Terms & Conditions

Payment Terms

Payment terms are 1% discount if paid within 10 days, Net 30 days, unless otherwise agreed to in writing.

A minimum invoice charge of $100.00 applies to all orders.

Past-due accounts may be subject to credit hold, delayed shipment, suspension of processing, and/or additional collection costs. Crystallume PVD reserves the right to require prepayment, partial payment, or COD terms for any order at its discretion.

Quotations and Pricing

All quoted prices are valid only for the period stated on the quotation. If no expiration date is stated, quotations are valid for 30 days from the quote date.

Prices are subject to change without notice due to changes in material costs, labor, utilities, outside processing, special handling, masking, fixturing, cleaning, stripping, inspection, or other conditions affecting the cost of coating services.

Quoted pricing is based on the information, drawings, specifications, quantities, materials, part condition, and requirements provided at the time of quotation. Any change to part condition, quantity, geometry, material, masking requirements, preparation requirements, coating specification, delivery requirements, or inspection requirements may result in additional charges.

Purchase Orders

All orders are subject to acceptance by Crystallume PVD. Purchase orders must clearly identify the required coating, part quantity, material type, surface condition, masking requirements, specifications, drawings, revision levels, certifications, and any special handling or inspection requirements.

Customer purchase order terms that conflict with these Terms and Conditions are rejected unless expressly accepted in writing by an authorized representative of Crystallume PVD. Acceptance of a purchase order does not constitute acceptance of any conflicting or additional terms contained in the customer's purchase order or related documents.

Customer-Supplied Parts

Customer is responsible for providing parts that are suitable for PVD coating. Parts must be properly manufactured, heat treated, cleaned, deburred, and free of contamination, oils, silicone, waxes, rust inhibitors, oxidation, scale, plating defects, brazing residue, adhesive residue, grinding burn, loose material, prior coating failures, or other surface conditions that may affect coating adhesion, appearance, or performance.

PVD coating performance is highly dependent on the base material, surface finish, edge condition, heat treatment, prior processing, cleaning history, and part geometry. Customer is responsible for disclosing any prior coatings, surface treatments, plating, polishing compounds, blasting media, lubricants, rust inhibitors, cleaning compounds, or other processes used on the parts before shipment to Crystallume PVD.

Crystallume PVD reserves the right to reject, hold, or return parts that are unsuitable for coating or that require additional cleaning, stripping, masking, fixturing, inspection, testing, or special processing. Additional charges may apply.

Customer assumes responsibility for the value, condition, suitability, and performance of all customer-supplied parts.

Coating Risk Notice — Customer-Supplied Part Conditions

Crystallume PVD is not responsible for coating defects, cosmetic variation, adhesion issues, discoloration, peeling, staining, dimensional interference, or performance issues caused by customer-supplied part conditions, including but not limited to contamination, oil, coolant, polishing compound, rust, oxidation, scale, burrs, sharp edges, poor surface finish, prior coatings, plating, heat-treat residue, passivation, trapped fluids, porous materials, assemblies, unknown alloys, or inadequate packaging.

Parts submitted with non-standard or unknown surface conditions may be processed "as is" at the customer's risk unless special preparation, testing, or inspection is requested and approved in advance. Guidance on preparing parts for coating is available on our part preparation page.

Coating Process Limitations

It is understood that PVD coating is a technical process involving elevated temperatures, vacuum processing, cleaning, fixturing, and line-of-sight deposition. Even when all reasonable care, knowledge, and industry-standard methods are used, uncertainties and risks remain.

Unseen contamination, trapped oils, material defects, improper heat treatment, part porosity, brazing voids, sharp edges, poor surface preparation, prior coating or plating conditions, and other unknown factors may cause coating defects, discoloration, adhesion problems, dimensional changes, cosmetic variation, or coating failure.

Color, shade, appearance, surface texture, and finish may vary depending on coating type, part material, surface finish, geometry, batch conditions, and viewing angle. Decorative or cosmetic expectations must be clearly stated in writing before processing and accepted by Crystallume PVD.

PVD coatings are generally line-of-sight coatings. Internal features, holes, deep pockets, blind areas, shadowed surfaces, and complex geometries may receive reduced coating thickness, uneven coverage, or no coating unless specific requirements are disclosed and accepted in writing before processing.

Masking, Fixturing, and Contact Marks

Customer must clearly identify all areas requiring masking or special protection. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Crystallume PVD will determine the appropriate fixturing, masking, loading, and handling methods.

Customer acknowledges that coating operations may result in rack marks, contact marks, shadowing, light coating areas, or uncoated areas where parts are held, masked, or shielded during processing. These conditions are considered normal unless specific requirements are agreed to in writing before processing.

Dimensional Tolerances

PVD coatings add measurable thickness to coated surfaces. Customer is responsible for determining whether the coating thickness is suitable for the intended application and dimensional requirements of the part.

Crystallume PVD is not responsible for fit, clearance, tolerance, assembly, or functional issues unless specific dimensional requirements are provided in writing and accepted by Crystallume PVD before processing.

Heat Sensitivity

Customer is responsible for notifying Crystallume PVD of any heat-sensitive materials, hardness requirements, tempering limits, brazed assemblies, soldered components, adhesive-bonded parts, plastics, inserts, coatings, platings, or other conditions that may be affected by coating temperatures.

Crystallume PVD is not responsible for distortion, hardness changes, discoloration, material changes, brazing failure, adhesive failure, plating failure, or degradation caused by customer's failure to disclose heat sensitivity, material limitations, or prior processing conditions.

Freight and Shipping

All shipments are F.O.B. Lincoln, California, USA, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

All shipments will be made by UPS Ground, unless otherwise specified by the customer. Customer may request alternate shipping methods, carriers, expedited freight, or use of customer freight accounts.

