How To Pick the Right Refurbished Industrial Equipment

Every facility manager knows the pressure of balancing a tight budget with the need for high-performance machinery. You want to expand your production line or replace an aging conveyor system, but the price tag on brand-new OEM equipment threatens to consume your capital expenditure budget for the next three quarters. This is where the strategic advantage of refurbished industrial equipment comes into play. Buying used doesn’t mean settling for less. In fact, it means making a smart investment that yields high ROI, provided you know exactly what to look for.

Navigating the secondary market requires a discerning eye and a rigorous vetting process, and we’re here to help you handle both. Read on to learn how to pick the right refurbished industrial equipment that meets your production standards without breaking the bank.

Verify the Source and Refurbishment Process

First and foremost, you must distinguish between used and refurbished. A used machine might simply be wiped down and resold as-is from a defunct factory floor. A truly refurbished piece of equipment undergoes a comprehensive restoration process to bring it back to OEM specifications or better.

When evaluating a vendor, dig deep into their specific refurbishment protocols. A reputable partner should be able to provide documentation detailing the work performed. Look for a provider who disassembles the unit, cleans all components, replaces worn parts like bearings and seals, updates the controls, and tests the system under load.

Ask the following questions to gauge their technical depth:

• Do you perform a complete teardown and inspection of the mechanical components?

• Are the electrical panels updated to meet current safety standards (like UL or CE)?

• What specific stress tests do you run before shipping?

• Do you offer ongoing support or integration services after the sale?

If a seller hesitates to answer these questions, walk away. You need a partner who treats refurbishment as an engineering discipline, not just a resale opportunity.

Assess Compatibility With Existing Systems

Integrating a new piece of machinery into your existing line is rarely a plug-and-play scenario. The refurbished unit must communicate seamlessly with your current PLCs, HMI panels, safety circuits, and downstream equipment.

So before you sign a purchase order, conduct a thorough audit of your current infrastructure. Verify that the voltage and amperage requirements of the refurbished unit match your facility’s power supply. Additionally, check the communication protocols—if your plant runs on Ethernet/IP, buying a robot that speaks Profibus will create unnecessary integration headaches.

Consider the physical footprint as well. Refurbished older models might have larger control cabinets or different guarding requirements than their modern counterparts. Taking accurate measurements of your floor space, vertical clearance, aisle width, and maintenance access zones will save you from costly modifications during installation.

Inspect the Control System and Software

Hardware often outlasts software in the industrial world. A six-axis robotic arm from 10 years ago might still be mechanically sound, but its controller could be obsolete. This is a critical failure point for many buyers who focus solely on the mechanics.

When selecting refurbished equipment, prioritize units that have been upgraded with modern controls. You want a system that is easy for your operators to use and for your maintenance team to troubleshoot. A refurbished machine with a legacy proprietary controller that requires a specific, hard-to-find programming cable or a DOS-based laptop is a liability, not an asset.

Look for equipment that features the following:

• updated PLCs from major manufacturers (like Allen-Bradley or Siemens)

• touchscreen HMIs with intuitive user interfaces

• open architecture that allows for future scalability

• standardized safety relays and light curtains

Modernizing the brain of the machine while reusing the muscle creates a hybrid solution that offers the best of both worlds: robust mechanical durability and contemporary digital control.

Evaluate Availability of Spare Parts

Down time is the enemy of profitability, but even the most robust refurbished machine will eventually need maintenance. If you purchase a niche machine from a manufacturer that went out of business in 2005, finding a replacement servo motor or gearbox could take weeks—or be impossible.

Stick to major brands with a strong global presence. Names like FANUC, ABB, KUKA, and Motoman have established supply chains that support older models. Furthermore, reputable refurbishers often stock critical spare parts for the machines they sell.

Before finalizing your decision, check the availability of high-wear items such as belts, bearings, sensors, and actuators. If you can source these parts from multiple vendors, you insulate your operation from supply chain disruptions.

Investigate the Warranty and Support

The final piece of the puzzle is the warranty. Buying refurbished involves inherent risk, and the vendor should share that risk with you. A tailgate warranty (which expires the moment the truck leaves their dock) is unacceptable for capital equipment.

Look for a warranty that covers parts and labor for a meaningful period—typically 90 days to one year. This demonstrates the vendor’s confidence in their workmanship. Moreover, technical support is just as valuable as the hardware itself. When a glitch occurs at 2:00 AM on a Tuesday, you need to know there is someone you can call.

Partnering for Success with Jaeckels Industrial

In the end, picking the right refurbished industrial equipment for your facility is much easier when you partner with experts who understand the nuances of automation and machine integration. You need a team that sees the potential in used assets and has the engineering prowess to realize it.

At Jaeckels Industrial, we specialize in bridging the gap between affordability and advanced technology. We take pride in repurposing used robotics and handling automated systems from the initial design process to final installation. Whether you are looking for specific robotic machine tending solutions or a complete robotic palletizing system, we tailor our approach to your unique operational needs.

Our expertise spans PLC programming, panel design, and full-system integration, meaning we don’t just sell you a machine; we deliver a turnkey solution that works from day one. By leveraging machine learning and AI, we can even upgrade older systems to adapt to changing requirements with minimal intervention.

Don’t let budget constraints limit your facility’s potential. Contact Jaeckels Industrial today to discuss how we can integrate high-quality, refurbished technology into your production line.