Blog
4-16-2011: Can’t buy? Modify!
A select few say that there is evidence that the economy is turning around but we’re still not out of the hole. Regardless, your business still has to operate and your machinery still has to run properly in order for you to provide your customers with products that beats the competition. If you are looking to buy a new machine that will add benefit to your products or production line, you may have to spend more than you are comfortable with at the current time. If you aren’t ready to buy a new machine, there are 2 other options that will help your business stay in front of the competition when the economy does open up.
Consider these options.
- Modify or rebuild your current converting machine.
- Buy a used converting machine.
Rebuilding a machine you already have is currently a highly sought after option these days and has several benefits that’ll keep your business moving (not to mention it will be lighter on your checkbook).
- Rebuilding or modifying a machine will lessen the amount of engineering and development work.
- You will also have the capability to make the adjustments to problems in the the machine that you’ve seen in the past decrease the flow of your process.
- You’ll save time educating your staff on a more familiar piece of equipment rather than educating on a new machine.
- Keep money that you have already invested in the current machine
For the past 2 years especially, there have been companies who have sold their machines for some extra cash flow. Most of them are in excellent condition and the ones that aren’t can be cleaned up and rebuilt to excellent working order. Here are a few reasons why buying a used machine should be a viable option for your business…
- As opposed to buying a new machine you’ll decrease engineering and development dollars and time.
- Find a machine that will be great for your process at a very reasonable price
- Decrease turn around time. Usually used machines are ready to ship or need very little modification.
Overall, consider these options as you look to increase your production in the coming months. You’ll find that your company has a better chance of saving time and investment dollars which will help to increase your overall ROI. Start by finding a company with experience in not only building new or custom converting machines but also has experience in modifying and rebuilding. Let them help guide you through the rebuilding process and make suggestions as to new technologies and converting techniques that can be added to your machine. If don’t have a machine that you would like to be modified or rebuilt, ask if they have used machines on the floor ready to ship. You’ll find that most of them do.
11-2-2010 Tips for Choosing a Converting Machine Builder
In this economy, it is important to make absolutely sure that your money is spent effectively. Especially when you are evaluating a significant investment for your business. Here are a few things that will help guide you in choosing the right converting machine builder.
Customer Service - Sales or service representative availability is key during the purchasing process as well as after the machine is set up in your facility. During the purchasing process, you will need someone to answer questions that will come up along the building process, especially if you are new to converting. After the machine is shipped and set-up in your facility, you may have questions on operation procedures or maintenance schedules for your converting machine. Make sure that adequate contact to customer service representatives is available in order to reduce down time.
Delivery Time - Purchasing a converting machine can be a large investment for most companies and having the machine up and running at the scheduled time will only increase the ROI on your investment sooner. Unlike massed produced machinery, custom built converting machines take longer to design and build (sometimes up to a few months depending on size and other specifications), but will eliminate options that you will never need or use. Stay in contact and make sure that your converting machine builder or supplier stays on schedule along the way to help get your machine up and running at or before the scheduled time.
Experience - Designing and building a machine to be used in the daily operations of a business is not an easy task and your money is valuable. Make sure that you are working on the project with a builder who has experience in building the type of converting machine you need. They should already have established connections with parts suppliers and vendors as well as an established staff to readily answer any of your questions or concerns along the way.
Material Knowledge - Knowing material is important but knowing and understanding how it behaves and reacts to a converting process is essential when building a machine to convert your material. Different methods of converting materials (hot-knife slitting, razor slitting, score blade slitting, ultrasonic slitting, and shear slitting) produce different results in your material. So knowing which method works best for your specific material eliminates the possibility of purchasing a machine that will produce negative results further lowering the quality of your end product. Make sure when you are receiving quotes for a converting machine that the company you are evaluating asks for sample material so that they correctly diagnose which method will produce the best results for you.
These are just a few things to keep in mind when you are considering purchasing a slitting machine, sheeting machine, or other types of converting equipment for your business. Overall, if your business is seriously considering a converting machine builder, make sure that the company you are evaluating has the experience to do the job right and is willing to help guide you through the design and fabrication process.
