Technical evaluation for used paper machines.

Structural integrity

• Main frames, welds, fatigue zones, corrosion, previous repairs and foundation interfaces
• Machine alignment, visible distortion, access platforms, guards and lifting provisions
• Signs of leakage, contamination, overheating, abnormal wear or long-term shutdown damage

Rotating and process equipment

• Rolls, bearings, gearboxes, couplings, pumps, refiners, fans and hydraulic systems
• Vibration history, lubrication records, clearances, balancing and alignment evidence
• Wear parts, spare-parts availability, recent rebuilds and known operating restrictions

Decision rule: condition statements should be linked to inspection evidence, maintenance records or measurements. If evidence is unavailable, the point remains an open risk rather than an assumed fact.

• Site voltage, frequency, installed motor data, MCCs, transformers and cable scope
• DC or AC drive platforms, obsolescence status and availability of replacement components
• PLC, HMI, DCS and QCS architecture, software licences, backups and source files
• Instrumentation, field devices, safety circuits, interlocks and required compliance upgrades
• Interfaces between the machine, stock preparation, utilities and the buyer's existing plant

A machine can be mechanically usable and still require major automation investment. Electrical compatibility must therefore be priced before the purchase decision, not after delivery.

• Target paper or board grade, basis-weight range, furnish and recycled-fibre content
• Trim width, design speed, proven operating speed, daily output and efficiency assumptions
• Stock-preparation capacity, approach flow, screening, cleaning, refining and broke handling
• Steam, condensate, vacuum, compressed air, fresh water, effluent and electrical demand
• Quality-control requirements and bottlenecks that can limit the stated production figure

Important: indicative capacity is not a guarantee. It must be reconciled against furnish, grade, basis weight, operating history, utilities and the planned configuration at the destination mill.

• Installed-condition survey, scope boundaries and identification of included auxiliaries
• Access routes, cranes, lifting points, working height, split lines and shutdown restrictions
• Component tags, cable and pipe identification, photo register and drawing references
• Preservation of rolls, tanks, piping, instruments, panels and precision components
• Packing-list structure, missing-parts control and sequence planning for reinstallation

Inspection while the equipment is still installed reduces uncertainty because interfaces, access and the relationship between main equipment and auxiliaries remain visible.

• Component weights, dimensions, centres of gravity and certified lifting information where available
• Container, flat-rack, open-top, breakbulk or heavy-lift transport requirements
• Factory-to-port route, permits, bridge and height restrictions, loading windows and storage
• Seaworthy packing, corrosion protection, package identification and insurance evidence
• Commercial invoice, packing list, export declaration, origin documents, VGM and bill of lading as applicable

The agreed Incoterm must match the actual scope. EXW, FCA and CIF allocate cost and responsibility differently and should not be treated as interchangeable quotations.

A realistic budget should include more than the equipment purchase price:

• Inspection, engineering and missing-data verification
• Dismantling, cranes, loading, marking, packing and inland transport
• Ocean freight, insurance, customs, taxes and destination handling
• Mechanical overhaul, wear parts, motors, drives, automation and safety upgrades
• Civil works, foundations, piping, electrical installation, erection and commissioning
• Contingency for incomplete documentation, hidden damage and scope gaps

The most useful comparison is total landed-and-restarted cost versus a technically equivalent new solution, including schedule and risk—not purchase price alone.

The investment case should combine technical evidence with commercial assumptions:

• Replacement cost, acquisition price and total project CAPEX
• Expected production ramp-up, product margin, energy and labour assumptions
• Lead-time advantage versus new equipment and the cost of delayed production
• Remaining life, maintenance burden, spare-parts strategy and modernization roadmap
• Best case, base case and downside case with transparent contingencies

Go/no-go logic: proceed only when critical technical fit is confirmed, unresolved risks are priced, and the buyer understands which performance points are documented, reported or still subject to verification.

• Seller identity, authority to sell and clear identification of the offered asset
• Included and excluded equipment, spare parts, documentation and software
• Payment milestones, inspection rights, removal deadline and site obligations
• Incoterm, transfer of risk, warranties or exclusions and dispute provisions
• Import eligibility and destination-country requirements for used industrial machinery

Commercial and legal review should be completed by the buyer's qualified advisers. Technical review does not replace contract, tax, customs or legal due diligence.