Used equipment is readily available, cuts lead time for delivery and install, and allows faster product launch. 

As pharmaceutical manufacturers’ equipment budgets continue to rise, demand grows for acquiring equipment that addresses today’s trends.¹ For example, there is growing interest in bioprocess manufacturing technology for complex formulations. Additionally, enhancements in tablet presses and tooling equipment are adding to a rising interest in such technology.² 

Fortunately for pharma manufacturers, this equipment can be purchased at a more reasonable price with a faster turnaround time by considering the surplus of used equipment in the market. Typically, purchasing used equipment can save companies anywhere from 55%-70%. These savings increase manufacturers’ ability to purchase more equipment within their respective budgets or reduce the overall cost basis for the project.

These five tips can ensure that, whether purchasing new or used equipment, the entire procurement process runs as efficiently as possible.

1. Order-To-Arrival Time. Depending on the equipment ordered, one can expect anywhere from six weeks up to twenty-four months for a new equipment purchase to arrive at their site. For most purchases through Federal Equipment Company, one can expect the used equipment to arrive within one to two weeks after payment has been received. The benefit of purchasing used equipment is that it is readily available.

2. Prepare For Installation. Upon receiving either new or used equipment, the customer will need to schedule a technician to install the unit. This timeline increases when equipment is delivered from overseas due to packaging, logistics, and customs. Although Federal Equipment Company does not offer installation services, it can recommend resources to help with this service.

Tips for a successful install include:

Make sure the space is ready when the equipment is delivered, otherwise there will be additional costs and time spent managing the logistics of the equipment delivery with construction in the space. This is especially important if the equipment is large or the facility must be modified to get the equipment into the building (using a crane, opening a roof or a wall), which can be expensive.

Make sure the proper equipment is available to offload the equipment once it arrives. Unloading equipment is a careful process that requires equipment and time, which can cause disruption to daily operations if not properly coordinated.         

3. Create A Commission Binder. Commissioning is critical to any capital project. To commission a piece of pharmaceutical equipment, identify all the parts and make a “binder” for more efficient equipment maintenance. If a component needs to be replaced, reference the binder for the part number, manufacturer, and distributor and order it. The commissioning document is a playbook for success during the life of the machine. 

For new equipment, an OEM will likely provide some basic commissioning documents regarding machine construction. The project manager may need to add the specifics of the install to the report (i.e. the building information) to record the as-built nature of the equipment install. For used equipment, the commissioning documents for the machinery are rarely available and have to be recreated by analyzing the equipment or obtaining it from the OEM, if possible.

4. Validate That All Is As It Should Be. All pieces of equipment will need to be validated prior to production. This means validating that the commissioning is what it says it is. Verify that everything is connected the way it should be connected. Then, validate that the equipment is operating the way it should be operating and consistently producing the intended manufacturing result.

5. Turnaround Time Affects Productivity. Having equipment available immediately allows the customer to schedule installation and put the unit put into production much quicker. Even when purchasing new equipment, it is very rare the unit arrive without faults. If an equipment’s timeline is pushed back by the OEM, a manufacturer can fall behind on deadlines and risk losing potential business or missing a product launch. If a particular piece of equipment is not available to use, it can put a permanent hold on a project.

There is a level of unmatched speed and accessibility when it comes to purchasing used equipment. Ultimately, clients are able to get their machines into production faster, which means drugs and life-saving medicines are made more readily available to patients. This is all done at a lower price; production costs are cut by more than half when using Federal Equipment Company as a supplier. Regardless of the machine you are looking for, we offer over 270 different categories of equipment from thousands of manufacturers, meaning there is truly something for everyone.  

References

1. Pharma Plant Machinery and Equipment Market Procurement Research – Market Trend and Spend Analysis by SpendEdge, December 18, 2017, Business Wire, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171218005725/en/Pharma-Plant-Machinery-Equipment-Market-Procurement-Research, accessed April 2, 2018.
2. Pharmaceutical Formulation Equipment Market Procurement Research – Market Trends and Spend Analysis by SpendEdge, January 10, 2018, Business Wire, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180110005646/en/Pharmaceutical-Formulation-Equipment-Market-Procurement-Research-%E2%80%93, accessed April 2, 2018.