10-1-2010
Pinnacle Changes Online Video from YouTube Embeds to Flash Video.
This could be interesting for those of you who are actively updating your business' website. In the past, Pinnacle Converting has utilized the embed code on YouTube so that we can display our machinery and features. We've found that many of our potential customers have had difficulty viewing some of the videos that we post on our website and we've found the reason.
Alot of companies block social networking sites as well as YouTube from being displayed on their in-office computers. When we realized that this was an issue for us, we began working to update the site in order to display some of the custom machines that we build over time. Now, you can feel free to browse our site and freely view our videos in your office!
9-30-2010
Pinnacle Converting Celebrates 15 years in business.
September 16th marked the 15th year that Pinnacle Converting Equipment of Charlotte, NC has been in business! Pinnacle formed in September 1995, following the acquisition of Chip Industries, which had produced custom and standard economical converting equipment since the mid-80's. Further expansion came with the acquisition of AECO Industries in 1999. AECO had made custom automatic machining and assembly equipment since 1991. Our growth and success has been driven by our focused customer service and product development. Our end goal is to provide economical, productive, and reliable machine solutions to each customer while intending to optimize their productivity and capabilities.
"Kathy and I are happy to say that it has been a remarkable pleasure to spend the last 15 years involved in the lives our Employees, Customers, and Suppliers. We have witnessed and supported the births of many children and new businesses as well as the deaths of a few good friends and once bright dreams. We started in the early dawn of the age of Internet, email, and cell phones and never looked back into the age before CAD and PLCs. We are honored to fill our corporate purpose of "Building machines that companies are built on" and our human purpose outlined by the command of our Lord Jesus, to love others as He has loved us. I've had a rare blessing to explore a dream and to get to do for a living something that I love. We praise God and thank everyone who crossed our path in some way these years and we look forward to more time serving those we know and meeting many more." - Bob Hillebrand, President, Pinnacle Converting Equipment, Inc.
9-24-2010
5 Essential Steps to Bring Converting Operations In-House
In today’s economy, it is important to discover ways to save some money and conducting some of the services that you outsource is the best way to do that.
If- you are a manufacturer who outsources converting (the process of cutting master rolls of material to 2 or more smaller rolls) services, it could benefit you to begin thinking about the steps to bring that part of your process in-house. Here are 5 important steps to bring your converting process in-house.
1.) Analyze what you are currently paying for the converting work to be done by someone else.
Contract converters will charge for everything from machine set-up to slit method, number of master rolls, number of child rolls, specific delivery time, material storage, etc. Learn exactly what you are being charged for and determine the savings that you can incur by bringing converting in-house.
2.) Determine and learn specific elements of the process that is done by your service provider.
Are you sure of the specifics of the converting project? Learn how your material is being converted and through which cutting method. There are several different types of slitting methods all resulting in different results in your material. Determine whether your material is being converted into sheets or being slit by a razor, score, shear, hot knife, or ultrasonic slitting method. Also, determine the slit widths and tolerances that you will be satisfied with in your finished product.
3.) Determine physical space constraints and limitations of your facility.
Most converting machines run off of 3 phase 230 V power supply. The electrical availability could be different in your facility. Determine which electrical set-up you have in your facility and what it would take to add an electrical supply source if necessary. Also, keep in mind that you may be limited in available space in your facility. Carefully, map out the available space you have for a new converting machine and account for space for storing master rolls, as well as, finished rolls.
4.) Determine your budget.
Perhaps the most important thing to do when looking at an operation change like this is to determine where you are in your budget and realize that bringing in an added operation in house can save you money in the long run. Depending on how much you spend for a converting service, a seemingly larger investment now could help you save money in the future.
5.) Contact an experienced converting machine builder.
There are literally hundreds of machine builders in the marketplace. Regardless of whether your material is highly specialized or more common, choose your machine builder wisely. Most converting machine manufacturers build machines with bells and whistles that you will never need and cater to various materials that you will never use in your products. Make sure that if you are in the market for a converting machine, you understand the features of the material and how it reacts to certain slitting methods, speeds, and tensions. Most importantly, make sure you are not being offered features of the machine that you will never use.
