When Used Machines Make Sense
Second-hand injection molding machines can be viable for general-purpose molding with moderate cycle time requirements, prototype or small-batch production, and budget-constrained startups needing to begin production quickly. Reputable used machinery dealers offer machines from Engel, KraussMaffei, Arburg, and Sumitomo at 30-50% of new price. A used 400T European machine might cost $40,000-$60,000 compared to $80,000-$120,000 new. For standard thick-wall products with cycle times above 15 seconds, a well-maintained 5-8 year old machine can deliver acceptable performance. However, thin-wall food packaging places extreme demands on injection speed, response time, and cycle consistency that degrade with machine age. Hydraulic system wear, tie bar stretching, and platen deformation accumulate over millions of cycles, directly impacting the precision required for sub-5-second thin-wall production.
Key Specs
- •Reputable used machinery dealers offer machines from Engel, KraussMaffei, Arburg, and Sumitomo at 30-50% of new price.
HWAMDA factory — quality manufacturing since 2003
Risks of Second-Hand Equipment
Used machines carry inherent risks that multiply in thin-wall applications. Hydraulic pump wear reduces maximum injection speed by 5-15% compared to new condition, potentially dropping below the 400mm/s threshold needed for thin-wall filling. Tie bar stretching reduces clamping parallelism, causing uneven wall thickness across multi-cavity molds. Toggle mechanism wear increases dry cycle time, adding 0.3-0.5 seconds that compound across millions of cycles annually. Unknown maintenance history means hidden problems may emerge weeks after purchase. Barrel and screw wear affects plasticizing consistency, causing shot-to-shot weight variation exceeding the +/-2% tolerance required for food packaging. Electrical systems age poorly: PLC controllers, servo drives, and sensors from 10+ year old machines may lack spare parts availability. Annual maintenance costs for used machines typically run $12,000-$43,000 compared to $3,000-$8,000 for new equipment, quickly eroding the initial purchase savings.
Inspection Checklist for Used Machines
If proceeding with a used machine, conduct thorough inspection. Check platen parallelism with a dial indicator (maximum deviation 0.05mm for thin-wall work). Measure tie bar diameter at multiple points to detect stretching (variation above 0.1mm indicates wear). Test injection speed at rated pressure, not just no-load speed. Verify hydraulic system pressure holding capability over 60 seconds (pressure drop should not exceed 2%). Inspect barrel bore for wear using a bore gauge (diameter increase above 0.1mm from nominal indicates replacement needed). Test all heating zones for temperature accuracy within +/-2 degrees C. Run the machine in dry cycle for one hour monitoring cycle-to-cycle consistency. Request complete maintenance records and total shot count from the machine controller. Check oil quality through laboratory analysis for metal particles indicating internal wear. Any machine failing these checks requires component replacement that can cost $10,000-$30,000, potentially eliminating the price advantage over new equipment.
Key Specs
- •Check platen parallelism with a dial indicator (maximum deviation 0.05mm for thin-wall work).
- •Measure tie bar diameter at multiple points to detect stretching (variation above 0.1mm indicates wear).
- •Verify hydraulic system pressure holding capability over 60 seconds (pressure drop should not exceed 2%).
SPV5 machines on the production floor
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Cost Comparison Over 5 Years
A 5-year total cost analysis reveals the true economics. Used 400T European machine: purchase $50,000, annual maintenance $20,000, annual energy at 35 kWh/hr = $25,200, annual downtime cost (5% unplanned) = $15,000. Total 5-year cost: $352,000. New HWAMDA SPV5 380T: purchase $100,000, annual maintenance $5,000, annual energy at 18 kWh/hr (servo) = $12,960, annual downtime cost (1% unplanned) = $3,000. Total 5-year cost: $204,800. The new SPV5 saves $147,200 over 5 years despite costing $50,000 more initially. Energy savings alone ($12,240/year) recover the price premium in just over 4 years. Higher OEE (95% vs 85%) means the new machine produces 12% more output from the same floor space. Additionally, the used machine likely cannot achieve the 3.5-4.5 second cycle times needed for competitive yogurt cup production, limiting your market competitiveness.
New Chinese Machines vs Used European
Modern Chinese thin-wall specialists like HWAMDA have closed the technology gap with European manufacturers for packaging-specific applications. The SPV5 series delivers injection speeds of 450-517mm/s, matching or exceeding the thin-wall capability of Engel, Netstal, and Husky machines at 40-60% of the European new price. Component quality has improved dramatically: SPV5 machines use Rexroth hydraulics, Siemens or Beckhoff controllers, and Japanese-origin linear guides. The value proposition of new Chinese machines is strongest in thin-wall packaging where application-specific optimization matters more than general-purpose flexibility. A new HWAMDA SPV5 arrives with full warranty, guaranteed cycle time performance, operator training, and ongoing technical support. A used European machine arrives with no warranty, uncertain condition, and the buyer assumes all risk. For thin-wall food packaging specifically, a new HWAMDA machine delivers superior production economics compared to a used European alternative.
Key Specs
- •The SPV5 series delivers injection speeds of 450-517mm/s, matching or exceeding the thin-wall capability of Engel, Netstal, and Husky machines at 40-60% of the European new price.
Industrial cooling system for injection molding
Warranty and Support Differences
New HWAMDA machines include 18-month warranty from commissioning covering all components, free replacement of defective parts, remote diagnostic support via PLC connection, and on-site service within 48-72 hours for critical issues. Spare parts are guaranteed available for 15+ years. Used machines typically carry 3-6 month dealer warranty covering only major mechanical failures, with no coverage for hydraulic components, electronics, or performance specifications. Spare parts for discontinued models become increasingly scarce and expensive. A replacement servo drive for a 10-year-old European machine can cost $5,000-$12,000 with 4-8 week lead time, while the equivalent HWAMDA part costs $1,500-$3,000 with 5-7 day delivery. Technical support for used machines is limited to independent service providers who may lack specific expertise. HWAMDA's factory engineering team provides lifetime technical support with complete knowledge of every machine's specifications and history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most used machines older than 5 years cannot reliably achieve sub-5-second cycles required for competitive thin-wall production. Hydraulic wear reduces injection speed, toggle wear increases dry cycle time, and overall system responsiveness degrades. A used machine that achieved 4-second cycles when new may only manage 5-6 seconds after 5 million cycles. New HWAMDA SPV5 machines are specifically designed for thin-wall production with guaranteed cycle time performance verified during factory acceptance testing.
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