Pricing is only one-half of the equation when purchasing a portable roof panel machine or seamless gutter machine. It’s vital that you also understand when it’s the best time to consider purchasing a machine. You don’t want to end up needing a portable rollforming machine and not have one or purchase one too late when demand is high, when lead times are long, or during peak metal roofing season.
Purchasing and using a portable rollforming machine for your business isn’t your only option. However, it can make your projects easier, more efficient, and more profitable. That being said, our goal is to help you get the machine that is best for your business, customers, and budget as soon as you realize you need it.
At New Tech Machinery, we’ve been helping clients get the machinery they need to make their businesses productive and profitable. We’ve helped many people new to the industry get started with their equipment and helped them buy the machine they need at the best time for their business.
In this article, we’ll explain:
- What to do before you purchase portable rollforming machinery
- The best times to consider adding a portable rollformer to your business
- Some of the reasons you should consider purchasing a portable rollforming machine
- What to consider when you’re ready to purchase a new machine
What Should You Do Before Purchasing a Portable Rollforming Machine?
Before you even begin thinking about payments, financing, or buying a portable rollforming machine, there are some things you need to consider ahead of time. This type of equipment is a significant investment in your roof or gutter business and cash flow, so planning ahead of time can help save you time, money, and help you get the machine you need quicker.
Do Your Research
Research is one of the most important and often underutilized components of any major purchase. Buying a portable rollforming machine is no different. While researching the type of machine you want is at the top of the list, you’ll also have to consider the following before selecting the best option for your business:
- Manufacturers in your area and what machines they specialize in
- Roofing panel or gutter profile popularity in your area
- Add-on equipment and accessories you may need for your business operation
- Pricing of machines and equipment
- Warranties included with a new machine purchase and what they cover
Evaluate Your Business
There are a few aspects of your metal roofing or gutter business you’ll want to evaluate when considering purchasing a portable rollforming machine, including:
- Budget and if you’d like to buy outright, finance/lease, buy a new machine, or buy used
- Current business needs and how purchasing a portable rollformer fits in with those needs
- Future business and expansion of offerings to customers
Ask Questions to Machine Manufacturers
Finally, asking various portable rollforming machine manufacturers about their business, products, and services can help you narrow down who you’d like to do business with and determine if their products are a good fit.
Here are a few questions that can help you gauge a company’s reliability and product offerings:
- How long have you been in business?
- Do you offer any support after the sale?
- What do other customers say about your products?
- What is your lead time for getting a machine delivered?
- What are my payment options?
- Do you offer service on the equipment?
- Do you offer training on the machine?
For the sake of this article, we’ll explore the best times to purchase a portable rollforming machine from New Tech Machinery and what our Account Managers discuss with potential customers about the purchasing process, considerations to make, and best times to place an order or purchase a new machine.
What Are the Best Times to Consider Purchasing a Portable Rollforming Machine?
If you’re in the market for a new portable rollforming machine, there are a few times when it’s better to purchase a machine than others. Typically, as it applies to New Tech Machinery, there here are some times we recommend to people when ordering and purchasing a machine:
Trade shows – Trade shows like International Roofing Expo or METALCON are a great chance to take a look at various portable rollforming machines, talk to different manufacturers about their products, and see what other people have to say about the equipment they’re using.
It’s an excellent time for those new to the industry to get some valuable insight and those already with their own business to plan work for the season. Trade shows also allow you to see the equipment first and talk to various brands and companies in person about their products.
Off-Season or slower months – During the off-season, like fall or winter, there are less likely roofing or gutter projects, so it’s an advantageous time to buy new portable rollforming machinery or add equipment to your business.
Also, it’s an opportunity to balance purchasing such equipment with your budget. This timing largely depends upon where you’re working, but typically the coldest and wettest times of the year are bad for construction, but great if you’re looking to expand your business or looking to get ahead of the game.
Before the end of tax season – With IRS Section 179 Tax Deduction, you can deduct the full purchase price on qualifying new and used equipment, including portable rollforming machinery, from your gross income financed during the tax year. This tax deduction helps businesses write off the entire price of their equipment at one time, instead of a little at a time, depending on the cap limit.
In 2022, bonus depreciation is also being offered at 100%. If you’re looking to take advantage of any tax deductions, you have to finance or purchase the equipment AND put it into service between January 1 and December 31.
Before any upcoming roofing or gutter projects – For metal roofing, it helps to know and purchase what you need in a portable rollformer ahead of time. If you see a large project coming up that could benefit you by having an on-site rollforming machine, it’s best to get it sooner rather than later, pending if your budget allows for it.
