How do I check a winery’s bottling line and filtration equipment?
See the line run, with a real bottling day if you can arrange one. Check the filler, corker, labeller and filters for wear, ask about downtime and spare parts, and confirm who owns each piece. Equipment that looks fine standing still can show its problems only when it is running at pace.
Ask the seller to schedule a run, or at least to run the line empty while you watch. Listen for noise, look for drips and misaligned bottles, and see how many people it takes to keep it going. Ask what usually breaks, how long repairs have taken, and who fixes it. A line that depends on one local technician is a risk to note.
Ask for cleaning and sanitation routines, filter change schedules and the maintenance log. Check whether filter housings, pumps and hoses are in good shape and whether the sheets or cartridges in use match the wines. Ask whether any equipment is shared with another producer, or whether a mobile bottling service does the work. If so, find out how bookings work.
Find out what is owned outright, leased, or financed, since a lender’s claim on equipment can follow it. Your lawyer can search for this. Ask your accountant how equipment values and financing show in the books. Get a quote on replacement for the main units so you know what a failure would mean, and ask a winery equipment technician for a view. Check the date each part was last replaced, and ask how bottling days are planned around harvest. Finally, ask about the sanitation plan for the line and who signs off a clean start.
Key takeaways
- Watch the line run at pace, not standing still.
- Ask what breaks, how often, and who fixes it.
- Confirm ownership, leases and financing for every unit.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentEquipment valuation: How to do it
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
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