I heard somewhere (maybe in this forum) that Lego Minifigures (from Collectable Minifigures theme) are made from cheaper Chinese plastic. Is that true? Or is that just a lie?

Edited June 10, 20159 yr by Doctor Doom

Yes, as they are being made in China, it would probably save a lot of money to opt for cheaper plastic. My only complaints is the compatibility of certain minifigure parts. For example, when I place minifigure heads made from the Chinese plastic on the normal Lego torso's, the heads seem to be quite loose. I haven't tried removing hands, legs or arms, but I'd bet they would have the same result.

Honestly though, its still Lego to me, so I'm not that bothered by it!

Yeah, I agree.

It's true in the sense of the word, but not really.

Yes, the collectible minifigures are made in China, and yes, the plastic from them is sourced from China instead of from Lego's main supplier. However, the reason for this is not because the plastic ITSELF is cheaper, but rather because Chinese manufacturing and import laws would make importing the raw materials from elsewhere prohibitively expensive.

Early CMF series had some color consistency issues, but that was not due to lower quality dyes or plastic, but rather just imperfect color matching at the new facility. More recent figures and parts from the Chinese plant have been much more on-target.

So yeah. There have been issues like that many times, involving many different manufacturing locations. And almost every time, the issues are quickly dealt with and cease to affect future parts. China is just an easy scapegoat for disgruntled AFOLs who lack perspective.

In another recent thread, someone stated the plastic used is by design to make it easier for kids.

Edited June 10, 20159 yr by legoman19892

My only complaints is the compatibility of certain minifigure parts. For example, when I place minifigure heads made from the Chinese plastic on the normal Lego torso's, the heads seem to be quite loose.

I hear this all the time, or vis versa where it is too tight, but I think this is just AFOL paranoia kicking in. I have seen some Lego minifigures from the exact same set that are too loose or tight and they are NOT made in China or from Chinese plastic.

Sometimes molds or pieces aren't perfect and can come out a fraction too big or small making them much tigther or looser when you assemble them. Usually it's not noticeable, but if you get an exceptionally small hole on a head (for example), and an exceptionally large neck, it can be noticeable with how tightly the pieces fit together (or how loose if they are opposite ends of the spectrum).

Also manufacture in China has allowed the more complex, detailed and curved surface printing that means some fantastic looking figure parts.

I don't think the Chinese plastic is inferior to the official Lego plastic. Every now and then I'll have a CMF minifigure that is loose, but at the same time I have larger figures also from China that are great. As much as people would like Lego to be an exact science, it's really not.

In another recent thread, someone stated the plastic used is by design to make it easier for kids.

How do you make plastic easier for kids? It's not like some kid is going to be playing with his CMFs and stop and say, "Gee, this plastic is easier for me to play with." I'm confused.

How do you make plastic easier for kids? It's not like some kid is going to be playing with his CMFs and stop and say, "Gee, this plastic is easier for me to play with." I'm confused.

Joints are not as stiff and easier to remove heads.

Edited June 10, 20159 yr by legoman19892

Hi

sorry, i cant read that any longer. There is no "chinese plastic"! There is as well no "german steel"! There are lots! of plasic kinds (ABS is the one most used for Lego) but ghere are other AND all gots different additives like smoothener.

There are reason far beyond financial decision why to take when which kind of plasic. The most important reason is molding speed and detail accuracy. Seen from that perspective plasic parts mad in China could have better quqlity than others.

A company like TLG defines very very well and precise what materials to pick an why.

By the way: All your iPhones (and mine) are mad of chines glass, plasic and aluminium!!!! Scandal! :)

Dino

sorry, i cant read that any longer. There is no "chinese plastic"! There is as well no "german steel"! There are lots! of plasic kinds (ABS is the one most used for Lego) but ghere are other AND all gots different additives like smoothener.

Same thought I was having. It's not like physics are different in China, or they have a different periodic table of the elements there, or that they can only produce crappy products. About the only difference is that the government places different restrictions which affect the formulation of their plastic slightly. The rest is based on what level of quality etc. the company who sets up the factory decides on.

Of course - there's a recipe for ABS; the plastic isn't the problem, it's mixing the dyes correctly (they definitely had a problem with this at one point), and having good molds. There might be some other quality control problems (like pits and sprue marks), but I honestly have not seen any problems since maybe the first year of CMFs where some pieces were more translucent than they should have been.

There is going to be a lot of made in China LEGO. LEGO is building and will be operating its own factory in China. It should be fully operational by 2017. The new factory and distribution center will mainly serve the Chinese market and some exports to Asia. Growing Chinese middle class parents worry about toy safety too and would rather spend a bit more on premium brands.

CMFs are and have been produced in China, along with Chima elements and other elements from Friends and City. On a Mini-figure you will notice that legs do not possess the same sheen as those made elsewhere. Also torsos will come out of the package with their arms at the sides and hands turned inwards. If you look at the bottom markings on the feet you will see a number and not the Lego logo. There is also a number at the base of the top part of the leg. These are the moulding machine numbers they were produced from. Lego legs produced from Denmark etc will have two Lego logos on the base of the feet. If it's from the Mexico plant will have one Lego logo on one of the feet.

CMFs were produced in China because TLG needed greater capacity and did not have it to meet demand. The Chinese producer also has excellent printing techniques for the torsos. TLG plant for China is suppose to only service the Asian market. Not sure if that will be the case. However the other TLG facilities are undergoing expansion so CMFs may come back to Denmark. Certainly some of the moulds have. The welder is now part of a new City train set.

Honestly I found some of the mini-figure parts looser and not as snug. Some elements a little more translucent than they should be. I've compared things directly from the factory in Denmark and I've purchased. Denmarkian parts have always been superior in quality albeit the differences are slight to those from China recently. They aren't bad mind you, same standards just not as 'perfect' in my opinion.

Edited June 11, 20159 yr by Wodanis

Early CMF series had some color consistency issues, but that was not due to lower quality dyes or plastic, but rather just imperfect color matching at the new facility. More recent figures and parts from the Chinese plant have been much more on-target.

There consistency issues are still there. The S2 Lifeguard, the S12 Swashbuckler, the S12 Rock Star, the S10 Warrior Woman are some of the worst.

But I've been noticing in some minifigures outside the CMF theme. My female pirate from the Treasure Island set has a pretty bad colored chest.

Same thought I was having. It's not like physics are different in China, or they have a different periodic table of the elements there, or that they can only produce crappy products.

Actually the physics (or chemistry) could well be different there, as they can be in different factories in Europe or in the US. ABS is a polymer, not a well defined small molecule, and the actual polymer made (both in the composition and in the distribution of the polymer molecule sizes) will depend on the manufacturing process. If the conditions are not the same, then ABS from different sources can have slightly different physical properties.