If you send a supplier an inquiry saying only, “Please quote 25 mm armored flexible conduit,” you may receive a price, but it may not be the price for the conduit your project actually needs.

Industrial flexible conduit quotations depend on much more than nominal diameter. Material construction, cable size, operating environment, coating, connector type, thread, length, quantity, and compliance requirements can all affect product selection and cost.

Providing complete information at the RFQ stage helps the supplier recommend the correct armored flexible conduit, reduces repeated technical questions, and makes quotations from different manufacturers easier to compare.

Here are the key details you should provide.

1. Describe the Application

Start by telling the supplier where the conduit will be used.

For example:

• CNC machine

• Industrial motor

• Packaging equipment

• Automated production line

• Railway equipment

• Control cabinet

• Construction machinery

• Outdoor electrical equipment

• Communication equipment

The application gives the supplier immediate context about likely vibration, mechanical stress, environmental exposure, and installation conditions.

“Flexible conduit for industrial motor connection” is much more useful than simply saying “need metal conduit.”

If possible, also state whether the conduit is being purchased for:

• New equipment production

• Replacement parts

• OEM manufacturing

• Maintenance

• Retrofit projects

For OEM projects, include estimated prototype and annual production quantities.

2. Provide the Required Conduit Size

Do not provide only a nominal size if accurate ID and OD information is available.

Ideally, your RFQ should specify:

Inside diameter (ID): Determines available cable space.

Outside diameter (OD): Affects connector compatibility and installation space.

Nominal conduit size: Useful when your drawing already specifies a standard size.

If you do not know the required conduit diameter, provide the cable information instead and ask the supplier to recommend a suitable size.

For example:

4 cables, each with an 8 mm outside diameter. Please recommend an appropriate conduit size.

This gives the supplier much more useful information than guessing a conduit diameter.

3. Provide Cable Quantity and Outside Diameter

The conduit is protecting cables, so cable dimensions are one of the most important pieces of information in an RFQ.

State:

• Number of cables

• Outside diameter of each cable

• Cable type if relevant

• Total bundle dimensions if already known

For example:

3 × power cables, cable OD 10.5 mm each.

If different cables will share one conduit, list them separately.

For example:

2 × 8 mm control cables + 1 × 12 mm power cable.

The manufacturer can then evaluate whether the requested conduit provides enough internal space for practical installation.

Do not select a conduit whose ID is almost identical to the cable bundle size. Cables still need sufficient clearance for pulling and bending.

4. Specify the Conduit Material and Coating

Different environments may require different conduit constructions.

Your RFQ should state whether you need:

• Galvanized metal flexible conduit

• PVC-coated metal flexible conduit

• Another specified metal or coating

• Supplier recommendation based on the application

If you are uncertain, describe the operating environment instead of selecting material purely from appearance.

For example:

Indoor CNC machine with oil mist, metal chips, vibration, and occasional coolant splash.

That information helps the supplier determine whether a coated configuration may be more appropriate.

If your application does not require metal armor and prioritizes corrosion resistance, insulation, or low weight, you may also compare plastic flexible conduits before finalizing the specification.

5. Describe the Operating Environment

“Industrial use” is too broad for accurate product selection.

State the actual conditions the conduit will encounter.

Important factors include:

• Indoor or outdoor installation

• Water splash

• Rain

• High humidity

• Dust

• Oil

• Coolant

• Metal chips

• UV exposure

• Vibration

• Mechanical impact

• Abrasion

• Chemicals

• Corrosive atmosphere

If chemicals are involved, name them whenever possible.

Instead of:

Chemical-resistant conduit required.

Write:

Conduit may be exposed to alkaline cleaning solution during equipment washdown.

Specific information allows material compatibility to be evaluated more accurately.

6. Provide the Operating Temperature Range

Temperature can affect both the metal conduit and any external coating.

Provide:

• Minimum operating temperature

• Maximum continuous operating temperature

• Short-term peak temperature, if applicable

For example:

Normal operating range: -5°C to +65°C. Temporary temperature near motor may reach +80°C.

Do not provide only room temperature if the conduit is installed close to motors, ovens, compressors, engines, or other heat-generating equipment.

The temperature directly around the conduit is the relevant value.

7. Specify the Connector and Thread Requirements

If you also need connectors, include them in the same RFQ.

This reduces the risk of receiving conduit and fittings that do not match.

