Shipping & Delivery Policy

1. Purpose and Scope

This Shipping & Delivery Policy explains how RK Label Printing Machinery Pvt. Ltd. ("RK Label Machines", "the Company", "we", "us") packs, dispatches and delivers machinery, spare parts and accessories to customers in India and overseas.

This Policy should be read together with our Terms & Conditions, Payment Policy and Privacy Policy. Where a signed contract, Order Confirmation or proforma invoice specifies different delivery terms for a particular order, those terms will prevail over this Policy for that order.

Heavy industrial machinery ships under different conditions from consumer goods, and the terms below reflect that.

2. Delivery Basis and Incoterms

• Unless expressly stated otherwise in the Quotation or proforma invoice, all supplies are made Ex-Works our factory at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India (Incoterms 2020).
• Where the Buyer and we agree another Incoterm, such as FOB, CFR, CIF or DAP, the proforma invoice states it, and cost and risk follow that Incoterm.
• Freight, insurance, loading, unloading, packing, forwarding and installation are charged separately unless expressly included in the Quotation.

Risk in the Goods passes to the Buyer at the point specified by the agreed Incoterm. Under the default Ex-Works basis, risk passes when the Goods are made available for loading at our factory. Title passes only on receipt of the full contract value in cleared funds, as set out in our Payment Policy.

3. Lead Time and Dispatch Schedule

Our machines are built to each customer's specification. Manufacturing begins only after the order is confirmed, the agreed advance is received, and all technical approvals are obtained from the Buyer.

Lead times are estimates given in good faith and are not guaranteed dates. They run from the later of: the date of the Order Confirmation, the date the agreed advance is credited to our account, and the date the Buyer approves all drawings, specifications and electrical requirements.

The following will extend the lead time, and any such extension is not a breach of contract on our part:

• Delay by the Buyer in approving drawings, artwork, sample substrates or electrical specifications
• Delay in receipt of the agreed advance or pre-dispatch payment
• Changes to specification requested after production has commenced
• Delay or shortage in supply of bought-out components such as motors, drives, servo systems or control units
• Any force majeure event as described in our Terms & Conditions

Dispatch working days: Monday to Saturday. No dispatch takes place on Sundays or declared public holidays.

4. Readiness Intimation and Pre-Dispatch Inspection

• When the machine is complete and tested, we issue a readiness intimation to the Buyer in writing, together with the pre-dispatch payment request.
• The Buyer may arrange a pre-dispatch inspection or trial run at our factory. The Buyer must request such visits in writing and schedule them in advance, and pays the travel and stay costs of its representatives.
• Where the Buyer requires a third-party inspection agency, the cost of that inspection is to the Buyer's account and the inspection must be completed within the agreed window so as not to delay dispatch.

Dispatch is made only after the pre-dispatch payment is received and credited into our account. Goods will not be released against a payment advice, a cheque in transit, or an unconfirmed remittance.

5. Packing

Machinery is packed to withstand normal handling and transit conditions for the agreed mode of transport.

• Our standard packing is polythene with bubble wrap, and its cost is included in the machine price. Wooden battens or a wooden case are used only where the Buyer requires them in writing or the destination country makes them compulsory, and are charged extra based on the size of the machine. Wood used for export packing is ISPM-15 compliant, heat-treated or fumigated. The Buyer must inform us in writing of any special packing, marking or phytosanitary requirement applicable at the destination before packing begins.
• Any special packing the Buyer requests beyond our standard practice, such as extra moisture barriers, vacuum packing, shock indicators or custom crating, is chargeable and must be agreed in writing before dispatch.
• Machines may be dispatched partially dismantled where transport dimensions require it. Reassembly then forms part of the installation scope.

6. Domestic Shipping (Within India)

• Domestic consignments are dispatched by road through a transporter, unless another mode is agreed in writing.
• Transporter selection: The Buyer may appoint its own transporter. On the Buyer's request, we arrange transport through our associated transporter and share the freight at actual cost before dispatch. Where the Buyer nominates a transporter, the Buyer bears the risk of that transporter's performance.
• Freight is payable by the Buyer. Where we arrange freight on the Buyer's behalf, it is charged at actuals and is payable along with the corresponding invoice milestone.
• Indicative road transit times from dispatch: Gujarat 1 to 3 days; Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh 3 to 5 days; North and South India 5 to 8 days; East and North-East India 8 to 12 days. Actual transit depends on the transporter, route and consignment size.
• An e-way bill is generated in compliance with GST requirements. The Buyer must provide a correct GSTIN and delivery address before dispatch.
• Delivery is made to the address stated on the Order Confirmation. Any change of delivery address after dispatch may attract additional freight and is subject to the transporter's ability to redirect the consignment.

7. Export Shipping

• Export consignments are shipped by sea freight as standard. Air freight is available for spare parts and small consignments, at additional cost.
• Ports of loading: Mundra, Nhava Sheva or ICD Sabarmati (Ahmedabad), selected by destination and vessel availability, unless otherwise agreed.
• The Buyer must confirm the full consignee name, address, port of discharge, and any import licence or pre-shipment inspection requirement applicable at the destination, before the shipping booking is made.
• All import duties, customs clearance charges, port charges, demurrage at the destination port, local taxes, licences and statutory approvals in the destination country are to the Buyer's account.
• Transit times quoted by shipping lines are indicative. We are not responsible for delay caused by shipping line schedule changes, port congestion, vessel rollover, customs inspection, or strike action at either port.
• Indicative sea transit times, port to port: Middle East and the Gulf 7 to 15 days; South Asia and East Africa 15 to 25 days; South-East Asia, Europe, and West and South Africa 25 to 40 days; the Americas and Australia 35 to 50 days. Add 2 to 5 days for inland movement from the dispatching unit to the port of loading.
• The Buyer must arrange timely customs clearance at the destination. Demurrage, detention or storage charges arising from delayed clearance are to the Buyer's account.

