MACHINERY
Machinery : New or Refurbished
Danny Jones , Technical Director at Kall Kwik Machinery , discusses what to consider when choosing between new or refurbished machinery …
» WHEN YOU BUY A NEW CAR , DO YOU choose new or second hand ? Opting for a new car means getting the very latest technology . You can choose the styling and colour you want , and the extras to make life easier . New cars also come with higher levels of warranty , but there ’ s a shortage of new cars in the UK , so if you want a new model , there ’ s likely to be a wait .
Used cars come quicker and cheaper , but diligence in your second-hand search should include checking the service history , looking for tell-tale signs of the car being well looked after and how many miles it has done . The way a car is treated makes a massive difference to its future performance .
There are also different ways to buy used cars – whether through a dealer or privately . Dealers have to give warranties and it ’ s their reputation that ’ s at stake , so often paying a slightly higher price but going through a dealer offers the best of both worlds .
The same principles of buying a car come into play when buying new machinery .
AVAILABILITY OF MACHINES
Historically , one of the biggest advantages of using refurbished machinery , is availability . Even this has been affected though by the challenges our industry has faced over the last year , with lead times increasing on well refurbished machinery . Combine this with the increased pressure to meet the ever-increasing demand for home improvements , resources are being severely stretched for fabricators .
Most new machines will have a minimum of a 6 – 12 month lead time , in normal times refurbished models were much more readily available , however due to the unprecedented demand for PVCu products , manufacturers are less inclined to trade in older machinery that they have supplemented with new .
COMPONENTS AND SOFTWARE
When buying a refurbished machine , one of the most important things to consider is whether or not you can get hold of replacement parts and components . As they age , the availability of parts decreases , so even if it is working perfectly fine , if the replacement parts you need aren ’ t readily available then it will be hard to guarantee the machine ’ s longevity .
This can be the case for tangible parts , like specialist axis drive cards or control components , but the same can also apply for software . Up to date technology and software is vital to help machines operate as efficiently as possible , so when looking for a machine , you need to consider whether it ’ s using software which still has regular updates . Older software may have been superseded by newer , more up to date technology , meaning a refurbished machine may not offer the efficient operation you need .
PREVIOUS LEVEL OF CARE
Even the most advanced machine won ’ t last long if it ’ s been treated poorly and not been regularly serviced by an expert engineer . This is another thing to keep in mind , as it can go a long way in determining how long it will last . If it hasn ’ t been looked after then there is a risk that this damage may come back to haunt you , even after refurbishment .
TRUSTED DEALERS
There is a great level of trust that comes into buying previously used equipment or cars . If you were buying a car from someone you saw on the side of the road , you may be a little more sceptical about it , but buying from a trusted second-hand dealer who has experience in this field will give you more confidence that you are getting a good deal . It ’ s the same with machinery . It ’ s important to buy from a trustworthy company with great knowledge and years of experience in refurbishment .
Most of my years in the industry have been spent utilising plant preventative maintenance “ PPM ” to ensure longevity and sustained quality on existing machinery . Buying used machines and refurbishing them so they can operate at a high standard is something which I am very passionate about and there is definitely a huge advantage of doing this . New machinery is always preferred however with refurbished machinery , it ’ s a case of understanding the risk to help make your decision and determine which route will provide the greater return on investment and keep your business moving .
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