There are countless storage yards, across the world, filled with used plant and mining equipment which in most cases can still be used for many years in the process and production sectors.
Second hand rotating equipment, reciprocating equipment, process plants, vessels and any number of other items are available to end users in an "as is" or reconditioned state. This equipment can be inspected & tested for structural integrity by competent company personnel, for consideration as an alternative to new equipment.
Not all used equipment is broken or redundant and, in many cases, ends up in storage yards as the result of plant closures, company liquidations etc. There are perfectly good used steam turbines available, which with a perfectly good spare rotor, will still cost less than a new similarly sized turbine. If the Turbine happens to be a current model then the potential purchaser could reduce capital outlay whilst not sacrificing quality of the equipment purchased.
We, at Kirton Mechanical Equipment, have pleasure in detailing what we consider to be contributing factors, for decision makers to consider, by outlining the advantages of purchasing used equipment over new equipment.
Fit For Purpose:
In cases where equipment and machinery aren’t already exactly to your specifications, modifications can be carried out, as would most likely happen when purchasing new. Rubber lining, rewinding, re-cylindering, respraying and any additional specification can be carried out to achieve an often over-design specification that will come to serve its purpose well for many years, at a fraction of new equipment’s price.
Equipment Source:
Markets, technology and economics are constantly in shifting motion. With changing environments comes the phasing out, closing / shutting down of plants, entities or components that companies no longer deem as necessary for their processes. Quite often, one finds that equipment was built and operated by a company just like yours, with the same design and process needs in mind. This equipment is sold off (usually to offset dismantling costs) without misrepresentation and is offered back to the industry in the same way.
Delivery Lead Time:
For equipment sold “as is”, lead times are almost eliminated, or drastically minimized, depending on refurbishment to any equipment that may be required.
Profitability:
With second hand / refurbished equipment the return on plant investments can be substantially higher than with new. Expansion projects that were previously unfeasible due to high costs, directly related to equipment, can now be reconsidered, as project budgets decrease.
Quality Of Equipment:
Any equipment which has been manufactured to standard specifications, which have proved to be structurally sound, retains the same quality standard it was originally built to. Refurbishment will improve any cosmetic and functional design features and hence bring the equipment back to at least its equivalent new state.
Risk Reduction:
Any reputable used equipment supplier will encourage the potential buyer to run required tests on equipment prior to purchasing it. Equipment so offered is often sold on the premise of it being functional under normal operating conditions.
Environmental Impact:
The recycling of heavy equipment reduces to a fraction the consumption of energy and natural resources, the dependence (where applicable) on imports and the impact on the environment represented by new manufacture from raw material. It is wasteful (and costs you a lot of extra money) to build something that is already built.
Warranties:
It’s become standard practice for used equipment dealers, offering refurbishment or re- engineering services, to offer certain workmanship and operational guarantees. While many sales are still made "as is", based on the judgement of the buyer, many organizations or end users have qualified personnel who can make educated decisions on the condition of used equipment and whether it is worth purchasing.
In almost all circumstances the warranty, applicable to new equipment, protects the OEM significantly more than it does the end user, so if the equipment fails your operation will be brought to a standstill regardless of the warranty that has been negotiated.
Parts & Service:
Whist most OEM’s are still offering replacement wear parts along with mechanical and technical service, their opposition offering used or refurbished equipment have the advantage of offering the same, or similar, equipment at a very competitive price whilst also including major spare components in the deal. As an example: end users can buy a used centrifugal compressor with a spare rotor for less than the price of a new rotor from the OEM.
On closing, K.M.E. feel that the fore going common sense factors offer guidance, to end users, for consideration when purchasing equipment. All these factors, if combined with a willingness and competence to select components from large inventories, could make good used equipment a reasonable first choice for your business.