Specify whether you require:

• Straight connector

• 45° connector

• 90° connector

• Other configuration

Then provide the equipment-side thread specification.

Common industrial options include:

• M / Metric

• PG

• NPT

• G

Matching conduit connectors and fittings should be confirmed according to both conduit size and equipment thread.

A useful specification might look like:

20 mm conduit with 90° connector, M25 × 1.5 equipment-side thread.

If you do not know the thread, provide an equipment drawing or clear dimensional information rather than guessing.

8. State the Required Length

Length directly affects quotation and packaging.

Specify whether you need:

• Full coils

• Standard factory lengths

• Custom cut lengths

• Pre-assembled conduit sets

For OEM equipment, individual cut lengths may simplify production.

For example:

750 mm ± specified tolerance, 1 connector at each end.

Or:

100 m coils, 20 coils required.

If different machines require different lengths, provide a simple schedule.

This allows the supplier to calculate material usage and production requirements more accurately.

9. Include Quantity and Forecast Demand

A quotation for 20 pieces and a quotation for 20,000 pieces may involve different production methods, packaging, and pricing.

Always provide the expected order quantity.

For OEM projects, it is useful to specify both:

Prototype requirement:
For example, 10–20 pieces for testing.

Estimated production demand:
For example, 2,000 pieces per quarter or 10,000 pieces annually.

This helps the supplier evaluate manufacturing planning and quotation structure.

If your annual quantity is uncertain, give an approximate forecast rather than leaving quantity completely open.

10. State Any Testing, Certification, or Documentation Requirements

Do not wait until after production to ask whether a specific document is available.

If your project requires particular compliance information, include it in the RFQ.

Possible requirements may include:

• Product specification sheet

• Dimensional drawing

• Material information

• Inspection report

• RoHS documentation

• Applicable test reports

• Quality-system documentation

• Customer-specific inspection requirements

If a particular certification is mandatory, state the exact requirement and market.

Do not assume that every certificate displayed by a manufacturer applies to every conduit model.

The applicable documentation should be confirmed for the exact product being quoted.

11. Attach Drawings, Photos, or Existing Samples

For replacement, OEM, and customized projects, visual information can eliminate many misunderstandings.

Useful attachments include:

• 2D drawings

• Equipment drawings

• Connector drawings

• Existing product photos

• Installation photos

• Physical sample dimensions

• Previous supplier specification sheets

Mark critical dimensions clearly.

If the existing conduit must fit an established machine design, a drawing is usually much more reliable than trying to describe every dimension in an email.

Example of a Complete Armored Flexible Conduit RFQ

Instead of writing:

Please quote armored flexible conduit.

Send something like:

Application: Industrial packaging machinery
Installation: Indoor, between control enclosure and motor
Cable: 3 cables, OD 9 mm each
Environment: Continuous vibration, dust, occasional oil splash
Temperature: 0°C to +60°C continuous
Conduit: PVC-coated metal flexible conduit
Length: 800 mm per assembly
Connector: One straight and one 90° connector
Thread: M25 × 1.5
Prototype quantity: 10 sets
Production quantity: Approximately 2,000 sets per year
Required documents: Product specification and dimensional drawing
Additional information: Drawing attached

This type of inquiry allows the supplier to understand both the product requirement and the commercial scope immediately.

Armored Flexible Conduit RFQ Checklist

Before sending your inquiry, confirm that you have included:

1. Application and equipment type

2. Conduit ID, OD, or requested nominal size

3. Cable quantity and cable OD

4. Material and coating requirement

5. Operating environment

6. Minimum and maximum temperature

7. Connector type and thread

8. Required conduit length

9. Prototype and production quantities

10. Testing or documentation requirements

11. Drawings, photos, or samples when available

You do not necessarily need to know every specification before contacting a manufacturer.

If some details are unknown, clearly state the application and known conditions and ask the supplier to recommend the remaining parameters.

The goal of a good RFQ is not to provide as much information as possible. It is to provide the information that directly affects product selection, manufacturing, and pricing.

Request an Armored Flexible Conduit Quote

For standard or customized industrial cable protection projects, YDT can support armored flexible conduit selection, matching connectors, OEM/ODM requirements, prototyping, and volume production. Send YDT your application, cable dimensions, conduit size, operating environment, temperature range, connector thread, required length, quantity, and drawings or samples where available to receive a more accurate product recommendation and quotation.