Key Elements To Look For When Buying Refurbished Equipment and Components

When it comes to buying equipment to use in manufacturing there are many advantages that come from purchasing used or refurbished pieces.  It is cost effective for companies, both big and small, to buy quality used and refurbished industrial assets for their facilities.  It is also beneficial for a company’s budget to repair large, heavy industrial equipment with less expensive refurbished components verse OEM parts.  Before jumping into purchasing refurbished equipment and components it’s important to take into consideration a variety of factors. 

It is always important to choose the right equipment for your facility.  Without the proper equipment your facility won’t run effectively.  Key elements you should look at before purchasing new or refurbished industrial equipment includes:

Is the equipment refurbished or used? 

If it is used you will want to ask specific questions that have to do with the number of hours the equipment has been used as well the usage history.  Most equipment has a specific lifespan; certain repairs are known to be expected at certain points throughout its lifecycle. 

If it is refurbished you will want to determine the process the company used to refurbish the equipment.  It is important to choose a company that offers quality refurbishing.  

Refurbishing is not about cosmetics; it is about bringing a piece of equipment back to life.

What is the manufacturer’s reputation?

The manufacturer’s history and reputation play a role when choosing industrial equipment.  It is important that the equipment is coming from a reputable manufacturer.  Always choose quality and reputation over cost.  It is worth paying a bit more to buy a product from a reputable manufacturer.  Buying a used or refurbished component from a quality manufacturer is better than buying a new off brand with a sketchy reputation. 

What maintenance records are available?

All equipment runs better and lasts longer with proper maintenance.  Before buying used equipment as to see the available maintenance records.  Think about it like a car, regular tune ups and oil changes allow the car to run more efficiently and longer.  Well maintained industrial and manufacturing equipment will last longer than one that has not.

Is there physical wear and tear?

Be sure to do a visual inspection on used and refurbished equipment before finalizing the purchase of any large scaled equipment for your facility.  Normal wear and tear is to be excepted even if the equipment has been refurbished.  Visible cracks, corrosion, wear and fatigue on components, especially mechanical ones, indicate issues with the machinery.  These should be big red flags to look for a different piece of equipment to purchase that will better meet your facilities need. 

J&P Electrical is a full service electrical equipment company.  At J&P, we supply contractors, end users and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned and obsolete electrical equipment. Contact us today at https://jpelectricalcompany.com for all of your bus plug, circuit breaker, switchboard, fuses, disconnects and more.

Choosing To Use Refurbished Electrical Components

There is a myth circulating around about using reconditioned breakers.  Let’s put it to rest right here and right now.  You are not risking anything to save a few bucks when you are purchasing reconditioned electrical breakers – especially when you find a reputable company to purchase from. 

Many manufacturing companies choose to use reconditioned electrical components.  Not only do they cost less over OEM parts, they are also readily available.  For older equipment finding replacement parts may not always be so simple.  Product reconditioning is one way in which manufacturers eliminate unplanned downtime.  Replacing worn or damaged components with newly refurbished components increase safety while decreasing unexpected machine breakdowns.

The process of reconditioning electrical components can vary from company to company.  The basic process of reconditioning electrical components is to bring the component back to its original state.  With quality refurbishment the product is completely disassembled, the components are cleaned, analyzed, reassembled and then a final inspection along with testing is done to ensure the component meets the manufacturers standards. 

Depending on the company many times electrical component companies may be willing to lend you a component to use while they refurbish yours.  Refurbishing electrical components can take between three days to three weeks depending on the component and company providing the reconditioning. 

Reconditioning isn’t only about cleaning the components but more about upgrading components to include the latest technology available.  Installing upgrades to the system communication center can allow facilities to gather trends and usage information on the system.  Another reason communication center upgrades are important when refurbishing electrical components is the ability to ensure that equipment is running properly and that power usage is similar between machinery. 

Refurbishing is economical for numerous reasons.  It isn’t always affordable for manufacturers to completely replace equipment.  Maintaining machinery through refurbishing components allows companies an economical approach at replacing parts and equipment experiencing normal wear and tear through use. 

When equipment breaks down because of faulty components it can often cost companies a great deal of money.  Not only do emergency repair services need to be performed, replacement parts need to be found and equipment downtime needs to be accounted for.  Simple updates through refurbishment allow components to be replaced and equipment to be maintained to increase longevity. 

Seek out a company that follows stringent electrical component refurbishing guidelines.  Refurbishing requires a lot more than a new coat of paint, cleaning and lubrication.     

J&P Electrical is a full service electrical equipment company.  At J&P, we supply contractors, end users and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned and obsolete electrical equipment. Contact us today at https://jpelectricalcompany.com for all of your bus plug, circuit breaker, switchboard, fuses, disconnects and more.