Pinnacle Converting Equipment, Inc. and one of their machines was featured in a 2005 article published by the Industrial Fabrics Association International’s Specialty Review about bringing converting operations in-house.
8-25-2010
Foam Slitting Services and Machinery
Foam is one of the most used materials in the packaging industry. From food packaging to packaging electronics and other fragile items, foam provides an excellent buffer for the shocks and jolts that an item may receive during transport and delivery. On a daily basis, large rolls of foam are produced all over the U.S. and sent to manufacturers and packaging companies to help aid in the safe delivery of their goods. For businesses whose products are small and fragile, the large rolls are too big and need to be converted into smaller rolls for better handling and a better fit for their items. This is where an experienced foam converter would come in.
Pinnacle Converting Equipment of Charlotte, NC has over 100 years of converting experience. We’ve converted materials used in everything from Ni-Cd batteries to woven materials and has extensive experience in slitting foam products. Offering foam converting services, as well as, a foam slitting machine, Pinnacle can and will turn your large rolls of foam to sizes that you can use in your products or product packaging. Visit our website to learn more on Pinnacle Converting and what it takes to convert your foam material to the size that you need it.
6-16-2010
Slitting Machinery for Oil Boom Vinyl
Due to the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Pinnacle Converting Equipment is increasing production of vinyl, PVC, and coated fabric slitting machines for the production of oil booms used in the Gulf clean-up efforts. “We are highly disappointed that a disaster such as this has happened and we will do our part in helping to speed up the production of oil boom used in the clean up efforts.” says Bob Hillebrand, President, Pinnacle Converting Equipment. Pinnacle Converting builds slitting machinery that can be used for slitting vinyl materials used in the production of oil cleanup devices such as oil booms. Find out more by visiting Pinnacle Converting’s website.
9-21-2009
What are some of your converting challenges?
We’re interested in some of the challenges you have as a converter. Let us know!
Pinnacle Converting Equipment, Inc. of Charlotte, NC is not only a custom converting machine builder specializing in slitter rewinders, sheeters, and core cutting machines, but we are also a converting service provider.
9-17-2009
Custom Built Converting Machinery
Pinnacle Converting has created a brief slideshow showing some of their most recent and past converting machines. These machines range from slitter rewinders, to conveyors, sheeting machines, and heat sealing equipment. Visit our custom converting machine page.
9-17-2009
Web Updates
Pinnacle Converting of Charlotte, NC is continuing to make updates to their website in order to better serve visitors. There have been two new additions to the site and their product offerings. A new and improved Foam Slitting Machine as well as a new Impulse Sealing Machine has been added. You can see the Foam Slitting Machine and also the new impulse sealing machine on our site. Pinnacle Converting Equipment has been building quality converting equipment since 1995. By combining high quality with economical value, Pinnacle has been able to climb to the top in custom made converting equipment.
9-17-2009
In Stock Converting Machinery
We currently have a small list of in-stock converting machinery that is available for special pricing. Check them out!
9-17-2009
Pinnacle has just introduced its new Foam Slitting Machine! Check out the video here!
9-17-2009
We Never Thought We'd Be Blogging!
For 15 years, we have provided machinery used in hundreds of industries ranging from solar power to fabrics and upholstery and even in the medical industry. From Charlotte, NC, we have sent machines to various countries around the world and helped businesses grow world-wide. However, when we began the company we never imagined that we would ever be blogging! This is definitely a sign of the changing times! We believe that this blog will give us a chance to discuss topics in the converting industry including innovations, challenges, company news, and industry news.
Over the past 15 years, our machinery has become more and more user friendly, economical, and state-of-the-art. Follow us as we continue to provide quality machinery in an industry that continues to strengthen day by day.
It has been a pleasure thus far to serve our customers in a friendly, effective, and efficient manner! You can find a great overview of who we are and exactly what we do at www.pinnacleconverting.com. Feel free to contact us to find out more information!
