Full definition
A representative piece of material or product provided by a supplier to a prospective buyer for physical evaluation, testing, and verification of specifications before committing to a purchase order. Technical samples serve to: (1) Verify material properties — buyer tests hardness, tensile, chemical resistance, and other critical properties in their laboratory. (2) Confirm compatibility — fit the sample in the actual application (gasket in a flange, belt on a drive) to verify dimensional and functional compatibility. (3) Evaluate quality — visual inspection, surface finish, and workmanship assessment. (4) Conduct machine trials — run the sample in production to evaluate performance under actual operating conditions. For rubber products: typical samples include 150×150 mm sheet coupons (for material testing), full-size gaskets or seals (for fit verification), and short belt sections (for compound identification and matching). Samples are typically provided free of charge for standard products and at material cost for custom/expensive items. Always request a quality certificate with the sample so test results can be compared. The sample evaluation period (typically 2-4 weeks) should include documented testing results and a formal accept/reject decision. Sample approval before first production order is standard practice in automotive (PPAP), aerospace, and critical industrial applications.