Tag: Factory Acceptance Testing

You Have Options

Written on by frain-sales

Like a college football triple option scheme, you have options when buying packaging or processing equipment.

Standard machine purchasing approaches will provide you with buying new or used machinery outright.

With Frain, we provide you with 9,000 options of equipment and machinery from which to choose.

But, we also provide the option of rent, lease, and outright purchase.

In some cases, you may go into a project wanting a certain option, but renting machinery provides you with even more options.

With renting, you now have the option to return the machinery after a minimum timeframe of three months.

You have the option to spend a full day at Frain seeing your machinery run first hand before it ships.and learning everything you can about your machine by the people here who completely rebuilt the machine and customized it to meet your needs.

During your visit or factory acceptance test, you can also learn invaluable information about your machine or line by the people here who completely reconfigured it to meet your needs.

We also include more options post purchase and delivery like onsite installation, training, and integration.

We stopped selling machinery as is a long time ago because we realized we were not doing our customers a service.

As-is machinery is not a great option, really.  You’re purchasing headaches that you don’t need.

On top of our certified pre-owned machinery, we’ve added pricing and service options to make your experience customized to your needs beyond the packaging.

At the end of the day, we’re just an option and many times – we’re the best.

Equipment Buyers Don’t Shop

Written on by frain-sales

When we talk to equipment buyers, they aren’t shopping in a traditional sense of browsing the internet or stores for deals.

Most machine or packaging line purchasers are looking for something very specific, i.e. bottling line, cartoner, case packer, liquid filling line, stretch wrapper, palletizers, etc.

Many of our customers come to us first for the following reasons:

  • Frain’s huge inventory of new and used packaging and processing machinery – from individual machines to complete lines
  • New and rebuilt machines – every machine ships certified pre-owned, parts warrantied and satisfaction guaranteed
  • We get it to you fast with purchase, rental and lease options so you can adjust to seasonal demand, contract projects, and increased production for whatever reason
  • Free consultation with our engineers guarantee the best approach for their line or machine without the hassle of being sold into the wrong machine
  • Needs are fluid, they can rent, lease or purchase the machine from Frain and return it or sell it back to Frain to maximize cash flow, footprint or upgrade capacity with new machinery from our inventory
  • We dot I’s and cross T’s with shop-to-shop hand-off calls and video/onsite factory acceptance testing, FAT
  • Installation, start-up, training, and field services
  • Frain has over 35 years of expertise with many staff members here for the majority or full length of that duration

 

5 Tips for a Successful Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)

Written on by frain-sales

At Frain, every project, machine or complete line of equipment is thoroughly inspected and put through Factory Acceptance Testing or FAT before it leaves our building.  Not only is this the customers opportunity to sign off on the equipment or machine that they purchased – it’s an opportunity for the customer to fine tune the machinery and learn any operating nuances before they take on the machinery themselves.

After successfully integrating over 25,000 packaging and processing equipment projects, Frain has developed the following tips to help ensure you get the most of your equipment with a successful Factory Acceptance Test.

  1. Bring the Right People
    The person paying for the machine is usually the person coming in for the FAT.  However, ask yourself – Who will install, operate and maintain the machine or packaging line?  It’s best to have all of those involved with the machinery to be present for a full day of training, fine tuning and hand off.  The devil is in the details as they say and this is a critical point to get sign off from all angles and people involved.
  2. Come Prepared and In Person 
    There’s a big difference between buying a running machine and one that you see running in person.  As important is seeing your machine running in person with your product. Make a plan to visit Frain to see your machine running with your product.  Take your time to validate that all your specifications and operational efficiency is addressed 100%.
  3. Plan for a Full Day
    Getting your machine to run the way you want it to run with your product is the ultimate goal.  The last thing you want to do is to waste time and resources at your facility in fine tuning the machine.  Fine tuning and ensuring every nuance of your operation is addressed prior to installation is key to successful machine installation, integration, and transition.
  4. Ask Questions
    Asking good questions is an art form and many times the difference between success and failure.  Take time to review your punch list, questions, specifications and ask the questions now, instead of later when it’s too late, bogging down your schedule, or putting the project or your career in jeopardy.
  5. Move Ahead with Confidence
    By default, Frain replaces all damaged, distressed, or worn machine parts and backs them with a 6-month replacement part warranty.  We also provide a two-week right of return to give you additional confidence in working with us.  If you’ve been due diligent in discussing the equipment with our engineers, all involved people from your company or client company, and dedicated a full day to the FAT – you can move forward with your project confidently.

Click here to see why the FAT is the most important step in the equipment purchase process or read more tips for a successful FAT.