See the machine before you pay for it

Buying an industrial machine remotely, on six photos and the seller's word, is the fastest way to lose money in this sector. Not because people often lie, but because what nobody asks about does not get mentioned: the hour meter that was reset, the shaft with play, the PLC with no spare parts, the machine that has sat under a tarpaulin for three years.

So we arrange the inspection before any money moves. See the machine, see it run, and see its paperwork.

What gets checked

• Identity. That the nameplate matches the documentation and what is actually being sold: serial number, year, exact model.
• Hours and use. The real meter reading, and whether it fits the visible wear and the maintenance history.
• Mechanical condition. Leaks, play, noises, temperature, condition of ways, spindles, bearings or product-contact parts depending on the type of equipment.
• Run test. That it starts and works, not just that it powers up. On a genset, with a load bank; on a CNC, cutting a part; on a line, with product.
• Controls and electronics. Make and version of the control, whether support and spares are still available, and whether the settings have been kept.
• Documentation. Manuals, electrical and pneumatic diagrams, declaration of conformity, CE marking, service history.
• What is included. Tooling, accessories, change parts and spares that form part of the deal, checked one by one.
• Access. How it is going to get out of there. That is the detail that later decides the transport cost.

Three levels, depending on what is at stake

• Document verification. No travel: we cross-check the nameplate, serial number, documentation and specific photographs we request from the seller. It is the reasonable minimum on any purchase.
• Visit and test. Someone goes, sees the machine, sees it working, and comes back with photos, video and a report of what was observed.
• Independent survey. For high-value equipment, or when a report signed by a third party is required, we engage a specialist surveyor for that sector.

We tell you which one we think you need, based on the amount and the type of equipment. On a five-thousand-euro machine, paying for a full survey makes no sense; on a two-hundred-thousand-euro line, not paying for one makes no sense either.

What you get

A report covering what was checked and what could not be checked, photos and video of the equipment running, the readings taken, and a clear list of the weak points found with their likely cost impact. No dressing up: if something is wrong, it goes in the report even if the deal falls through.

That report is also a negotiating tool. Documented wear is a price argument, not only a reason to walk away.

Why we do this even when it slows sales down

We are a broker: we get paid when a deal closes. An inspection that uncovers a problem costs us money in the short term. We still recommend one every time, because a machine that arrives and does not work ends in a claim, a lost customer and a damaged reputation, and that costs far more than a commission.

Getting started

If you have a machine in your sights, here or anywhere else, write to us and we will tell you what level of checking makes sense. You can see what is available in the inventory, ask us to source it, or first read the buying guide and the FAQ.

An inspection records what was observed at the time of the visit and is not a substitute for a warranty. Signed surveys are issued by an independent technician under their own responsibility.