How do I check a packaging plant’s die and plate inventory?

Start with the records. Ask for the die and plate register, then compare it with what is physically on the racks. Gaps in either direction matter: a die with no record may belong to a customer, and a record with no die may mean a loss nobody wrote off. Ask how items are labelled and how often the shop counts them.

Next, sort the inventory by job. Dies tied to customers who order often carry more weight than dies from work that ended long ago. Ask when each was last run, what repairs it has had, and whether the plant keeps spares. Plates wear and change with artwork revisions, so ask how outdated versions are retired. Finally, settle ownership. Many customers pay for tooling and expect it back if they leave. Ask to see any agreement that says who owns what. Your accountant can tell you how the tooling should be valued on the books, and your lawyer can review ownership terms before closing. Keep a short list of anything you cannot confirm, such as a die with no customer name or a plate for artwork that has since changed. Ask the seller to resolve each item in writing before closing, so nothing is left to argue about afterward.

Key takeaways

• Match every die and plate on the rack to a register entry and to a customer.
• Ask which tooling customers paid for, and read any written terms on ownership.
• Treat tooling with no recent jobs as questionable inventory, not a sure asset.