Firms posting "equipment lists" - thoughts?

[julianf]

So far as i can tell, it could be for one of three reasons -

a) as an attempt at a barrier to entry for competitors (as in look at the £1000s of pounds of kit we have, you cant compete with us)
b) simple bragging
c) to show the customer what is available

To what extent do you think its any one of these options?

Thank you.

 

[Brad93]

I like to see what equipment the firm has got and I've got a few items listed on my website.

It lets a customer know your capabilities and quality.

 

[Kayos]

Some specialist companies we use its option C

If you don't have specific kit its not even worth a phone call, allthough one did buy a £250k machine to do a job for us, however 1 job and they were in profit. Not sure how often that happens

 

[James1979]

We fall into C. More so when the website is back up.

Dont do bragging but listing what you have can optimise search engine results

 

[bricol]

If you are hunting around for new suppliers, as we occasionally are, first thing to hit these days is the internet. And if they list their gear and capabilities, they will get a call before before "ABCD Engineering . . . we do engineering" and don't give a clue as to what capabilities they have.

Never even thought of any other reason.

In the past, it would be an advert in a trade magazine (with a number to circle on the reply card for more info - remember them?) that would list your equipment and abilities.

 

[julianthegypsy]

I'd go with C too. If I know what kit you have I get a good idea of what you can do. It's really helpful.

 

[Brad93]

You know if you see someone's equipment list and it's DSG lathe, Miller Dynasty, Doosan Puma, ESAB SGX Plasma etc etc they know what they're doing in that field.

 

[bricol]

What IS annoying is ringing up and "oh, we sold that machine . . .", "it's bust . . ." or the best yet, "the bloke who knew how to use it has retired . . ." Funnily enough, I moved on to somewhere that thought to train more than one guy on a machine . . .

 

[8ob]

A good example of this is plasma/laser cutters, its nice to know cutting capacities before making the phone call.

Bob

 

[gaz1]

You know if you see someone's equipment list and it's DSG lathe, Miller Dynasty, Doosan Puma, ESAB SGX Plasma etc etc they know what they're doing in that field.

you dont need a list just photos doing there job

but if you want to be picky

a list a good reference to theft as i know that you have expensive gear in there

 

[julianf]

Why im asking is that im trying to sort out my own website, and am wondering if i should add a list.

My general engineering stuff is, well, pretty general, but there's other stuff that no one sensible would have unless they were putting it to use.

Its hard to gauge also - i mean one of my saws is a varga va-1. Its not mega bucks (around £2k when i last looked) but it is some fancy swiss made thing that can do manual works to way tighter tolerance than anyone ever wants of it.
The sad thing is, i generally use it for hacking up sheet to feed the cnc, so im not even fussed about its accuracy then!

And when i get around to putting together the wadkin that ive been buying the VFDs for. I mean its its a well respected £1k machine, and a large joinery shop would have some big SCM or the like at 4 or 5x the price, so does writing something like that make you look competent or a pretender?

I bought one of these a while back - https://www.axminstertools.com/axminster-trade-at635ds-dual-drum-sander-106004

I didnt pay £3k for it, but, the same again... A bigger company will have some big 3ph wide belt sander. But your average chap off the street doesnt spend £3k on a sander either.


So its really hard to judge. I operate in a small field, and these machines would be dwarfed by big industrial machines, but the selection is more the "selling" point, i guess. I mean, someone else will have a way higher value kit list, but not spanning the same disciplines.

This is actually one that ive been unsure about for some years.

 

[mike os]

A capabilities list really helps when looking for something specific or out of the ordinary

Saves wasted time too if I can see you cant cnc mill 1780 x2230... or whatever or lazer 6mm stainless etc

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Why im asking is that im trying to sort out my own website, and am wondering if i should add a list.

My general engineering stuff is, well, pretty general, but there's other stuff that no one sensible would have unless they were putting it to use.

Its hard to gauge also - i mean one of my saws is a varga va-1. Its not mega bucks (around £2k when i last looked) but it is some fancy swiss made thing that can do manual works to way tighter tolerance than anyone ever wants of it.
The sad thing is, i generally use it for hacking up sheet to feed the cnc, so im not even fussed about its accuracy then!

