Before You Buy ...

In the August issue of USGlass we will be featuring our annual Guide to Equipment & Machinery. It's a special feature that's designed to give companies planning or considering a major equipment purchase information about the types of equipment on the market.

While I myself have never purchased a tempering oven or an IG line, I have made major purchases. And I know that you don't just walk into your realtor's office or onto a car lot and buy the first thing you see. Careful consideration goes into such a purchase, and the same holds true when purchasing glass fabricating or processing machinery.

I asked a friend of mine in the tempering business what he would say are some of the biggest considerations a company should to take before making any major machinery purchase and he told he it all comes down to getting the right machine for the right markets. "Just as you wouldn't buy a Cadillac to haul hay on the farm, you wouldn't buy a 3-ton truck to take the family on vacation," he said.

I'd be interested in hearing some of the lessons you've learned in buying equipment, what advice you'd offer to others and what you think are the number one considerations. Send me an email or post your comments here.