8. Shipping Documents

The following documents are issued with each export consignment, unless the agreed Incoterm or Letter of Credit requires otherwise:

• Commercial invoice
• Packing list with case-wise dimensions and weights
• Bill of Lading or Airway Bill
• Certificate of Origin, where applicable
• Insurance certificate, where insurance is arranged by us
• Fumigation or ISPM-15 certificate, where applicable
• Any additional document specifically required under the Letter of Credit or by the destination country, where notified to us in writing before dispatch

Scanned copies are shared by email on dispatch. Original documents are couriered or routed through the bank, as agreed. The Buyer must check all draft documents as soon as we circulate them; amendments requested after originals are issued may attract charges and delay.

9. Transit Insurance

Default position: Transit insurance is arranged by the Buyer. On request, our associated transporter can provide transit insurance at the Buyer's cost.

• Under Ex-Works and FOB terms, arranging transit insurance is the Buyer's responsibility. Under CIF or DAP terms, insurance is arranged by us and the cost is built into the price.

We recommend insuring every consignment for its full value, including freight. Machinery is heavy, high-value and easy to damage in handling. An uninsured consignment leaves the Buyer without recourse for transit loss or damage, and we cannot compensate for loss that occurs after risk has passed.

10. Delivery, Unloading and Site Readiness

• Unloading at the Buyer's premises is the Buyer's responsibility. The Buyer must arrange a suitable crane, forklift or hydra of adequate capacity, along with trained personnel, for the scheduled delivery date.
• The Buyer must ensure that the approach road, gate width, door height and floor loading capacity at the delivery site are adequate for the consignment dimensions advised in the packing list. Case dimensions and weights are shared before dispatch so this can be verified.
• Detention or waiting charges levied by the transporter on account of delayed unloading are to the Buyer's account.
• Where the Buyer is unable to take delivery on arrival, the consignment may be held at the transporter's warehouse at the Buyer's risk and cost.

Our Terms & Conditions cover installation and commissioning. Site readiness (foundation, levelling, three-phase power of the correct voltage and frequency, earthing, compressed air and ventilation) must be complete before our engineers travel.

11. Inspection on Receipt and Transit Damage

The Buyer must inspect the consignment immediately on arrival, before the transporter's vehicle leaves and before the packing is removed from the delivery area.

A clean signed delivery receipt is treated as acceptance of the consignment in good order. Once the carrier's document is signed without remark, claims for transit damage become hard to establish against either the carrier or the insurer.

Goods not rejected within 7 days of delivery are deemed accepted. Transit damage is not a manufacturing defect and is not covered by our warranty; it is recoverable from the carrier or the insurer, and we will provide reasonable documentary support for such a claim.

12. Shortages and Wrong Supply

• Any shortage against the packing list must be notified in writing within 7 days of delivery, supported by photographs of the case and its contents.
• Where a shortage or incorrect supply is established as our error, we will dispatch the correct or missing item at our cost, at the earliest practicable date.
• Where an incorrect item has been supplied because of an error in the Buyer's order or specification, replacement is chargeable and the original item may be returned only with our prior written consent.

13. Delays and Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any delay or failure in dispatch or delivery caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, fire, flood, earthquake, epidemic or pandemic, war, civil unrest, terrorism, strikes or labour disputes, power failure, breakdown of plant, shortage or delay in supply of bought-out components, transport or port disruption, vessel delay or rollover, customs or regulatory action, cyber-attack, and changes in law or government policy.

Where such an event occurs, we will inform the Buyer as soon as reasonably practicable and the delivery schedule will be extended accordingly. We are not liable for consequential loss arising from delayed delivery, including loss of production, loss of orders or loss of profit.

14. Tracking and Shipment Updates

• On dispatch, we share the Lorry Receipt number, or the Bill of Lading or Airway Bill number, by email or WhatsApp.
• Once a consignment leaves our factory it is in the custody of the carrier. Tracking, transit updates and delivery scheduling are provided by the carrier, and we are not able to control or guarantee their timelines.
• For any shipment query, please quote your proforma invoice number and the Lorry Receipt or Bill of Lading number.

15. Returns

Machinery is built to order and is not returnable on account of change of mind, change in business plan, or failure to obtain finance. The cancellation and refund position is set out in our Payment Policy.

Goods may be returned only with our prior written authorisation, and only where a genuine manufacturing defect has been established within the inspection period. Unauthorised returns will not be accepted and will be held at the Buyer's risk and cost.

16. Changes to This Policy

We may revise this Shipping & Delivery Policy from time to time. The version published on the Website on the date of your order confirmation applies to that order. Material changes will be reflected by an updated "Last Updated" date on this page.

17. Shipping Contact

This Shipping & Delivery Policy forms part of the Terms & Conditions of RK Label Printing Machinery Pvt. Ltd. and is governed by the laws of India.