Voltage and Labelling for South America: PSI Checklist

Pre-shipment inspection · buyer guide

A product can be well made and still be wrong for the market: the wrong plug, a rating printed for another region, a label in the wrong language. These are cheap to fix in China and expensive to discover after arrival. This voltage and labelling for South America checklist turns them into lines an inspector can actually verify — a PSI checklist you can copy straight into the purchase order.

On this page

1. Why this is a China-side responsibility 2. Voltage, plugs and ratings 3. Portuguese and Spanish labelling 4. Marks, models and certificates 5. Packing and handling 6. The PSI checklist

Why this is a China-side responsibility

Chinese factories often build to a default export configuration shaped by their largest markets. If the purchase order does not state the destination, the voltage, plug type, label language and rating, the factory will reasonably use its standard. The goods then pass its internal QC and fail yours. That is not a quality defect in the usual sense; it is a specification that was never written down.

The control is simple: put these lines in the purchase order, approve a physical sample against them, and verify them again on the production batch before loading. Our pre-shipment inspection service describes what an independent check covers.

Voltage, plugs and ratings

South America is not one electrical standard, and individual countries can have more than one voltage in use. We deliberately do not publish a voltage table here: writing down a single number for a whole region is exactly the mistake this page is trying to prevent. Instead, require the buyer to state the destination, the supply and the plug type in the purchase order, and require the factory to confirm them in writing on the quote.

Lines that must appear in the purchase order

Destination country and, where relevant, the region or city of installation
Supply voltage, frequency and plug / socket type
Rated power and any nameplate or rating-label text
Language of labels, manuals and warning text
Model numbers exactly as they appear on certificates and the commercial invoice

Watch out: A unit built for a different voltage is not a minor variation. It can be unsafe, unsellable and a warranty problem for the entire batch. Verify a sample from the production run, not a showroom unit.

Portuguese and Spanish labelling

Brazil requires Portuguese; most of the rest of the region uses Spanish. Labels, instruction manuals, warranty cards, carton marks and safety warnings should be checked for language, legibility and consistency with the approved artwork. Model numbers on the label must match the model on the test report and the invoice. Custom packaging guide and private label page explain how to lock artwork down before production rather than after.

Marks, models and certificates

Check	Why it matters
Conformity mark or approval reference, where required	Must relate to the exact model and the destination market.
Model and serial identification	Links the physical unit to the test report and the commercial invoice.
Country of origin marking	Must be consistent with the origin documentation.
Carton marks	Product name, model, quantity and handling symbols must match the packing list.

A certificate for a similar model is not evidence for the one being shipped. Ask for the report that names the product in front of you. How we verify a Chinese supplier.

Packing and handling

Long routes mean repeated handling. Strong cartons, corner protection, palletisation where appropriate, clear handling symbols and the correct treatment mark on wooden packaging all belong in the specification. Photographs of the loaded container and the seal number should travel with the documents.

The PSI checklist

Against the approved sample — Compare finish, colour, dimensions, accessories and workmanship.

Against the purchase order — Voltage, plug, rating, language, labels, model numbers and quantity.

Against the documents — Invoice, packing list, carton marks and certificates all name the same goods.

Against the packing standard — Carton strength, protection, palletisation and wood treatment marks.

Record the result — Photographs, measurements, defect count and a pass or fail recommendation before loading.

Good practice: Ask the inspector to photograph the nameplate and the carton mark on the same visit. Those two photos answer most post-arrival disputes about what was actually shipped.

Frequently asked questions

What voltage should I specify for South America?

There is no single answer. State the destination and have your local team or broker confirm the supply and plug type, then put those exact values in the purchase order.

Is an English manual acceptable?

Confirm with your broker. For Brazil, plan on Portuguese; for Spanish-speaking markets, plan on Spanish. Decide at the RFQ stage because artwork affects production.

Can I rely on the factory QC report?

Use it as input, not as verification. An independent inspection against the approved sample and purchase order is what protects the order.

Do you inspect before shipment?

Yes. Our pre-shipment inspection service sets out what is checked and how the report is delivered.