Checklist for potential buyers[edit | edit source]
The following is a summary of the main points to be considered when selecting the most suitable soil preparation equipment:
Available financial resources (budget restraints can limit the choice considerably).
Required production rate (this depends on the expected market demand; larger output rates require higher degrees of mechanization).
Weight and mobility of equipment (these may have to be moved frequently from site to site).
Available energy sources (not only the costs must be considered, but also the frequency of power failures and supply shortages of diesel, petrol, etc.).
Availability of spares and skilled technicians for maintenance and repairs (machines with standardized parts create less problems).
Compatibility of equipment (machines from different manufacturers may not conform to the same standards; equipment from a single supplier is generally dimensionally coordinated, facilitating special arrangement and organization, and some spare parts may be interchangeable).
Operational safety (for this, several demonstrations of use, especially with unskilled workers, should be seen).
References (contacts with equipment users should be sought whenever possible).
Conditions of purchase (since machines with similar outputs are available, comparisons of prices, discounts for large orders, delivery time, etc. are urgently recommended).
After sales services (not only should the manufacturers be fair enough to rectify defects of their machines by providing technical assistance or supplying spare pares at minimum or no-case; users should also take the trouble to send accounts of their experiences and suggestions for improvements to the manufacturers, for without this feedback no effective development is possible).