Making a large capital purchase is not a decision taken lightly. And when it comes to the manufacturing industry, many machine purchases come at a high price tag or a longer lead time. So, decision makers put in the time to research and understand exactly what machine or piece of equipment would best solve their packaging challenge.
But where do you start?
Here’s a list of five things that you should consider before purchasing packaging equipment:
1. The kind of container you’re packaging.
And this can mean a lot of things. Many variables play a role in what equipment is best for the application and container being used. Container shape, size, and material all impact what machine is best suited for your project.
2. The company you want to work with.
Choosing the right company to work with is often key to receiving a quality product. Consider looking into what a company offers in terms of service and support. If your machine breaks down will you have someone to call to help repair it? Is the equipment manufacturer reputable in the packaging industry? Look into what companies they’ve worked with and their dedication to their customers. It’s best to be an informed buyer, and this goes for packaging machinery and equipment too.
Crashes and malfunctions are going to happen with just about any piece of equipment. Every moment counts in these instances. You want to work with companies that will support you at a moment’s notice and that build this into their mission.
3. Ensure your new equipment works with your current equipment.
New equipment can be anything from a simple upgrade to an existing conveyor belt to an entirely new machine. Whichever it is, you want to make sure it works with your current machines as seamlessly as possible. How complex is the new equipment? Will your operators be able to work these machines day one or will they require training? Consider looking into companies that offer upgrades to your current machine or retrofits. That’s one way to make a large improvement to your packaging line for a smaller price tag in terms of resources and financial impact.
4. Downtime and changeovers.
Downtime and changeovers play a major role in the efficiency of a company’s manufacturing line. How will new equipment affect these things? For most manufacturers, the goal would be to decrease the downtime with the new equipment and quick changeovers is one easy way to achieve that goal. Find a company that’s main goals align with the goal you have behind the new equipment purchase.
5. Long term life of the machine.
It’s important to think about the long-term maintenance for the life of the machine. You want your equipment to last. Look into different companies’ customer support plans if they have them. Will your own employees be able to service the equipment if something goes wrong? Are spare parts easily attainable? Having a good maintenance and support plan for new equipment can help your machines run better for even longer.
