Masonry Magazine August 2014 Page. 28
MAS5308_August2014_MAS 7/22/14 10:05 AM Page 26
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MAST CLIMBERS
Uniformed buyers make mistakes
COsrsare always a factor and, general�ly, contractors begin weighing them by looking at the purchase price. While used mast climbers run between $30,000 and $50,000, a new unit will require an addi�tional$50,000 to $100,000 -asizable chunk ofchange in many ofNorthAmerica's still�recovering markets.What's more, resource�ful contractors have been known to locate incredible deals on used equipment. 'Weve heard of guys finding that '57 Chevy in the widow's backyard It's rare, but it happens," says Clint Bridges,VP ofEZ Scaffold
Bridges' company, which has manu�Shown Is Apex Friendship High School In Apex, N.C., near Raleigh. This Is anew facility using 290,000 factured a range of scaffolding equipment bricks from Palmetto Brick Co. and 350,000 CMUs from Old Castle Adams Products. The walls are 60 feet high with CMU back-up, and spray foam Insulation and brick veneer comprising the finished skin. The
since 1991, also sells used equipment
mason contractor Is Joyner Masonry Works. The construction manager Is Balfour Beatty/ Metcon JV.
sourced from its trade-in program or its
Image courtesy ofJuynerMasonryWorlcs
rental fleet. Today, he estimates used sales comprises roughly one-third ofthe company's businesses. pened to come across a used mast lift and has no idea \.vhat it
"There is a big need for used equipment, especially right is? That happens a lot:' now, because contractors need to get the best deal for their money," Bridges says. "The more familiar a contractor is with Demand drives manufacturer participation In the equipment, the easier it is for him to buy used, because he used market has the training and is already comfortable with the machine:' "POST-RECESSION, the need for both trade-in deals and
According to NEMC's Marcantoni, rental historically has the market for used equipment is steadily growing, and the made up the majority ofhis mast-dimber business, yet this year's North American market is probably the strongest market cur�used equipment sales are up 100 percent from this time last year. rently;' says Kevin O'Shea, director ofsafety and training for
'We have sold used mast climbers to every type ofcontrac�Hydro-Mobile. Hydro-Mobile and its dealer network in the tor, yet masonry, restoration and glaziers are the typical pur�United States and Canada have offered refurbished used equip�chasers;' said Marcantoni. "Most purchasing vs. renting are on ment for more than 20 years. the larger side, say at least $10 million in work per year:' "The balance between new and used equipment is tricky;'
Both EZ Scaffold's Bridges and Mike Pitt of Mast�says O'Shea. "Used equipment does not have new equipment's Climbers.com agree the decision to purchase new vs. used warranty or performance aspects, and used equipment may often depends on more than financial resources. The amount require more support than new equipment:' of time a contractor has to search for a suitable piece of used In fact, maintenance of used mast climbers can be some�equipment, as well as his familiarity with the equipment, are what of a challenge for contractors without in-house expertise two additional factors. or a large market from which to source parts. Gary Joyner,
Pitt, who has sold equipment in every manner from in-per�president of Greenville, N.C.-based Joyner Masonry Works son to web cam, says it's the unfamiliar contractor who will Inc., says his company addresses this challenge with one part make mistakes. He cautions contractors buying their first pieces creativity, two parts skill. of used mast-climbing equipment to ask a lot of questions, "We try to find abandoned machines we can use for parts;' especially when doing so online. Joyner says. "Or, we rebuild the components we need:'
"Whole groups of people have no problem buying online Joyner has stuck exclusively with HEK platform mast because they are well informed and know what they are buy�dimbers for many years and says his loyalty to the brand is not ing. Uninformed buyers make mistakes buying online because likely to change: "It was the first mast climber we were intro�the only thing they can really do is compare prices," said Pitt. duced to, and it performs well for our needs. Not sure we "We try to provide as much info as we can so they can buy would want to change; in fact, we wouldn't:' informed. We will Skype someone to show them the equip�Marcantoni's answerto used parts is responsible selling fur the ment in real time, send them videos or bring the equipment in long term. "I like to sell contractors th.e same type of equipment and put a web cam on it:' they already own or be sure to sell them all the same equipment
Pitt says who you are buying from is just as important as This way the mast, decks and units remain interchangeable:' what you are buying and recommends that used equipment The company stocks used parts and also services mast buyers ask for references of the seller's expertise. "You need to climbers for contractors in the area. "We stock items that typi�know who the seller is. Is he a forklift expert who just hap-cally get worn, and we have most parts for the units that we sell
26 MASONRY � August 2014 � www.masoncontractors.org The Voice of the Masonry Industry