For example, if you were going to bid on a metal roofing project, you’d first need to know what the scope of the project entails: what profiles to use, type and cost of material, and roof design specifications.
Then, once you know that information, you can choose and purchase the machine that best fits the project requirements. If you had a project that called for a 2” mechanical seam profile (SSQ200 profile), then the only machine that makes that style is the SSQ II™ MultiPro Roof Panel Machine.
Reasons to Purchase Portable Rollforming Equipment
You want to take on more jobs efficiently – One of the biggest reasons you may be ready to purchase a portable rollforming machine is because you’re prepared to make the panels or gutters you need when you need them, eliminating the need for factory panel suppliers.
Having a portable rollformer can help reduce the time spent waiting for panels to be produced and delivered, and save money on potentially wasted material, shipping problems or higher costs associated with shipping longer panels, and unused panels.
Availability in market expansion or products – If you see the opportunity to expand your offerings, purchasing a portable rollforming machine can help in that venture. You could consider expanding into offering chop and drop panels or gutters. Also, if your region has limited resources, panel suppliers, or competition, it’s worth considering a portable rollformer.
You have trained employees to operate the machine – If you have trained employees that know how to safely and properly use a portable rollforming machine, and you have the frequency of projects to make such an investment pay itself off, then it’s a worthwhile time to consider buying a portable rollformer. You can also ask for machine training when you purchase your machine if you know your employees will need it to operate the machine.
Ultimately, the best time to buy a portable rollforming machine depends on you and your business, budget, and availability of products. You should always evaluate your business’ budget, current and upcoming projects, availability of equipment and manufacturer lead times, seasonality of roofing, and pre-planning for projects, so you’re not limited to only utilizing a factory panel supplier.
Considerations to Make About When to Purchase a Portable Rollforming Machine
Take the following considerations into account when determining when would be the best time to purchase a metal roof panel or gutter machine for your business:
Get your financing or payment in place – If you’re considering financing or using a third party to help purchase your portable rollforming equipment, before you sign the sales quote and make your deposit, you’ll need to make sure that all your funds are in place. While getting approval on financing won’t take too long (typically 5-7 days for new businesses), the sooner NTM can get your completed paperwork, the quicker your machine can be built and shipped.
Machine production and shipping process – What’s involved in making your NTM machine? The production process includes:
- Installing add-on accessories and roller sets
- Installing the electrical wiring for controllers
- Setting up and adjusting the machine as necessary
- Testing machines to ensure proper operation
- Preparing machines for shipping and delivery (wrapping it, boxing up accessories, final paperwork, etc.)
Typically, the timeframe between assembling the machine and getting it ready for delivery is 1-2 weeks as long as you’ve paid any remaining balances on your sales order. However, this timeframe may vary depending on current backlog and inventory of parts.
Account for higher lead times – With the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, metal construction getting back to normal, and the limited availability of certain raw materials, lead times in manufacturing are higher than usual. Considering this when purchasing a portable rollformer can help you get the machine when you need it and having the necessary funds secured before you make any deposits.
Price increases on materials and equipment – Along with higher than anticipated lead times, there are various price increases on many raw materials used to make portable rollforming equipment and metal roofing products, which can affect overall machine pricing. Knowing this information can help you plan payment options, secure funding before talking to an Account Manager, or look at used equipment.
Seasonal work and slowdown on machine demand – Typically for NTM as a portable rollforming manufacturer, a slowdown on machine production is highest in the late summer or early fall, as the production season starts to wrap up in areas that experience colder and harsher weather conditions. During this downtime, it’s a great opportunity to look at your business offerings and possibly purchase a machine while demand and backlog are lower.
Final Thoughts
Purchasing a portable rollforming machine involves a lot of research and consideration about which machine is best suited for your needs. Understanding the best times to consider purchasing a portable rollformer and knowing the actions you can take ahead of time to ensure you get the machine you need when you need it can make a difference.
Just remember:
- Do your research ahead of time in which portable rollformer is best for you, the accessories you may want to add to it, reputable manufacturers to choose from, and what your business can afford.
- Consider purchasing a portable rollforming machine in the off-season, before tax season ends, to take advantage of any deductions and get ahead of any upcoming projects.
- Understanding what you can do during the purchasing process, like having your funds secured or being aware of current lead times and material increases, can help make sure that you’re buying a portable rollformer before you find out you need it.
At New Tech Machinery, we know how big of an investment getting a portable rollforming machine is to your metal roofing or gutter business. We’re here to answer any of your questions about the purchasing process, the best times to order and purchase a new machine, and the best options for your business.
Contact any of our experienced Account Managers today. We’re happy to help!
