Refurbished Scrubber Dryers: What to Look For
A properly reconditioned refurbished scrubber dryer can be a sensible choice for lighter use or a tighter budget, provided it has been fully checked, the wearing parts have been replaced and it comes with a warranty. For heavy daily use, a new machine with full manufacturer support is usually the better long-term decision., All refurbished machines come with our battery and machine warranty as standard. Each machine is stripped down to its chassis and meticulously rebuilt, with every worn part replaced along the way.
When does a refurbished machine make sense?
Where the machine will be used lightly or intermittently rather than everyday.
Where a budget will not stretch to the correct new machine, and the alternative is buying a new machine that is too small for the job.
As a second machine covering a smaller area alongside a main machine.
Where a facility wants to establish whether machine cleaning suits its operation before committing to a new purchase.
For a fixed-term contract where the machine only needs to last the length of the contract.
What should a proper refurbishment cover?
The distinction that matters is between a machine that has been cleaned and a machine that has been reconditioned. A proper refurbishment replaces the wearing parts and verifies the systems that determine whether the machine cleans and dries correctly.
Squeegee blades replaced, and the squeegee assembly checked and correctly set.
Brush or pad drive inspected, with worn consumables replaced.
Vacuum motor tested and seals and hoses checked for suction integrity.
Solution delivery system flushed and checked for blockages.
Battery tested under load, with its condition and remaining life assessed honestly
Electrical and safety systems checked and the machine tested on a floor before sale.
Why is the battery the most important question?
On a battery machine, the battery is the single most expensive component and the one most likely to be near the end of its life on a used machine. A refurbished machine with a tired battery can look like good value and then need a substantial outlay within months.
Ask directly whether the battery has been replaced or tested, what its measured condition is, and what run time can realistically be expected. A machine sold with a new battery is a very different proposition from one sold with the battery it happened to arrive with.
What else should you ask before buying?
How many hours has the machine run? Most machines record this, and it is the closest equivalent to mileage on a vehicle.
What has been replaced during refurbishment, and what has only been inspected?
What warranty is provided, for how long, and what does it cover?
Are spare parts still available for this model, and is it still supported by the manufacturer?
Can the machine be demonstrated on your own floor before purchase?
Who will service it, and are genuine parts used?
When is new the better decision?
Where a machine will be used daily and heavily, the reliability and full warranty of a new machine usually outweigh the saving. Downtime has a real cost, and on an intensive cleaning routine a machine that stops is a floor that does not get cleaned.
New is also the better answer where the correct specification is unusual, since the used market rarely offers a specific configuration when you need it. A refurbished machine that is nearly right is subject to the same problem as any incorrect specification: operators will not persist with a machine that does not suit the job.
How does refurbished compare with hire and leasing?
Refurbished is not the only route to a lower initial cost. Leasing spreads the cost of a new machine over time, with payments typically treated as an operating expense. Contract hire bundles the machine and its servicing into one monthly payment. Short-term hire covers a temporary need without any capital outlay at all.
It is worth comparing all four before assuming refurbished is the most economical option, because for a machine in daily use the monthly cost of a new machine on contract hire is often closer to the refurbished route than expected once servicing and battery replacement are counted.
→ Scrubber Dryer Hire: When Renting Makes Sense
What is the sensible way to decide?
Establish the correct specification first, then decide how to acquire it. Working the other way round, starting from what happens to be available used, is how facilities end up with machines that do not suit the floor.
Once the specification is clear, we can advise honestly on whether a refurbished machine will serve you well or whether new, leased or hired would be the better route for your circumstances.
Talk through the options before you commit
We will help you establish the correct specification first, then compare new, refurbished, hire and leasing against how the machine will actually be used. Demonstrations at your own facility, with no obligation.
Call CFM on 01677 426699 or request a no obligation demonstration online.