New vs. Used Shoe Machinery: How to Compare the Total Cost

Look Beyond the Purchase Price

Compare new and used shoe machinery over the same operating period, at the same production and quality requirements. Include installation, labour, energy, maintenance, downtime and eventual resale value. The better purchase is the machine that meets those requirements at an acceptable total cost and level of risk.

A used machine may reduce the initial investment. A new machine may offer features or support that justify a higher price. Neither outcome is automatic.

Total cost of ownership means the combined cost of acquiring, operating, maintaining and retiring equipment. The US Department of Energy's life cycle costing guidance explains this broader approach. For footwear factories, the practical task is to apply it to the actual machine, production process and service arrangements being offered.

Start with the Same Production Requirements

Begin with a written production brief. State the footwear type, materials, size range, required output per shift and quality acceptance criteria. Include planned working hours and how frequently styles or moulds will change.

Compare machines that can perform the same operation. A machine's advertised maximum output does not establish how many acceptable pairs it will produce with your materials, operators and tooling. Request trials that reflect those conditions.

Also compare the contents of each quotation. Moulds, fixtures, auxiliary equipment, installation and operator training can materially change the amount needed to start production.

For used shoe machines, clarify the delivery condition. Has the equipment only been inspected, or have specific components been repaired or replaced? Schuh Schell's machinery information distinguishes technically rebuilt machines from machines checked and sold in their existing condition. Ask sellers to define their terms in writing.

Finally, choose a common comparison period. If one machine is likely to need a major overhaul or replacement within that period, include that requirement. Comparing different periods can make the cheaper quotation look more attractive than it really is.

Compare the Main Costs of Ownership

Purchase and installation

Start with the machine price, then add packing, freight, insurance, applicable import costs, unloading and positioning. Confirm which expenses belong to the buyer under the quotation's delivery terms.

Check the factory's electrical supply, compressed air and any cooling requirements. Include necessary modifications, commissioning, tooling and trial materials. A used machine may need repairs before installation; a new machine may require additional equipment that is outside the base price. Record both explicitly.

Daily operation

Compare the labour needed to operate, load, unload and adjust each machine. Include the time required for mould changes, cleaning and restarting production after a changeover.

Use measured energy consumption under comparable conditions wherever possible. A nameplate power rating alone does not establish electricity consumption per acceptable pair. Include auxiliary equipment and compressed air where relevant.

DESMA's Easy Group documentation describes monitoring energy and compressed air consumption, alongside production indicators covering availability, performance and quality. This illustrates the type of operating evidence worth requesting; it does not establish a universal efficiency advantage for new machines.

Maintenance and spare parts

Estimate routine servicing, consumables, replacement components and technician charges. Ask which tasks factory staff can perform and which require specialist assistance.

Shoe machinery maintenance costs also depend on parts availability. Request prices and lead times for relevant wear parts and critical components, including controls. Confirm whether support remains available for the exact model and version. A low replacement-part price offers limited reassurance if the part cannot arrive when needed.

Downtime and quality

Assess what happens when the machine stops. Can another machine cover production, or does the stoppage interrupt the whole line? Consider realistic costs such as overtime, subcontracting and additional freight needed to recover deliveries.

Also examine rejects, rework and material waste during normal production and changeovers. Use trial results or credible operating records instead of assuming that machine age determines quality.

Avoid counting the same loss twice. Materials, wages or repair charges already recorded elsewhere should not be added again in full under downtime. Lost sales should reflect a justified loss of contribution, rather than treating all delayed revenue as a permanent loss.

Remaining service life and resale value

Consider how long the machine can reasonably serve the planned application, taking its condition and support into account. Calendar age alone cannot answer that question.

Include anticipated overhaul or replacement requirements. Deduct a realistic resale value at the end of the comparison period, after allowing for removal and selling costs. Keep uncertain estimates visible, and check whether the preferred option changes when those estimates become less favourable.

