Used manufacturing equipment can be an attractive option when you're trying to reduce capital investment, shorten lead time, or add production capacity quickly. In the right application, a used machine can be a practical solution.
The challenge is knowing exactly what you're buying.
A machine that powers up and cycles is not necessarily ready for your application. Its condition, controls, tooling, safety equipment, and basic capabilities can all affect what it will actually take to put that equipment into production.
Before purchasing a used riveting or assembly machine, here are several areas worth evaluating.
1. Make Sure the Machine Fits Your Application
Start with the same question you would ask when specifying a new machine: What does your application require?
For riveting and forming equipment, consider:
• Rivet or fastener size and material
• Required machine capacity
• Available stroke
• Throat depth and access to the riveting location
• Production rate and cycle-time requirements
• Tooling and fixturing requirements
A machine may be available at the right price and still be undersized for the application or unable to physically reach the assembly location.
For an auto-fed impact riveter, the feeding system also matters. The hopper, track, jaws, driver, and tooling may have been configured around a different rivet. Even if the base machine has sufficient capacity, some of these components may need to be modified or replaced for your application.
2. Look Beyond Whether the Machine Cycles
Seeing a used machine operate is valuable, but it is only a starting point.
Depending on the equipment, inspection points may include tooling, bearings, seals, lubrication, alignment, hydraulic or pneumatic components, and fixture contact surfaces. Wear or poor maintenance in these areas may affect machine performance and part consistency even if the equipment still cycles.
When possible, ask about maintenance history, known repairs, and when major wear components were last serviced or replaced.
You may not be able to get every answer when buying on the used market. The goal is to understand as many of the unknowns as possible before they become unexpected costs.
3. Check the Age and Supportability of the Controls
Older controls do not automatically make a machine unsuitable, but they can introduce another variable into the cost of ownership.
Identify the controls and electrical components currently installed and determine whether they are still supportable. If an outdated component fails, a direct replacement may no longer be available. Installing newer components can sometimes require additional controls or electrical upgrades elsewhere on the machine.
That does not necessarily mean you should walk away from an older machine. It means potential controls upgrades should be considered as part of the investment rather than discovered after the equipment is already on your floor.
4. Inspect Guarding and Safety Equipment
Safety equipment deserves the same attention as the machine's mechanical condition.
Look for missing or damaged guarding, exposed pinch points, and safety devices that do not function as intended. Used equipment may also have been modified during its service life, so its current configuration may be different from how it originally left the manufacturer.
Any identified safety concerns should be evaluated and addressed before putting the equipment into production.
5. Find Out What You Can About the Machine's History
The more you know about a used machine, the better you can evaluate what you are actually purchasing.
If available, ask about:
• Previous application
• Approximate usage or cycle count
• Maintenance history
• Known repairs
• Controls or mechanical modifications
• Current tooling and accessories
For used Orbitform equipment, the serial number and current pictures are especially helpful. Depending on the machine's age and available records, Orbitform may be able to identify how the equipment was originally configured when it left our factory.
Keep in mind that the original build information does not necessarily tell the entire story. Equipment can be modified, repaired, or reconfigured throughout its service life, which is why current pictures and any available history are valuable.
6. Whenever Possible, Test the Actual Application
There is an important difference between confirming that a machine operates and confirming that it can produce your assembly.
Watching the equipment cycle can help identify obvious operational issues. Running representative parts provides much more useful information because it allows the process to be evaluated against the requirements of the actual application.
This is the same reason Orbitform runs customer parts in our Solutions Lab when developing new applications. Testing helps determine the appropriate process, tooling, and equipment based on what the finished assembly needs to do.
The goal is not simply to find a machine that runs. It is to find equipment and a process capable of producing the required assembly consistently.
What Does "Refurbished" Actually Mean?
Terms such as used, refurbished, rebuilt, and remanufactured can mean different things depending on who is selling the equipment.
Rather than relying solely on the label, ask what work was actually performed.
Was the machine inspected or simply cleaned and repainted? Was it disassembled? Were worn or unreliable components replaced? Was the completed machine tested? Is it backed by a warranty?
Understanding the scope behind the terminology can help you compare equipment more accurately.
Another Option: Factory Remanufactured Equipment
For manufacturers interested in previously owned equipment but looking for a more defined rebuild process, Orbitform also offers Factory Remanufactured Machines (FRMs).
Orbitform FRM equipment is 100% disassembled, thoroughly evaluated, repainted, reassembled, and factory tested. Components are evaluated and replaced as appropriate for the specific machine, and each FRM is backed by Orbitform's standard one-year warranty.
The exact components involved vary based on the equipment and process, but the objective is to rebuild the equipment to a like-new condition rather than simply improve its appearance.
Consider the Total Investment, Not Just the Purchase Price
Used equipment can offer real advantages, particularly when capital cost and availability are important. The key is understanding what may be required after the purchase.
Tooling changes, feed-system modifications, controls upgrades, guarding, replacement components, or rebuild work can all affect the final investment and timeline.
If you're evaluating used Orbitform equipment, you don't have to figure it out alone. Send us the serial number, pictures, and any information you have about the machine and application, and our team can help you better understand the equipment you're working with. Orbitform's Equipment Support Team can also inspect customer-owned used Orbitform equipment and help identify potential service, tooling, controls, or rebuild needs.
If you prefer previously owned equipment with a defined factory rebuild process, ask us about current Factory Remanufactured Machine availability.
Whether you're considering used, Factory Remanufactured, or new equipment, the goal is the same: select equipment that fits the application and understand what it will take to support reliable production.