And when i get around to putting together the wadkin that ive been buying the VFDs for. I mean its its a well respected £1k machine, and a large joinery shop would have some big SCM or the like at 4 or 5x the price, so does writing something like that make you look competent or a pretender?

I bought one of these a while back - https://www.axminstertools.com/axminster-trade-at635ds-dual-drum-sander-106004

I didnt pay £3k for it, but, the same again... A bigger company will have some big 3ph wide belt sander. But your average chap off the street doesnt spend £3k on a sander either.


So its really hard to judge. I operate in a small field, and these machines would be dwarfed by big industrial machines, but the selection is more the "selling" point, i guess. I mean, someone else will have a way higher value kit list, but not spanning the same disciplines.

This is actually one that ive been unsure about for some years.

Trade as a carpenter but very much multitrade so list my capabilities on the website rather than the tools I have for the job.

 

[mtt.tr]

What IS annoying is ringing up and "oh, we sold that machine . . .", "it's bust . . ." or the best yet, "the bloke who knew how to use it has retired . . ." Funnily enough, I moved on to somewhere that thought to train more than one guy on a machine . . .

I know of a laser sitting because the guy that maintained it has retired

 

[James1979]

Why im asking is that im trying to sort out my own website, and am wondering if i should add a list.

My general engineering stuff is, well, pretty general, but there's other stuff that no one sensible would have unless they were putting it to use.

Its hard to gauge also - i mean one of my saws is a varga va-1. Its not mega bucks (around £2k when i last looked) but it is some fancy swiss made thing that can do manual works to way tighter tolerance than anyone ever wants of it.
The sad thing is, i generally use it for hacking up sheet to feed the cnc, so im not even fussed about its accuracy then!

And when i get around to putting together the wadkin that ive been buying the VFDs for. I mean its its a well respected £1k machine, and a large joinery shop would have some big SCM or the like at 4 or 5x the price, so does writing something like that make you look competent or a pretender?

I bought one of these a while back - https://www.axminstertools.com/axminster-trade-at635ds-dual-drum-sander-106004

I didnt pay £3k for it, but, the same again... A bigger company will have some big 3ph wide belt sander. But your average chap off the street doesnt spend £3k on a sander either.


So its really hard to judge. I operate in a small field, and these machines would be dwarfed by big industrial machines, but the selection is more the "selling" point, i guess. I mean, someone else will have a way higher value kit list, but not spanning the same disciplines.

This is actually one that ive been unsure about for some years.

I would try to outline your capabilities as words / bullet point rather than an equipment list. That is what we have done. Have a sort of list as well, but rather than XXX plasma table and a YYY mill, I have just stated capabilities.

You also prevent (sub)conscious brand loyalty - List a miller welder and you'll get alienate Lincoln diehards and vice versa even though they are not using the damn thing! Also, people rule out what they dont know. My plasma is an Xtreme. I find it good. Some people may discount using me as they dont know the make, or for example @Hood's is home made. Some people may want you to use a named one. What they dont know won't hurt them.

Also the thing with capabilities vs make and model is that I'd have no idea what your drum sander was if you told me the make / model. I want to know if it will drum sand my bits in a reasonable time to a good finish.

Just my 2p

 

[Brad93]

you dont need a list just photos doing there job

but if you want to be picky

a list a good reference to theft as i know that you have expensive gear in there

But where is the workshop? Our address is an office.

 

[James1979]

But where is the workshop? Our address is an office.

ditto

 

[James1979]

you dont need a list just photos doing there job

but if you want to be picky

a list a good reference to theft as i know that you have expensive gear in there

One thing I will say re photos is yes they can replace a lot of words, and get the point across, but google won't find them in a search. You need text for SEO - that is where the web guy comes into his own.

I fix broken sh1t for a living. I dont do websites. I pay him to do that by fixing broken sh1t. I think sometimes its best to employ someone who is good at what they do.

 

[MetalMonkey]

I've seen this a few times, and I think its usually mostly C with a little bit of B and pride mixed in - especially if it is nice gear and/or it cost them a bob.

 

[Ali]

I frequently get emails and newsletters from a couple of machine shops with ‘we’ve just invested in…’ etc. To be honest I couldn’t care less, you can either do it or you can’t, even if you outsource it as long as the price is right.