How to Verify a Chinese Machinery Supplier

Most problems with overseas machinery purchases can be avoided with checks that take a few days. This guide lists them in order — before the contract, before paying, and before shipment. Use it with any supplier, including us.

Before the contract

Check	How	Red flag
Business license	Search the company in China’s National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (by Chinese name or unified social credit code)	Name differs from the contract; status not active; scope unrelated
Real factory	Visit, or live video tour showing production	Only stock photos; refusal to show the workshop
Who builds the plant	Ask directly; check business scope; ask references	Vague answers; different factory names in documents
References	Plants of the same type, contacts you can call	No references, or only references you cannot reach
Technical clarity	Spec sheet, drawings, component brands	Refuses to name components or share drawings
Contract match	Contract scope matches the quotation line by line	Missing items, different model numbers

Before you pay

1. Match names. The beneficiary on the bank account must be the same company as on the contract and invoice. Never pay a personal account or an unrelated company “for tax reasons”.

2. Confirm bank details by voice. Email accounts get hacked. If an email says the bank account has changed, stop and call or video-call a contact you already know — using a number from your earlier records, not from the email.

3. Use safe terms. Common protective structures:

Structure	How it protects you
Deposit + balance against inspection	Most of the money is paid after you have seen the finished plant
Balance against shipping documents	You pay when the goods are shipped in your name
Letter of credit (L/C)	Your bank pays only against agreed documents, which can include an inspection certificate

4. Keep everything in writing. Changes to scope, price or delivery go into a signed amendment.

Before shipment

Pre-shipment inspection — yourself, or a third-party inspection company you appoint — against the contract scope and packing list
Run test of motors, drives and controls where possible
Photos and video of each unit, nameplates and serial numbers
Check documents — commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, bill of lading drafts — before they are issued
Import certificates for your country, arranged in time

Common scams and how to spot them

Scam	Warning signs
Changed bank details	Urgent email about a “new account”; slight change in sender address
Fake supplier website	Copied photos; no verifiable license; prices far below market
Bait and switch	Contract model differs from quotation; cheaper components substituted
Disappearing seller	Full payment demanded upfront; refuses video calls

A short checklist

License checked; name and code match the contract
Factory seen (visit or live video)
References called
Contract matches quotation; dates and inspection terms included
Bank account in the contract company’s name; confirmed by voice
Staged payment or L/C
Pre-shipment inspection done
Documents checked before issue

You can apply every one of these checks to Roadmixa — we will share our license details, a live factory tour and references on request. See also how to choose an asphalt plant manufacturer. Contact us.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if a Chinese company is real?

Search the company's Chinese name or unified social credit code in the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System. Check that it is active, that the registered name matches your contract and invoice, and that its business scope covers manufacturing or selling the equipment.

How do I know if a supplier is a factory or a trading company?

Visit or take a live video tour that shows production, ask for photos of your plant during fabrication, check the business scope, and ask references whether they dealt directly with the factory. Trading companies are not bad in themselves, but you should know who builds your plant.

What payment terms are safest?

Staged payments tied to milestones — a deposit at contract, the balance after pre-shipment inspection or against shipping documents — or a letter of credit through your bank. Avoid paying the full amount in advance.

What is the most common payment scam?

Business email compromise: a fake or hacked email says the supplier's bank account has changed. Always confirm bank details by phone or video with a person you know before paying, and be suspicious of last-minute changes.

Plants mentioned in this guide