Price is not the cost
The invoice price of a machine is only the first chapter of the story. The real cost is what the machine produces per euro (or dollar, or yuan) invested, year after year. Two lines with similar prices can differ by hundreds of thousands over ten years once output, energy, waste, downtime and spares are counted.
Output and efficiency
Start with the hourly output of usable product — not the theoretical cycle speed. A bag machine quoted at 180 bags/min may produce 120 usable bags/min with real film and real changeovers. Compare the supplier's claimed output against the output of its installed machines in factories like yours.
Energy and consumables
Extruders and granulators run around the clock. A difference of 10-20 kW in installed power is a permanent monthly bill. Ask for the specific energy consumption per kilogram of output, and count consumables: heaters, blades, photocells and filters have a replacement cost and frequency.
Downtime and spares
Every hour a line stands still is lost production. Cheap machines fail more often and wait longer for parts. Ask for the supplier's mean time between failures on similar lines, the spares held in stock, and the shipping time for critical parts. A machine that saves 5% on price but costs three weeks of downtime is a bad deal.
Installation and training
Commissioning is part of the investment. Does the price include an engineer on site? How long does installation take? Who trains your operators — and what happens when a new operator joins later? Remote support with video and PLC access reduces the cost of every future question.
Delivery and lead time
A late machine means a late start on revenue. Confirm the lead time in writing and plan your facility, utilities and materials around it. Factor in sea freight, customs and installation time when you calculate when the line starts paying back.
A simple TCO calculation
Estimate over five years: machine price + freight and customs + installation and training + annual energy × 5 + annual consumables × 5 + expected downtime cost + spares. Compare two quotes with the same output assumption. The machine with the lower five-year total is usually the better buy, even if its price is higher.
Frequently asked questions
What is the payback period for a bag making line?
It depends on output, film cost and bag price, but many factories recover the line within 12-24 months at full utilisation.
How much does energy add to the cost?
An extruder running 300 days a year can consume more in electricity in one year than 10% of the machine price — energy is a top-three cost driver.
Why do cheap machines cost more over time?
Higher downtime, longer spare-parts waits and higher energy use usually outweigh the initial price difference within a few years.
Is installation included in the price?
Not always. Confirm whether commissioning, training and travel are included or quoted separately.
How long does a plastic machine line last?
With proper maintenance, 10-15 years or more; the quality of spares and support decides how productive it stays.
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