Inspect a Used Machine Before You Buy

A useful inspection combines records, a physical examination and a production trial. Fresh paint or a short unloaded demonstration cannot establish sustained production capability.

Use the following checklist with the seller and, where appropriate, a qualified technician:

• Confirm identity and history. Check the model, serial number, manufacturing year and available service records. Ask about previous applications, major repairs and storage conditions. Treat undocumented running hours as unverified.
• Review the refurbishment scope. Request an itemised list of inspected, repaired and replaced components. Clarify whether the work included controls, hydraulic or pneumatic systems, and relevant wear components.
• Inspect condition and safeguards. Check for leaks, damaged wiring, abnormal noise, excessive wear and evidence of improvised repairs. Have emergency stops, guards and other protective functions assessed by a competent person.
• Run your actual product. Use representative materials, moulds or fixtures and footwear sizes. Agree on trial duration and acceptance criteria before testing. Record acceptable output, rejects, interruptions and adjustment time after the machine reaches normal operating conditions.
• Check technical documents and access. Confirm the availability of operating instructions, electrical diagrams and maintenance information. For programmable equipment, clarify access to necessary settings, software permissions and backups.
• Put support terms in writing. Identify who provides installation and repairs, which parts are covered, what labour or travel costs apply, and how warranty claims are handled.

Request a written record of defects found during inspection and who will correct them before delivery. Keep the acceptance standard attached to the quotation or purchase agreement so both parties evaluate the same machine condition.

If inspection reveals uncertainty about a critical component, obtain a repair assessment before comparing prices. An unresolved technical issue should remain an explicit purchasing risk, rather than disappear inside a general allowance for maintenance.

When Does Each Option Make Sense?

When a new machine deserves priority

A new machine deserves close consideration for continuous production, a bottleneck operation or products with demanding consistency requirements. In these settings, suitable controls, repeatable setup and dependable support can carry substantial value.

Verify those benefits in the proposed configuration. Ask for trial results, commissioning arrangements, training details and written service terms. New equipment still needs maintenance, and a warranty does not necessarily cover every expense associated with an interruption.

Consider the learning period as well. If the machine introduces unfamiliar controls or a different workflow, allow for operator training and production adjustment. Additional capability creates value only when the factory can use it effectively.

When a used machine can be practical

A used machine can suit occasional production, a limited-duration project or an application that existing equipment cannot cover economically. It may also fit a factory whose technicians already understand the model and hold compatible spare parts.

The decision should depend on verified condition, application suitability and available support. Sogorbmac, for example, describes sales of new, rebuilt and reconditioned shoe machinery together with after-sales services. This shows why service must be checked for each offer rather than inferred from the word “used.”

Let evidence determine the choice

Compare both options against the same production brief and cost categories. Do not assume that a new machine uses less energy or that a used machine will fail frequently without supporting evidence.

If the preferred option depends on optimistic assumptions about repairs, utilisation or resale, revisit those assumptions. The purchase should remain workable under realistic operating conditions, including the factory's ability to absorb an interruption.

Ask for a Complete Quote

A useful quotation explains what it will take to put the machine into reliable production. Give each supplier the same information: footwear type, materials, size range, target output, shift pattern and installation location.

Ask the supplier to specify:

• The exact model, configuration, tooling and auxiliary equipment included.
• Delivery, installation, commissioning and training responsibilities.
• Production trial conditions and agreed acceptance criteria.
• Maintenance requirements, wear-part prices and critical spare-part lead times.
• Warranty coverage, service arrangements and additional charges.

Separate confirmed figures from estimates and unresolved questions. Where information is missing, request clarification before treating the quotations as equivalent. Keep delivery timing visible too: the machine must be ready when the production plan needs it.

The strongest decision combines affordable ownership costs with suitable output, consistent quality and support your factory can access. To discuss equipment for your footwear production requirements, contact Xingzhong with your product details and operating targets. Use that information to request a clearly defined proposal that you can compare with other options.