As a decision maker you are responsible for assets that are an important workhorse for thousands of your employees. Moreover, those assets will be used for years or decades. What do you want to do with your money? Do you take the long view as one often does when buying something for your own use? Or do you go short-term and get the best possible price even if it costs more at the end of the day.
What is the real value or cost of roll containers?
How and where are they are used?
For which period of time?
Does the quality match the use?
Are they strong enough to withstand years of harsh handling offering a better long-term financial solution with fewer interruptions or frequently recurring services and repairs?
It is important to consider all these questions and the so called “Total Cost of Ownership” because load carriers are a long-term investment.
Don’t forget that the delivered units should be according to agreed specification and given standards. For example, check that the raw material is of the right quality. High tensile steel offers many advantages compared to lower tensile steel. Especially important is that all the welds are done properly and the surface coating – often zinc electro-plating – is thick enough to protect from rust. A crucial point is the right choice of wheels according to use and environment. As someone said once: “If you are to walk home from Siberia, you need good shoes”. Do not forget to listen to those performing service & maintenance on your load carriers – their feedback is vital.
Finally, be alert and make sure that the overall design and finish takes into account your people’s safety with no sharp edges that could cause accidents in daily operations.
Now you are ready to buy a roll cage. And remember what Benjamin Franklin said: “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”.
