Additive Manufacturing Equipment Financing
Selecting Equipment

A conscientious effort to select the most suitable equipment generally includes the following considerations:

• Justification:  The lessee should undertake a study showing why the acquisition is justified in financial, operational and strategic terms.
• Technology:  Know your technology alternatives and expectations of the equipment.  Decide among, or rank, SLA, SLS and 3D printer technologies.  The ranking should include a clear understanding of materials, consideration for growth in your existing work and potential new applications.
• Product Cycles:  Understand where each possible choice is in its product cycle.  New systems that emerge and gain acceptance during the course of a lease may affect the value of the equipment you select and the value that equipment will sell for in the future.
• New or Used:  Some equipment is also available used.  If used equipment has been properly maintained, it will most likely be acceptable to a lessor as well as the lessee and may result in significant savings.
• Vendor Policies:  Vendors prefer to sell new equipment and have policies and practices that discourage free trade in used machines.  An understanding of second-user obligations is necessary when considering used equipment.
• Operational and Continuing Expenses:  Acquisition cost is only part of the total cost of ownership.  Lessees have to pay for maintenance, taxes and insurance plus materials and operations personnel.
• Upgrades:  Some systems may be upgraded to improve their capacity.  An upgrade may come from the vendor or from a third party.  An upgrade can extend the life of a system but if it comes from a third party, the owner of the system will want assurance that maintenance and support will be available for the upgraded system.  If the upgrade is irreversible, it is your obligation to notify the lessor before making a permanent change to the asset.

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