Choices For A Changing World

Mark Hodgkins, chief executive of ArcGen Hilta, UK suppliers of on-site power equipment, discusses the various options available for companies coming out of the recession and looking to purchase or hire plant equipment

As Britain attempts to emerge from the economic downturn that has engulfed the country for the past two years, industries such as quarrying, manufacturing and construction have had to re-evaluate their business models with reduced workforces and tighter budgets and time constraints in order to survive.

However, when orders begin to regenerate after a recession, a company may then find that it does not have the ability to fulfil them, as economic reserves will have been used during tougher times, leaving no collateral with which to take on projects once they begin to come through. It is essential, therefore, that businesses continue to monitor budgets closely during the period of economic upturn, perhaps even more so than before.

In an unstable financial climate, suppliers need to reassure companies that adhering to tighter budgets does not necessarily mean settling for lower-quality or inferior machinery. Companies need to retain quality to ensure they stand out from their competitors, and this includes the equipment they use. Businesses do not have to compromise on the quality of the machinery that they are buying or hiring to stay within budget, they simply need to re-examine their options.

Previously, in better economic times, companies may have purchased or hired a brand new machine, and some may now consider purchasing a cheaper, lower-quality machine in order to continue buying new. Yet compromising on lower-quality machinery can result in debilitating issues for projects, such as breakdowns, further repairs, poor fuel economy and poor performance, all of which can derail tight budgets and timescales.

However, businesses need not scale down on the superiority of their machinery; many suppliers are now offering more cost-effective options on high-quality machinery that offers reliability and robustness. As well as new products, manufacturers will offer less expensive but equally reliable and high-quality products in the form of refurbished and reconditioned machines.

Both suppliers and customers can be reticent to promote and buy refurbished and reconditioned machines because they feel they are ‘second hand’ and not as good as the brand-new equivalent, but this is simply not the case. A refurbished or repaired product addresses any specific faults that a machine may have, both mechanically and aesthetically. Any faulty components are fixed or replaced to restore the machine to a suitable level with a long life- span.

Many manufacturers also offer reconditioned machines with full parts and labour warranty, as they do on a new machine. Reconditioning involves breaking down the unit into sub-assemblies, testing for any faults and then completely repairing and rebuilding any components that are not up to standard.

At ArcGen Hilta, all reconditioning of products is carried out on site by the company’s team of specialists, with the machines rigorously performance tested to the same criteria as a new unit. The company’s confidence in its reconditioned machinery is such that it is sold ‘as new’ with a parts and extended warranty. Such units are also outstanding in their level of appearance aesthetically, with the bodywork cleaned and repainted to ensure that they look as impressive on the outside as they are operationally on the inside.

The broad and comprehensive range of options available from manufacturers allows companies to maintain standards in an ever-changing economic environment but remain within budget. For many companies, the ability to opt for a refurbished or reconditioned quality machine allows them to maintain the standard of product that they have become accustomed to, and not have to downgrade to a lower-quality, less-robust machine.

For further information visit: www.arcgenhilta.com