Running a
modern surface finishing plant requires a complex and diverse range of
machinery, equipment and consumables, combined with human metal finishing
expertise and experience. The products and processes are frequently changing,
either due to new products and finishes being introduced or to comply with
legislation. So there needs to be constant changes to plant configurations,
process stages, control systems, transportation systems and ancillary
equipment.
This means
that metal finishing plant owners, managers and engineers face a multitude of
tasks and challenges in order to implement the necessary changes. For instance,
changing from an electrolytic plating process to electroless nickel requires
modifications to pre-treatments, power supplies, chemical feeds, water
treatment and extraction systems.
The
introduction of new products to an established plant can often have
implications due to product size; for instance, a manufacturer of bathroom and
plumbing accessories introducing a new range of shower enclosures. This would
increase the work envelope size and require a switch from decorative chrome
plating to anodising or powder coating, entirely different processes with
radically altered plant requirements.
Ancillary processes
A complete
surface finishing or plating facility usually consists of a central,
multi-stage wet treatment plant, with ancillary stages either inserted into the
production line or operating as stand-alone processes. Products are invariably
subjected to pre-treatments, such as ultrasonic cleaning, de-ionised rinsing
and phosphating to prepare the surface for plating, anodising or powder
coating.
In addition,
there may be requirements for polishing, deburring, de-flashing, heat
treatments, shot blasting, peening and the complex and diverse area of mass
finishing. All of these processes have their own individual technologies and
pieces of machinery, including manual and automatic variations. They also
require different levels of expertise in terms of sourcing, commissioning and
operating the equipment required.
Environmental considerations
No surface
finishing plant arrives without a plethora of environmental and health &
safety directives that companies are obliged to adhere to. These include the
use of prohibited or restricted chemicals, wastewater disposal procedures, fume
and dust controls, safety apparel and many more factors to take into
consideration.
Asset realisation and procurement
When a
company undertakes changes to surface finishing plant and machinery, either in
a specialist electroplating plant or as part of a manufacturing facility, it is
faced with a number of asset realisation and purchasing options.
Firstly,
there are the options available for the safe disposal of the redundant
machinery, taking into account the value to be recovered and the procedures to
be undertaken.
With the
globalisation of manufacturing and product finishing processes, it is quite
possible that the potential buyer for the redundant equipment resides thousands
of miles away on another continent. Specialist expertise is required to achieve
the sale in terms of international marketing, finding and evaluating the
prospective customer and completing all legal documentation.
With the
speed of change in a modern, globalised industry, the adaptation of an existing
plant can often be a quicker and more desirable option than commissioning a
brand new plant from a process plant manufacturer. Environmental considerations
are also in favour of the recycling and remanufacturing of used plant and
machinery wherever possible.
De-commissioning and relocation
Next, there
is the safe de-commissioning of the plant, the disposal of all hazardous
substances and complying with national and international legislation. In the
UK, this can include the surrender of the PPC licence to the Environment
Agency. The plant then has to be moved and re-commissioned in its new location,
with all the logistical hurdles to be negotiated. Once again, there is a duty
to comply with local environmental and safety regulations.
New v used, the pros and cons
Companies
face a number of choices when purchasing new or replacement surface finishing
plant and machinery. The taboo surrounding used machinery is mainly something
of the past, when there were few reliable and trustworthy suppliers of such
products. Many of today’s industrial machinery merchants are world-class
companies that are well-capitalised, employ knowledgeable staff and harness the
power of the internet to achieve a global marketing reach.
You only
need to see the thousands of serious buyers flocking to the USETEC exhibition
in Germany every year to realise that the used machinery industry has moved on
considerably from its rust-bucket reputation.
The used
machinery dealers, auctioneers and strategic industrial asset management consultants
of the 21st century employ sophisticated online marketing services
in order to achieve their clients’ asset realisation objectives. Many are
working on behalf of blue chip companies, for whom only bona fide suppliers
with the appropriate credentials will suffice. It is essential to understand
fully the client’s business plan and technical aspirations in order to put a
successful marketing plan in place.
Our company,
Riley Surface World, operates through three distinct sales and marketing
channels for the benefit of both sellers and buyers.
Retail machinery
Firstly,
there is the retail channel. We carry large, physical stocks of individual
machines for which there is a regular market demand. These include cleaning systems, ovens, polishing & linishing, shot blast machines, dust extractors,
chillers and much more. In most categories, the buyer has a choice of brand new
products, nearly new machines that require minimal updating or older machines
that can be made roadworthy with some refurbishment. In most cases, the level
of budget available determines the choice of purchase. Older used machines will
often be heavily discounted, and can be acquired ‘run & checked’ or
refurbished if appropriate.
Direct from Site Clearance
There are
also cases where it is not feasible to take equipment into stock. This often applies
to complete electroplating or powder coating plants. It can also be appropriate
for very large or specialised items of infrastructure that can best be marketed
‘in situ’. These events are known as Direct from Site Clearances, with a time
limit on the sale depending on when a factory has to be vacated or converted to
new production processes.
Riley
Surface World works on a commission of the selling price in return for
photographic, technical and marketing services. The company will also charge a
fee if there is de-commissioning and dismantling work involved. There is no
buyer’s premium charged for this kind of sales event.
Online Auction
Finally,
there are online auctions. This channel applies both to complete plants and
factory contents, as well as stock clearances of individual pieces of surface
finishing machinery from the retail channel. The great advantage of online
machinery auctions is that the bidding process tests the true commitment of
buyers. It also serves to realise the true market value of the machines being
sold at any one day or time in the used machinery calendar, adding credibility
to the adage: ‘The market doesn’t lie’.
Online
auctions are normally subject to a buyer’s premium, although this does not always
apply to individual stock items being auctioned.
Conclusion
The surface
finishing industry operates with a mixture of traditional and modern
technologies. The principles of electroplating have not changed a great deal
from their 19th century origins. However, modern plants incorporate
a great deal of digital technology, robotics and new developments in chemistry,
power supplies and fume abatement to name but a few. The constant evolution of
this technology has created a marketplace within the industry for good quality
plant & machinery that is surplus to requirements in one company, but is
needed by another company. Often these requirements cross national boundaries.
Companies
such as Riley Surface World, along with other specialist machinery merchants
and auctioneers, exist in order to serve the needs of the industry and provide
a point of contact for all companies that have plant to sell, or who are in the
market to purchase new surface finishing machinery. We provide a vital service,
not just to the surface finishing industry, but to the economy as a whole.
