SUMMER 2019

58
THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
Robert Footlik
Robert B. Footlik, PE is a retired Professional Industrial Engineer. With over 50 years’
experience as a Warehouse and Logistics Consultant to a wide variety of clients including
Fastener Distributors, Bob has a wealth of valuable information for our industry and he is
willing to share it. While Footlik & Associates is now closed, his expertise is still available
to his friends and our readers. For friendly advice, a second opinion or just to start a
conversation, he can be reached at robert@footlik.net.
HOW TO BUY SMART ON USED
WAREHOUSE EQUIPMENT
As companies go out of business, shut down
operations or downsize plants and warehouses, they often
sell some or all of their materials handling and storage
equipment. An astute Fastener Distributor may find
others misfortune a golden
opportunity to obtain needed
equipment at a fraction of
replacement cost. This can
also be an opportunity for
disaster.
On the positive side,
used equipment usually is
immediately available. In
addition, if this equipment
was in use at a company that suffered a sudden or
catastrophic economic setback, then it may never have
been used or abused. A bargain on such materials
handling equipment can save time, money and manpower
from day one.
Unfortunately, finding the right equipment is never
easy. All too often, equipment comes on the market
because of initial misapplication, technical obsolescence
or hard usage without maintenance. Sorting out good
used equipment from “lemons” can be an extremely
difficult task. A system that is the “latest and greatest”
does not guarantee that it is successful. Therefore, let the
buyer beware and be wary. To simplify your task, here are
a few rules to follow.
A Bargain On Something You Don’t Need Is
Not A Bargain
Just because the equipment is available is no
assurance that it will be successful in your operation. As
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE
an example, some companies successfully use conveyors
for order picking. Yet, in many fastener manufacturing and
distribution operations the conveyor not only slows the
pickers down, but requires twice as many people as would
have been necessary without
it. Meanwhile, the system
occupies prime space vitally
needed for manufacturing
and storage which can
contribute to the demise of
your company.
Before you go
shopping for equipment,
develop a menu of your
precise needs. Then look for items that suit your needs
instead of purchasing someone else’s mistakes. Keep
in mind that all the equipment must suit your operation
without compromises.
Know Where The Equipment Comes From
While we don’t advocate the use of grocery carts
in any industrial application, we are aware that many
firms use them as picking carts, yet very few people can
produce a bill of sale. Here’s a violation of both rule one
(a grocery cart is inefficient) and rule two (they may be
using stolen merchandise).
Forklift trucks previously used in cold storage
facilities should be avoided. These vehicles continually
move between hot and cold, dry and humid, causing
condensation and extreme deterioration. Conveyors from
food operations may bring efficiency to your company, but
they may bring insects and rodents attracted by sticky
residues.
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