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January 2021 #13258 Page #17
Roof Truss Lines: Should I Buy New or Retrofit? Sean Hubbard Spida Machinery
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etermining whether to purchase a new Roof Truss Table Press with Spida Jig-It Rails or retrofit an existing system is not a simple decision. We are often asked to quote one system or the other, but rarely both. Even so, it is important to spend time researching both avenues to a more productive future. With pre-planning being the key to long-term success, researching and calculating the costs to both options can prevent major downtime in the future. Here are a few of the crucial criteria that one should consider before making a final decision.
Product Life Cycle: One must consider their existing equipment’s age and life cycle. Roller and hydraulic presses have been around longer than I have been alive. However, we all have a life cycle. Decades of experience have taught me the life cycle is approximately 20 years of service without a major overhaul. Albeit, that will vary depending on given conditions. Considering the age of the equipment along with patchwork maintenance versus an extensive maintenance program should weigh heavy on the decision to purchase new or retrofit Spida’s Jig-It rails to an existing system. Overhauling the equipment, if you have the staff and capabilities, can reach up to 50% of a new system. Outsourcing the overhaul could cost even more. Uptime versus downtime is vitally significant to the success of any component plant. With the significant investment in retrofitting older equipment, there is little room for extensive downtime from a gantry roller or finish roller that is on its last leg. If the decision is to retrofit, consider preemptively overhauling the equipment before the retrofit is installed to maximize the potential uptime of the system. Products, and more importantly product support, is discontinued as gear ages. As demand decreases, availability of electronic and hardware components become less available. Be certain to check with the O.E.M. of the system expected to be retrofitted to understand the future availability of support and hardware.
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