Title and risk of loss transfer to the customer upon delivery to the carrier. Crystallume PVD's responsibility ceases once goods are delivered to the transportation company.

Customer is responsible for all freight, insurance, duties, customs fees, taxes, brokerage fees, and related shipping charges unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Freight Claims and Damage

Goods are considered shipped in good condition once delivered to the carrier. Damage claims must be made directly against the carrier.

In the event goods are lost or damaged in transit, Crystallume PVD will make reasonable efforts to assist the customer in locating the goods or supporting a claim with the transportation company. However, Crystallume PVD is not liable for loss, damage, delay, shortage, or delivery failure caused by the carrier.

Customer is responsible for requesting additional freight insurance when desired. Standard carrier liability may be limited and may not cover the full value of customer-supplied parts.

Packaging of Incoming Parts

Customer is responsible for packaging incoming parts in a manner that protects them from damage, corrosion, contamination, and handling marks during shipment to Crystallume PVD.

Crystallume PVD is not responsible for damage, corrosion, contamination, or part condition issues resulting from improper packaging, inadequate protection, or damage occurring before receipt by Crystallume PVD.

Lead Times

Quoted or estimated lead times are approximate and are not guaranteed unless expressly agreed to in writing. Lead times may be affected by part condition, cleaning requirements, coating type, masking, fixturing, batch scheduling, equipment availability, inspection requirements, rework, customer approvals, certifications, or other production conditions.

Crystallume PVD is not liable for delays, lost production time, missed deadlines, lost profits, expedited freight, or consequential damages related to lead time changes or shipment delays.

Inspection and Acceptance

Customer is responsible for inspecting all coated parts immediately upon receipt. Any claim regarding coating defects, shortages, damage, or nonconformance must be submitted in writing within 10 days of receipt.

Failure to notify Crystallume PVD within this period constitutes acceptance of the parts.

Parts that have been used, installed, altered, assembled, modified, further processed, cleaned, stripped, polished, blasted, sharpened, or placed into service are deemed accepted and are not eligible for credit, rework, or claim consideration unless expressly approved by Crystallume PVD.

Return Policy

No coated customer parts may be returned without prior written authorization from Crystallume PVD.

Merchandise or parts must be returned within 30 days from the date of shipment or returns will not be accepted for credit or review. Credit will not be issued for any parts returned without a Return Authorization number.

To request a Return Authorization number, call 866-783-9700.

All returns must be packaged properly to prevent damage and should include a copy of the invoice, packing slip, and a written explanation of the reason for return. Returned parts will be fully inspected for use, damage, alteration, contamination, and coating condition before any credit, rework, or other resolution is considered.

Rework and Reprocessing

If Crystallume PVD determines that a coating issue was caused by its process, Crystallume PVD may, at its sole discretion, rework, recoat, credit, or refund the coating charge for the affected parts.

Customer acknowledges that stripping, recoating, or reprocessing may not be possible for all parts and may create additional risk to part dimensions, surface finish, base material, hardness, appearance, or part integrity.

Crystallume PVD is not responsible for damage, dimensional change, appearance change, surface finish change, or part loss resulting from approved stripping, rework, or reprocessing unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Liability

It is recognized that even after employing all reasonable knowledge, experience, and scientific methods, uncertainties remain in PVD coating processes. Unseen contamination, customer-supplied material conditions, prior processing, geometry, surface condition, and other factors outside Crystallume PVD's control may cause coating problems or part failure.

Therefore, Crystallume PVD's liability shall not exceed the amount charged for the coating work performed on the specific material or parts giving rise to the claim, except by written agreement signed by an authorized representative of Crystallume PVD.

Crystallume PVD shall not be liable for the replacement cost or value of customer-supplied parts, lost profits, lost production, machine downtime, special damages, incidental damages, consequential damages, labor costs, sorting costs, recall costs, assembly costs, removal or installation costs, customer chargebacks, penalties, or any other indirect damages.

Customer assumes all risk related to the value, suitability, and use of customer-supplied parts.

Warranty Disclaimer

Crystallume PVD warrants only that coating services will be performed in a professional manner consistent with commercially reasonable industry practices.

No other warranty is expressed or implied. Crystallume PVD specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, performance in a specific application, wear life, corrosion resistance, appearance, color match, or suitability for customer's intended use.

Customer is responsible for testing and validating coated parts for its own application, environment, and performance requirements.

Specifications and Special Requirements

Any customer specifications, military specifications, aerospace requirements, medical requirements, automotive requirements, firearms requirements, inspection requirements, certification requirements, testing requirements, traceability requirements, or special process controls must be provided in writing before quotation and accepted by Crystallume PVD before processing.

Crystallume PVD is not responsible for meeting requirements that were not disclosed and accepted prior to processing.

Certifications and Documentation

Certificates of conformance, coating reports, inspection reports, material certifications, special documentation, or customer-specific forms must be requested at the time of quotation or order placement. Additional charges may apply.

Crystallume PVD is not responsible for providing certifications, reports, or special documentation that were not requested and accepted before processing.

Taxes

Customer is responsible for all applicable sales, use, excise, value-added, import, export, or other taxes, duties, and governmental charges unless a valid exemption certificate is provided.

Force Majeure

Crystallume PVD shall not be liable for failure or delay in performance caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to equipment failure, labor shortages, supply chain delays, transportation delays, power outages, natural disasters, acts of government, war, terrorism, cyberattacks, pandemics, fires, floods, or other events beyond Crystallume PVD's control.

Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Changes to Terms and Conditions

All Terms and Conditions are subject to periodic change. The most current version published by Crystallume PVD shall apply to all orders unless otherwise agreed in writing.

By submitting parts, issuing a purchase order, or authorizing coating work, customer agrees to these Terms and Conditions.