relationships | Early discussions with suppliers; trade secrets |
| Utility Patent | IP Law (Government) | Protects how a part works (function) | Novel undercarriage part mechanism/design |
| Design Patent | IP Law (Government) | Protects how a part looks (appearance) | Unique tooth shape on a sprocket |
I always suggest that you look into getting a patent for your truly unique designs 4. An NDA protects you from a breach of trust. A patent protects you from anyone, anywhere, using your invention. The best security uses both an NNN agreement and relevant patents. We are happy to help you with the technical information needed for your patent application. We want you to feel totally safe working with us.
How Do You Enforce the NDA Within Your Factory and With Your Staff?
It is good to have a contract, but what happens inside the factory? I often worry if every worker knows how important my designs are. This is a common and fair concern for any buyer.
We enforce the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) through a strict "need-to-know" internal policy, employee contracts, and regular training sessions for all relevant staff at our facility in Fujian, China.
A contract with the company is not enough. The people who handle your designs must also be bound to secrecy. Our enforcement plan starts with our over 100 employees. Every person who could see your drawings or specifications must follow a strict process. This includes everyone from the R&D team to the manufacturing floor supervisors 5.
Our 3-Step Internal IP Security Process
We have put in place three clear steps to make sure your data is secure inside our operations:
- Limited Access: We use a "need-to-know" rule. Your custom design files are kept in a secure, digital system. Only the few people who directly need the information for their job can access it. For example, a sales person only sees the part number and price. A heat treatment technician only sees the required temperature and time. They do not see your brand name or the full assembly drawing. This limits the risk of accidental or careless leaks.
- Staff Agreements: Every employee, especially the 20+ professional technical staff, signs a confidentiality clause in their employment contract. This clause mirrors the commitment we make to you in the NDA. If an employee breaks this rule, they face serious consequences. These consequences include firing and legal action. This shows all our team members that protecting customer IP is a non-negotiable part of their job.
- Regular Training: We hold mandatory training sessions for all relevant staff 6. These sessions focus on the importance of IP protection and the correct way to handle confidential documents (both digital and paper). We make sure everyone understands the value of your brand and the serious nature of the NDA.
Material Traceability and Quality Control
The physical parts we make for you also need protection. We control this through our ISO 9001 certified quality system 7. This system ensures every part is tracked from the raw material to the final box.
| Manufacturing Stage | IP Security Checkpoint | Example of Data Protected |
|---|---|---|
| R&D/Design | Restricted digital access; watermarked prints | Custom pitch or link geometry of the track chain |
| Tooling/Mold | Tooling is physically locked and labeled with your name | Unique mold for your brand's bucket tooth design |
| Production Floor | Work orders only show necessary specs, no customer name | Specific material hardness (HRC) required after heat treatment |
| Final Packaging | Only your brand's labels are used; no other customer marks | Your private brand name and SKU on the box label |
This strict process means we can trace any part or document back to the person who handled it. This high level of control is key to our reputation as a trusted B2B manufacturer in China 8. We know that trust is built through clear action, not just words.
Have You Worked With Other Private Label Brands Under an NDA Before?
It is easy for a supplier to say they can do something. It is better when they can prove it with experience. I need to know you have successfully managed the IP of other global brands.
Yes, we have a long history of successfully serving as an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for global engineering machinery brands, and all of these long-term partnerships are secured by robust Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).
For over 20 years, our core business has been built on trust and reliable supply. A large part of this work involves manufacturing for other big names. These are brands you would know. They trust us to make high-quality, compatible parts like track chains and drive sprockets for their equipment. This is known as OEM service or private labeling 9.
Our History as a Trusted OEM Partner
When a major brand asks us to make their parts, they give us their complete technical specifications. This includes detailed CAD drawings, specific material compositions, and complex heat treatment parameters. This is all highly confidential information. It is their business secret.
Our work with these global leaders proves two things to you:
- Technical Capability: We can meet the extremely high quality and specification standards of the world's best brands.
- Confidentiality Track Record: We have kept their secrets safe for decades. If we broke an NDA, we would lose those major OEM contracts instantly. Our business success depends completely on our ability to be a secure and reliable partner.
We do not just offer a guarantee; we offer a proven track record. The strict quality controls (ISO9001, 100% pre-shipment inspection) that protect our parts also protect your data. A company that is serious about quality is always serious about compliance and security 10.
