Congratulations, you bought a new machine to help your manufacturing or fabricating process! So much thought is put into getting floor space and other logistics for the new equipment figured out, but one of the bigger considerations is what to do with the old piece of machinery or equipment? Here are 5 steps to take to get this process handled efficiently.
1. Can I resell it?
Obviously this first step is very important. There are so many buyers and sellers of used equipment all over the world and it is always very important to take a look at this option first.
The first step is often to figure out the scrap metal value first and the first step in that is knowing the weight of the piece of machinery. Many times the original weight plate will not reflect the current weight as modifications on and off of the machine may have changed the weight. Once you know that, send pictures and email Aileen Romich aileen@recycleyourmetal.com and she will get you an immediate evaluation so you know the amount of money the machine is worth in scrap metal so you can accurately price the machinery for resale.
The next step is talking to a used equipment dealer who can help you sell the item. You can choose an auction (Hess Auction is one we have used) if you prefer that route and can set a reserve based on your scrap price. If you want an estimate on the equipment a good resource for selling your equipment is Weaver Metalworking Machinery, speak with David and he will give you a fair estimate on your equipment.
2. Can I move it?
After the first evaluation the next one is crucial. How heavy is the piece? Can it be disassembled? Is there enough space to move it out or do I have to move things around to even have space to move it? How big are the exit doors and is that adequate?
Questions like these mean it’s time to get a rigging company in to take a look. A few we work with are Advanced Industrial Services, Greiner Industries and R&T Mechanical. These professionals will take a look at your situation and let you know the relative costs of moving the equipment as is, tearing it into different parts, and the safety implications of doing both.
The moving part of the process can be a two step process, at your location and at the the recycling company that you work with. One of the biggest factors in hauling big equipment is space for the staging and removal for large scale cranes in the yard. Sahd Metal Recycling has staged machinery that has been pulled off weighing up to 150,000 pounds with outside crane partners so we have the space in our yard to accommodate level safe unloading of your material.
3. Can I haul it?
Often as companies evaluate they realize that so much of the cost of recycling the heavy machinery is in the rigging and hauling, often times more expensive than the value of the actual piece.
Trucking, oversized permits and considering many factors can change the costs of removal dramatically. Truck height often is one thing to consider. There are many rules on overhead heights for hauling, and often a small trailer like a lowboy can keep the height of your equipment under legal limits. This of course requires a loading from the ground level, not dock level. If your facility has an exit to the ground level that is accessible from where the machinery can be staged this may be a good option. If you need to bring the piece out on a flatbed you may be susceptible to oversized permits and other considerations.
As part of this process Sahd Metal Recycling can play a crucial role in evaluating the trucking and hauling cost portion of this process. Our 24 hour turnaround service puts our dumpsters and flatbeds at your fingertips with the reliability you can count on. Our costs are put against the value of the metal so you won’t have to have separate billing systems for hauling and the value of the metal.
Speaking with the rigging companies above will be a good start to see if it can be hauled in a cost effective manner.
4. Is it worth my time to cut up the machinery?
This is the question to pose to Aileen and the team at Sahd Metal Recycling. We partner with you to help you figure out how to prepare the machinery safely for the highest sale value and the lowest rigging and hauling costs. Our team of experts will help you evaluate the cost difference in safely dismantling the equipment to the most cost effective level possible as opposed to hauling it out whole.
Most machinery will hold the most value if it is cut into 2×5 foot pieces. Many companies are unable to do that onsite due to insurance or safety considerations, but if this is something you feel could be done at your location it will both increase the value of your metal and at the same time lower the hauling costs as the pieces are much more manageable.
We also help you evaluate proper environmental disposal of all fluid bearing pans, cylinders and hoses that will need to be removed to ensure safe handling. These steps not only help you in compliance with safety and environmental issues which are necessary factors to consider.
5. Paperwork, payment, compliance and overall reliability
None of it matters if the process is not handled by a partner that values your project goals. Any delay in any step of the process can cost money. If trucking is holding up a crane that costs money, if the riggers are behind schedule or unreliable other parts of the project may have skyrocketing costs. The project must work on a reliable timeline or the new equipment install may be delayed costing untold dollars in training, installation fees and overall production delays.
What this all points to is choosing a partner with the relationships with all of the parts of the process to guide you through and gather the paperwork and prompt service and payment to finish off all of the details that can undermine a project.
Sahd Metal Recycling stands ready to help you through all of the steps of this process! Our 24 hour turnaround for industrial scrap metal service stands as a metaphor for the sense of urgency we bring to your project, working hand in hand with you to make sure your project is a success!
