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Guide to Selling Used Automation Equipment
Published: 10/06/2022
Guide to Selling Used Automation Equipment
Electronics have had an increasingly large part to play in modern society, from consumer devices to electrically powered automated manufacturing equipment. With technology exponentially advancing and continuous improvement at the forefront of many minds, this does call into question the sustainability of resources. With raw materials depleting, how can these new electronics be manufactured? To facilitate industry growth, going circular and breaking away from the disposal mindset is essential.
A recent United Nations report revealed that the volume of e-waste is on an upwards trajectory, set to double over the next three decades. With the number already sitting at a staggering fifty million tonnes, selling your used automation equipment as opposed to disposing of it, has never been more impactful.
How does neglecting to recycle your automation equipment impact your business?
Less than 40% of electrical waste produced within the European Union is recycled. This research covers everything from domestic appliances to worn out manufacturing components. From this, we can conclude that this linear economy whereby we take, make and discard is increasing levels of waste and adding to the excessive consumption of raw resources. With rare metals being extracted and availability decreasing, demand is on the rise and the magnitude of the situation is likely to negatively impact your bottom line due to the premium prices attached to those essential resources. Adopting a linear approach for electronics adds unnecessary hurdles in the path of technological progression as with no materials, innovative ideas cannot advance from conceptualisation to reality.
Bypassing the red tape is a hurdle for many to overcome, no matter their industry or specialism. Potentially hazardous components lurk within electrical parts such as mercury and lead, which can leak from circuit boards or monitors and pollute the environment. Knowing the dangers, laws are in place to ensure the safe disposal of these electrical parts. With the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations it is now a costly affair to discard your unwanted and disused industrial electrical spares. Selling the automation parts that you no longer need means that you can avoid those nasty charges wired into waste collection as our team does all the heavy lifting and pays you for the privilege. Basically, you recuperate a final return on investment, do your bit for the environment and all you have to do is send us your list of electrical parts, accept the offer and wait for us to collect the goods. Transforming your surplus inventory into easy money really is that simple.
What approach should you take prior to selling?
Make an Asset List
Compiling a list of the parts you’re looking to sell means you are prepared to submit your list to your chosen buyers immediately, negating the need to repeatedly resurvey and rewrite your document for each prospective purchaser. On the flip side of this, make sure your list is completely up to date and filled to the brim with every detail you believe relevant. It is not uncommon for buyers to respond and ask for more details before they can make an offer. Doing a thorough list once will save you plenty of time down the line. Be sure to include part or article numbers, brands and whether the equipment is new, used or faulty.
Be as Honest as the Day Is Long
It is standard practice for buyers to pay for the items upon receipt and inspection of goods. To avoid disappointment, ensure you have been clear about the condition of the items you are selling from the get go. If it is faulty, do not be afraid to say so. Our team is highly skilled and the chances are we can salvage certain components and still offer you a good price. We want to provide you with an accurate offer and your information will be crucial to doing so. As a side note, if your part arrives at our workshop, further issues are discovered and the value of your quote decreases to a value you are dissatisfied with, we will return your electronics free of charge.
Understand The Terms of Sale
When selling your used automation parts, do not be blindsided by a high value quote. If the buyer charges extortionate collection fees or requires you to do all of the legwork, this will only eat into your return on investment. For instance, a weighty variable speed drive can cost hundreds of pounds to ship. Ideally, you want to find a buyer who offers a complimentary collection service. In case you were wondering, yes, we do collect your parts completely free of charge! It is a straightforward case of boxing everything up and giving us a call.
What do we do with your parts?
When selling with Northern Industrial, the process is simple. Send the list. Receive the offer. We collect while you count your cash.
Buying your spares enables us to continue supporting users of obsolete automation equipment. Whether your automated process is being treated to an electrical upgrade and you no longer need its predecessor or perhaps the part has failed and you don’t want to encounter those disposal fees, we buy parts from across the world. We fix and rehome them, saving your electronics from meeting their fate on the scrapheap.
How do we do this?
- Once we receive the part, our engineers replace the broken components and rebuild it to its former glory
- The unit is then restored to its original factory settings so your data remains completely out of the picture
- Using our 25,000 sq ft repair facility, the part is put through its paces and run at maximum capacity to ensure 100% functionality
- Then the part is ready to meet its new owner and is sent on its way with a two year warranty. This may be a case of us donating to educational institutions or reselling the unit to global manufacturers so the wheels of the circular economy can continue to turn
Want to find out more?
If you'd like to learn more, click the button below and one of our helpful friendly team will be in touch. Alternately you can reach us by phone on +44 800 234 3747
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