How We Handle Custom Tooling Ownership
A major part of working with a private label brand is the custom tooling. For a unique undercarriage part, we might have to create a new mold or die. This custom tooling is designed for your part alone.
| Tooling Detail | Dingtai's Policy | Why This Matters to You |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | You own the tooling outright. | Ensures no one else can use your mold without your permission. |
| Storage | Tooling is stored securely and labeled with your specific ID. | Prevents accidental or unauthorized use for another customer's order. |
| Maintenance | We maintain the tooling at our cost for the duration of the contract. | Guarantees the tooling is always ready for your next order, ensuring supply stability. |
| Transfer/Destruction | You decide if we must destroy it or ship it back to you if we stop working together. | Gives you full control over your physical IP assets after the contract ends. |
When David Miller, a procurement director, works with us, he is not just buying parts. He is buying peace of mind. He knows the tooling for his unique, high-wear-resistance track shoe is locked away. He knows it will only be used to make his products. This level of security is what keeps customers like him coming back year after year.
Will You Agree Not to Sell My Custom Parts to Any Other Customer?
My biggest fear is seeing my unique product sold by a competitor. I am bringing you a winning design. I want to be the only one selling it.
Absolutely, we will agree in the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and the main sales contract that your custom-designed undercarriage parts will be manufactured exclusively for you and will not be sold to any other customer or distributor.
This is a key commitment in our business model. When we offer OEM or custom-design services, the finished product belongs only to the customer who paid for the design and tooling. We are a direct producer. We are not a simple trading company that might source from many different factories. This means we have direct control over the entire production run.
Defining "Custom Parts"
We need to be clear about what we are protecting. There are two main types of parts we deal with:
- Standard Aftermarket Parts: These are parts like a regular D85 track roller. The design is based on the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specs. This design is public knowledge and is sold to many of our distributor customers globally. We will always sell these to other customers.
- Your Custom Parts: These are parts that have a unique change you requested. Maybe you need a special material alloy for a sprocket to handle extremely cold mines in Canada. Maybe you have a unique shape for a bulldozer bucket tooth for hard rock in Australia. These customized designs are exclusive to you.
The NDA clearly defines and lists the custom parts or unique specifications that fall under the exclusive agreement. We promise not to sell your custom sprocket or your uniquely branded track link to anyone else. This promise extends to all our sales channels. This includes our website, Alibaba store, and our global network of aftermarket dealers.
The Problem of Part "Diversion"
Some buyers worry about "diversion." Diversion is when a manufacturer makes extra units of your product and sells them secretly. We stop this by having a clear production and inventory audit system.
- Order Tracking: Every order has a clear production batch number. The number of parts produced must match the number of parts shipped to you.
- Inventory Checks: Our quality control team regularly counts the stock. Any extra custom parts that do not match a shipment must be accounted for.
- Tooling Control: Since we own and control the factory and the tooling, we can make sure your mold is only put on the machine when we are making your official order.
Our business is built on long-term, high-volume partnerships. Losing a major customer like David Miller because of a breach of trust is a huge risk we will not take. We always honor the exclusivity we promise. We see ourselves as an extension of your supply chain, not a competitor.
Conclusion
We know that a strong partnership is built on trust and concrete action. We protect your designs with a robust NDA, internal security rules, and a proven history of serving global OEM clients. We will only make and sell your custom parts to you.
Footnotes
1. Explore the official definition and scope of intellectual property (IP). ↩︎
2. Understand Incoterms and how they define responsibility in international shipping with overseas manufacturer. ↩︎
3. Learn the difference between manufacturing tooling and molds in the production process. ↩︎
4. Official resource on the types and basics of United States patents for inventions and designs. ↩︎
5. Insights into the evolving roles and responsibilities of manufacturing floor supervisors in modern factories. ↩︎
6. Guide on implementing mandatory training sessions for employees on confidentiality and IP protection. ↩︎
7. Official information on the ISO 9001 standard for quality management systems and its benefits. ↩︎
8. Important legal considerations and practical advice for working with a B2B manufacturer in China. ↩︎
9. Definition and explanation of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) service and private labeling in business. ↩︎
10. Resources from the National Institute of Standards and Technology on modern compliance and security best practices. ↩︎