What should I ask about a packaging company’s printing press and die cutter condition?

The log tells you more than a seller’s description. Ask how breakdowns are recorded, how long the machine sat idle after each one, and whether the same fault keeps returning. A shop that logs carefully usually maintains carefully. A shop with no log leaves you guessing, so plan to bring in an independent technician.

Ask about age, manufacturer support and spare parts. Older machines can run well, but if parts take a long time to arrive, a single failure can stall every order. Find out whether the press handles the range of board types and sizes the customers actually buy, or whether certain jobs are already being sent elsewhere. Then ask about the people. A press can be sound while its operators are the real asset. Who sets up the die cutter, and could the shop run if that person left? Ask when each machine will likely need replacing and how the seller would pay for it, because that cost becomes yours. Ask what the seller would fix first if money were no object. The answer often points at the weak spot. Also ask what the best and worst jobs on these machines look like, and how much waste each run produces on average.

Key takeaways

• Request service logs and compare repeat faults against what the seller describes.
• Watch a live production run, not an idle machine.
• Ask who operates each machine and what replacing it would involve.