Private Label Surgical Instruments: How OEM Works, MOQs and Timelines

With private label you choose instruments from a manufacturer's existing catalog and sell them under your brand; with OEM the manufacturer makes an instrument to your own drawing, sample or specification.

Published

§ 01

The short answer

With private label you choose instruments from a manufacturer's existing catalog and sell them under your brand; with OEM the manufacturer makes an instrument to your own drawing, sample or specification. Both start with a written specification and an approved sample, and neither goes into production until you have approved it. The minimum is the same as for any order in that category.

§ 02

What is the difference between OEM and private label?

They are two services, not two words for one:

Private label: you choose articles from the catalog TGI already manufactures and sell them under your own brand, with branding, marking, packaging, labeling and set presentation agreed on the order.

OEM: you send a design, drawing, sample or specification, and TGI builds to it. Built to your own pattern as well as from the catalog. Built to your own size as well as from the catalog.

Whether a pattern or mark developed for one buyer is held exclusive to him is agreed per order.

§ 03

What should my specification include?

The fewer questions a manufacturer has to ask, the faster and more accurate the quotation. Send these, for every instrument:

Pattern and size. The eponym and the length ("Mayo-Hegar needle holder, 16 cm"), or your drawing or sample.

Steel tier. Economy AISI 410, Clinical AISI 420, Premium AISI 420-440C or Executive AISI 440C. See /tiers/.

Finish. Satin, fine polish or mirror polish go with the lines; a colored finish is a second choice, made on top of the line.

Marking. Instruments are marked to the buyer's requirement (TGI, unmarked, or the buyer's own brand), agreed on the order. Send your logo file.

Packaging. Your own printed boxes, your labels, your brand on the pack, or plain export packing. A minimum for your own printed box, pouch or insert is agreed per order.

Quantity per article, and whether you want one minimum spread across sizes and patterns (agreed per order).

Documents your market needs with the consignment. Which documents travel with a private-label consignment is agreed with you on the order.

§ 04

Whose name is on the instrument?

TGI remains the named manufacturer of the instruments it makes, including on orders carrying the buyer's own brand. How the manufacturer is named on your label is agreed per order.

§ 05

What is the minimum order for private label?

An order carrying your own brand takes the same minimum as the catalog: one minimum per category, from 25 sets for surgical instrument sets to 300 instruments for surgical, orthopedic, electrosurgical, gynecology and ENT instruments. The full list is on /us-importers/.

§ 06

How long does it take?

Production lead time is instruments ~2-3 weeks · full sets ~4-6 weeks after advance, and on an OEM order it runs from your approval of the sample. How long the prototype and revision loop takes, and where the advance falls against it, are agreed per order.

§ 07

The eight steps, from first message to delivery

Share your requirements. Specifications, drawings, samples, branding, packaging, certifications and quantity.

Engineering and quotation. TGI reviews your requirements, confirms feasibility, and returns a quotation, with lead time and recommendations.

The specification, proposed back to you, in writing, before anything is made.

Prototype and approval. Samples or prototypes for your evaluation; you approve before mass production begins.

Revised until it matches. If the sample is not right, it is changed and made again.

Production and quality control, each stage inspected under the quality system covered by TGI's ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certificates.

Packaging and documentation under your private label or OEM branding.

Shipping and after-sales support.

The same steps are on /oem/, with the questions buyers ask most.

Still not answered

Ask the question directly.

+92 305 643 3255 reaches the factory on WhatsApp, and the answer comes back in writing. Free samples for all buyers: you pay only the sample shipping cost. Samples dispatched within 48 hours.