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Many companies in the market for a paper cutter often narrow their choices to new or used machines. However, neither option may be ideal. In addition to a wide gap in price, there may also be big differences in features, warranties, and overall machine condition.
A properly rebuilt machine offers the best of both worlds: A "nearly-new" piece of equipment, without the price tag of a new machine. In comparison, the cost for a rebuilt machine can be 30- to 50-percent less. Although more expensive than used, "as is" machines, rebuilt paper cutters are high-quality products typically warranted and capable of performing for many years. If your production volume, type of material, and budget make a rebuilt machine a viable option there are several things to keep in mind before you buy.
While technology has changed many processes, paper cutters have remained unchanged in their basic operation. They all have a table to place material on, a clamping system to hold the material in place and a means of forcing a knife through the material. Their simplicity leads many to believe that a used machine in good condition is sufficient—the equivalent of a quick paint job to freshen up a used car.
A rebuilt paper cutter can be retrofit with items such as new cut and clamp controls that meet current safety requirements, as well as computerized controls to improve productivity. With these types of updates, an older model can be made to perform as efficiently and reliably as a new one. When researching rebuilt machines, keep in mind that not all processes are created equal. A true rebuilding involves the complete disassembly, re-machining, reassembly, repainting, updating, and testing of each machine, with the addition of a full warranty upon completion.
It starts with an evaluation of each machine. The conditions of all mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical components are inspected. After inspection, each machine is disassembled for cleaning. Mechanical parts are machined to renew guiding surfaces, or replaced if overly worn. After preliminary painting of interior surfaces, the machine is reassembled mechanically.
Hydraulic units and gearboxes are rebuilt and reattached. The electrical and pneumatic systems are then updated. The type of work done will depend on the original manufacturer's design and its compliance with current safety standards. For a few models, the electrical overhaul involves checking the circuitry and adding a computer retrofit. However, for most machines, especially older models, it requires a complete update. Once these steps are complete, the rebuilt cutter undergoes final reassembly, painting, inspection, and testing.
The decision to select a rebuilt paper cutter, versus used or new, depends on the needs of the company. A good rule of thumb is to determine which features you desire; the choice of new, used, or rebuilt is not so important if you don't maximize the productivity.
Consider how the machine is going to be used, including the size and type of material to be cut, and the volume of material you'll be cutting on a daily basis. Depending on those needs, a rebuilt machine may perform better than a new machine. The second factor to be considered is the size. In general, the larger the cutter required, the more attractive the cost savings realized when purchasing a rebuilt machine. While there is always a price difference between a new and a rebuilt machine, the gap increases with the size.
Companies in the market for a paper cutter have more options today than ever before. Place your company in a position to wring as much productivity as possible from your purchase by doing a little homework and learning about all the alternatives.
Bruce Peterson is the president of Colter & Peterson Inc., Paterson, N.J. The company specializes in buying, selling, remanufacturing, repairing, and moving paper cutters. They are the North American distributor for Prism, Saber, and Wohlenberg paper cutters, Wohlenberg perfect binders and knife trimmers, and Baumann paper handling systems. Contact him at (973) 684-0901 or bruce@colterpeterson.com.
author: By Bruce Peterson