|
|
Smart Systems: Spray Equipment Cost: Purchase Price is Tip of Iceberg
1 Jun, 2008 By: Andrew Greess Pest Management ProfessionalHave you ever calculated what your pest management spray equipment actually costs? Spray equipment cost is like the iceberg; only a small portion is visible. The rest is hiding, waiting to sink your company ship. Don't assume purchase price is the same as cost.
 Andrew Greess |
Total equipment cost is comprised of the following six costs. Note that while I'm focusing on power spray equipment, the concept actually applies to many types of equipment:
- Purchase price is the most obvious component of total cost. Unfortunately, it's often the only cost that's considered in the purchase decision. Purchase price includes total purchase price of the base unit plus any optional equipment, sales tax and freight.
- Installation cost includes the total cost of installing the equipment in the vehicle. Generally speaking, rigs requiring electric power will cost to install. This equipment must be wired to the truck battery, which takes time and requires wire, fuse, etc. Be sure to ask your rig vendor whether electrical components are included in the purchase price.
If you're installing the rig yourself, be sure you know what is under the truck bed. Drilling through the bed into the gas tank adds significant cost.
 Does the Right Hand Know what the Left Hand is Doing? |
- Maintenance costs include regularly scheduled maintenance, such as engine oil changes, pump rebuilds, spray gun rebuilds, etc. They comprise the cost of the components and labor. Keep in mind that regular maintenance will extend the life of your sprayer.
Think of what this does to maintenance cost if you must remove the rig to change the oil. Make sure equipment is designed for ease of maintenance.
- Repair cost includes not just the cost of the repair, but the downtime that results. Does the rig constantly break wdown? Are replacement parts readily available? Waiting for parts can be a productivity killer.
- Productivity costs should be considered. Does the equipment boost technician productivity or hinder it? Are key components properly situated for easy, safe, ergonomic access? Must the technician waste perform extra motions just to do his or her job?
- Longevity/Replacement costs are basically a measure of return on investment. How long do the components last? Are top quality components used?
For example, one of the most expensive components is the gas engine. Honda engines cost more than other engines, but in my experience they'll provide years of uninterrupted service if properly maintained. This isn't an area to try to save a few dollars. The higher upfront cost is more than offset in reduced repairs and downtime and extended life.
Similarly, some of the cheapest components of your sprayer are the plumbing fittings. Yet these inexpensive parts can cost you a bundle if there's a problem: A plastic fitting in the wrong place can be easily damaged, for example, resulting in chemical spillage and lost productivity.
Be sure you know everything you are getting when you order your sprayer.
Greess is president of Quality Equipment & Spray, which designs and builds custom pest management spray equipment solutions. He can be reached at
andrew@qspray.com
. Visit his blog at
www.sprayequipmentblog.com.
Please send any technical comments or questions to our webmaster.