In the current economic climate, cost control is paramount to ensure survival for any business, and used machinery dealers are no exception. However, they are perhaps better placed than many to be able to react to the changing marketplace. Unlike machinery manufacturers, the used machinery dealer can pick and choose which markets to concentrate on, for the buying or selling of machines. They can also react more quickly than the manufacturers when it comes to stockholding to suit prevailing conditions.
As with all tough trading times, there are also opportunities created. Machinery dealers are seeing that with the increased number of print companies going out of business, good second hand printing machines are becoming available. They are acquiring repossessed equipment, rather than the more traditional trade-in stock from the sale of new kit. With sterling still relatively weak against other currencies, this UK sourced used machinery sells competitively overseas.
Conversely, the situation also creates an opportunity for UK printers to look at upgrading their presses, or to consider moving previously outsourced work in-house. Soft new machinery prices inevitably reflect on used machinery prices. Purchasing used finishing kit, for example, could create a profit centre to help the bottom line in a comparatively short space of time - with the added bonus being tighter control over both turnaround time and job quality.
With mainstream banks still reluctant to finance new machinery, many printers are hanging on to their machines for longer. This means that there is an increasing need for print machine servicing and repair, an opportunity many dealers have grasped and are making full use of. They are offering repairs, service and routine maintenance by manufacturer trained engineers and, of course, they have spares and consumables readily available.
There are no signs of an imminent major upturn however, and predictions are that the economy will only start to show improvement later this year. This should bode well for the timing of the industry’s next major international show - Ipex. There, within Upex @ Ipex, will be the biggest concentration of international used machinery dealers since drupa. Upwards of 100 used machinery specialists will be represented. This will present printers with an ideal opportunity to trade in unwanted machinery and to upgrade kit.
