Equipment Appraisal Blog | Understanding Machinery Appraisals

Using a machine shop appraisal to keep up with current trends

Posted by Equipment Appraisal Services on Tue, Jun 13, 2017 @ 10:38 AM

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If there's one thing that's true in the fabrication industry, it's that staying on top of changing market trends is vital to the overall health of your business. But how do you determine where your equipment falls, what it's worth and how you can leverage that value to upgrade your shop to the latest technology? A machine shop appraisal provides you with all the information you need and more to determine your equipment values. Here's how it works.

Using a machine shop appraisal to keep up with current trends

New welders offer an entirely new range of precision, lowering your overhead costs and reducing post-welding cleanup operations. CNC machines deliver a level of accuracy that is virtually impossible to match using traditional metal fabrication tools. Multi-axis machines allow unprecedented access to the piece in progress while providing faster production times. Additive manufacturing gives you options you'd never before considered possible for your machine shop. How do you decide which technological breakthroughs are worth your hard-earned equity and whether you can afford these new tools in the first place? What determines the value of your equipment assets?

One way to approach the issue is through a machine shop valuation. Geared at taking a solid look at the actual value of your machinery, a valuation takes a good, hard look at a number of different aspects that impact machine values. Current and projected future demand for that particular piece of equipment is taken into account, as well as the features and kits available, condition of the equipment itself and what would be involved in terms of cost when removing the equipment for use in another facility. This helps you determine what the equipment is worth to your business and whether it's time to upgrade to more advanced equipment or leave the existing equipment in place to provide additional capability in your fabrication business. 

As an example, many companies are seeing the potential of additive printing, but very few are investing in the technology at this time. However, companies that are investing in this technology are seeing huge gains in their market share for these specialty tools. Though many companies are considering purchasing a 3D printer, they're not sure whether they have the assets available to purchase one that will meet their needs. Equipment valuation can help with this situation, allowing you to determine what equipment you would need to sell or use as collateral to purchase the necessary equipment to finish fitting out your machine shop for solid technological advancement.

By getting a machine shop appraisal, you can gain insights into your overall equipment values and leverage that value to improve your fabrication company's technology assets. But many machine shops make the mistake of simply counting on their equipment broker's word on what the equipment is worth. By using a certified equipment appraiser, you can ensure that the values you receive are backed up by solid methodologies that have stood the test of time in financial, tax agency and legal circles. If you're not currently working with a certified equipment appraiser, you could be leaving money on the table when it's time to buy or sell equipment.

Tags: machinery appraisal, machine shop appraisal