Amada pre-owned machines prove attractive

"The sheet metal market is presently very strong for good quality used machines, which continue to represent an important and significant part of our business," says Amada UK's managing director Alan Parrott. "In our experience, there are ample opportunities for start-up companies during a recession and several of our most entrepreneurial and successful customers have started trading on this basis." The growing number of start-up businesses is fuelling the demand for good quality, reliable pre-owned machine tools, and more than 85% of its machines up to five years old will have been supported under its own maintenance contracts. "We have a service book and can provide a full service history from our Digital Service System," says Mr Parrott. "Furthermore, all pre-owned Amada machines are refurbished by our own dedicated engineering team." Amada pre-owned machines are also supplied under the same conditions as any of its new machines, i.e. with the availability of Amada finance, full Amada warranty and maintenance plans, as well as installation and training by the manufacturer. Additionally, Amada's established service infrastructure means it provides an identical level of service support irrespective of whether the customer buys new or pre-owned models. The company adds that many customers opt to upgrade their equipment at the close of the standard five-year Amada 'loan' period, as the high residual values commanded by the machines mean end users can transfer to the latest technology with no change to their monthly cost. When buying a pre-owned package from Amada, any manufacturer's machine, subject to inspection, can be taken as deposit, and with Amada finance, the loan is secured against the machine so personal guarantees are not necessary. Renting is another alternative for customers considering Amada pre-owned machines with an option to return the equipment or convert to a fixed rate Amada loan at the end of the rental period to own the equipment outright. Castleford-based sub-contract fabricator Yorkshire Laser & Fabrications is one company that trod the pre-owned route. "I'm really happy with the pre-owned machine I took from Amada. The pre-delivery, installation, training and after sales support were excellent and no different to what I would expect with a new piece of kit," says the company's managing, director Garnett Orford.