Used Construction Plant Equipment

Similarly to buying a car, there is great sense in shopping around on the second hand marketplace when it comes to replacing or buying plant machinery for the first time. Depreciation is not quite as rampant in the plant equipment market as it is for cars, but it is still a big deal and buying used can save an awful lot of money – helping you and your business to balance the books and free up capital for expenditure in other areas. As such there is a roaring trade being done in second hand plant equipment and auctions offer a safe and fun way to exploit the bargains, as long as you follow some of the most important pieces of advice.

Top auction tips

• Make sure you go to the right auctions. There’s no use turning up with money to buy only to find there are none of the relevant items on sale.
• Ensure it runs. Test out equipment and if you don’t possess the technical nous, take someone with you who does.
• Ensure you see the service record and documentation. In addition, ensure that the original serial number plate is in place.
• Never pay in advance.
• Be wary of any item that is priced way below its true value. Some deals are just too good to be true.
• Check for any repairs and refab work that could have been carried out and check that they were carried out to a good standard.

Some second hand dealers will employ an independent maintenance company to check used plant machinery to make sure that it’s in tip top condition prior to putting it on sale. It is definitely worth asking if this has been the case before showing cast iron interest in purchasing any pieces. Doing your research is a key part of buying second hand. Make sure the dealer or auction house has got good peer reviews and feedback and research recent sales prices before visiting a sales centre or auction – whether online or bricks and mortar.

Auctions are a great outlet for rental companies to sell on inventory and often as a buyer you will be bidding on items that are ex-rental. In such cases it is important to check how many hours of operation the piece of machinery has seen. When buying second hand equipment you should also check that it has the operator’s manual and if not that it is easy to obtain a copy (online or from the manufacturer). On a similar note, especially when dealing with older machinery it is vital that spare parts are still available in case of necessary repairs. Wherever possible (it is often not) you should obtain a warranty.

Plant machinery can be extremely bulky, heavy and expensive or awkward to transport. It is vital that you don’t make a purchase without prior planning in terms of how you are going to get the machinery back to your site. Obtain a quote from one of the many dedicated companies for the transportation of industrial machinery.