Recycling companies are only possible because of reliable recycling machinery. Different types of recycling use different assembly line processes to turn waste into useful products. Purchasing quality recycling equipment is vital to a successful recycling business. Which machine manufacturer you choose makes a big difference. Quality manufacturers will stay with you, helping iron out any problems with machinery long after the initial purchase has been made. So, how do you judge which recycling machine manufacturer is right for your situation?
Classy Reputation
While looks aren’t everything, you have to start somewhere when choosing the best of the potential plastic recycling machine manufacturers for your business. Reputation is a solid place to start vetting the options. Reviews can be found in a few different places:
- In-person: A positive review in a real conversation is often the most trustworthy. Only in real life can you interpret sarcasm or judge whether a person is being truly genuine rather than just trying to sell you something.
- Online: Places like Google Reviews, Reddit, or other third-party sites often have wide-ranging reviews that can help identify the strengths and weaknesses of a machine manufacturer.
- On their website: Most shredding machine manufacturers will have a website with testimonials. While obviously biased towards the company, these give helpful insight into what sort of clients the company works with and whether your business would be a good fit.
Let’s consider a hypothetical example:
John recently discovered that a lot of the plastic waste in his area goes to landfills because there are no recycling plants that will process it. He decided to start a plastic recycling business in an old paper mill building in the industrial area of his hometown. He hopes to help more plastic be reused rather than lasting for centuries in a landfill. By asking around and searching online, he identified three different plastic machine manufacturers who seem to be of high quality and trustworthy.
Intuitive First Contact
Buying a plastic recycling machine is a significant investment. It should feel like “downhill walking” to find out how to contact a manufacturer or what products they offer. If it’s an uphill battle or like navigating a maze, there’s a much smaller chance the rest of the purchasing process will be easy, either. Well-run manufacturers will make their products and contact information clear, to the point, and intuitive.
In John’s case, he reaches out to all three manufacturers he has previously identified. Two of them get back to him straight away, ask questions to understand his situation, and set up a time to meet with him in person. The other one seems to treat John’s interest like a fast-food chain treats a customer during rush hour, leaving John feeling confused and unsure about what step to take next.
Comprehensive Review
Manufacturers will often review your setup in person to ensure you’re spending your money on appropriate machinery for your recycling goals. They should ask lots of questions and be willing to answer all of your questions. If they don’t come in person or set up a Zoom meeting where you show them your site, treat this as a red flag. You may not need a comprehensive review if you already know exactly what equipment you need.
In John’s example, he invites more local manufacturing companies to visit his site, spends an afternoon showing the representative around the workshop, and asks questions about the size of different machines and their work capacity.
Provides a Cost-Benefit Analysis
After a plastic recycling machine manufacturer has visited your site, they should provide a cost-benefit analysis of purchasing different shredders, granulators, and sorting machines. This is far enough along in the process that many purchasers simply go with what they are told. However, a savvy recycling business owner will not commit to a purchase unless the cost-benefit analysis is specific to their needs and shows signs of continuing commitment after the machinery is purchased.
John receives a comprehensive document that outlines which machines can help him achieve his specific goal of reducing plastic waste in his hometown. There is some technical language, but all of it is clearly defined and helps John enter the industry more educated about his machinery.
Quality and Tested Machinery
Ultimately, the equipment is the most crucial aspect of any equipment manufacturing company. Clean and well-designed machinery is both productive, safe, and intuitive to run. A quality manufacturer will have stats about their machines from numerous test runs they’ve carried out during the development phase.
It’s a purchasing day for John. The manufacturing company delivers the machines and helps install them in precisely the right places around the workshop. The next week, the first load of plastic is processed. The manufacturing company regularly follows up with John to ensure everything runs smoothly and the equipment is well-maintained.
The ideal manufacturer of recycling equipment is about more than just selling plastic shredders. They prioritize long-term partnerships with businesses and are interested in helping them succeed. It’s best for the people and best for the planet.
