When a filament shipment is questioned — by a customer, a marketplace, a laboratory or a customs officer — the outcome depends on documents that should have been collected long before. Here is what each document is for, and what a complete file looks like.
Who does what
| Document | Answers | Typical contents |
|---|---|---|
| TDS — technical data sheet | What is the material and how does it behave? | Density, melt flow rate, tensile, flexural, impact, elongation, print temperatures, packaging |
| SDS — safety data sheet | How is it handled, stored and transported safely? | Hazard identification, composition, first aid, storage, disposal, transport classification |
| COA / batch report | Did this specific lot meet spec? | Lot number, measured values, limits, method, date, approval |
| RoHS declaration | Restricted substances position | Substance groups tested and result |
| REACH declaration | SVHC and restricted substance position | Candidate list version screened, substances, detection limits |
| Declaration of conformity | Formal statement against referenced requirements | Product ID, responsible entity, instruments cited, date, signatory |
The file that survives an audit
- Per grade, not per supplier. A general brochure for the factory is not a product file.
- Versioned by date. Keep the revision that shipped with the lot.
- Matched to the shipment. The lot number on the COA should match the spool and the packing list.
- Language appropriate to the market. German, French or Spanish documentation shortens internal approval.
- Stored where you can find it. A shared folder named by grade and lot costs nothing and saves days.
Questions worth asking a new supplier
- Can you send the TDS and SDS for the exact grade I am quoting?
- Do you issue a batch report per lot, and does it carry the measured values or just a pass/fail?
- Which declarations do you hold, and when were they last revised?
- What is the reissue policy if a formulation changes?
- Can documents be provided in my customer's language?
VOXFIL's document set
VOXFIL issues, per grade: technical data sheet, safety data sheet, RoHS and REACH declarations (including SVHC screening), CPSIA/CA65 documentation for consumer SKUs, and EU/US declarations of conformity, plus a lot-level batch report with every order. Document scope is listed openly in the Trust Center so you can confirm what applies to your market before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a TDS and an SDS?
A technical data sheet describes performance and processing — density, mechanical values, print temperatures. A safety data sheet describes safe handling, storage, transport and disposal. Importers are usually asked for both.
Does every filament order come with a batch report?
It should if you buy at B2B scale. A usable batch report carries the lot number, measured values against limits, the test method, the date and an approval. Ask before you order rather than after.
Which documents should I keep on file for each shipment?
TDS, SDS, the batch report for the lot, applicable RoHS/REACH declarations, the declaration of conformity, and the commercial documents — invoice, packing list and bill of lading.