Used Test Equipment Blog - Overview

2008-04-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Used Test Equipment Blog. Our goal is to provide insight and information regarding the used and refurbished test equipment market, equipment, and suppliers.

The refurbished test equipment market is very dynamic, with significant opportunity for B2B savings over the price of new test equipment. However, anywhere there is great opportunity there is also areas of risk. Many 'refurbishers' are basement operations cannabilizing multiple broken units in hope of making one good one. The 'pedigree' of the unit is lost, firmware revisions don't necessarily work across the mix of board revisions, and many hidden problems surface during measurement and operation, whereas the unit may appear to be working fine initially.

There are good operators which provide solid equipment, for good prices, with warranties and all accessories. The best refurbishers have arrangements with OEM's to get parts, engineering documentation, and technical support. It is also best for the refurbisher to be ISO certified, and have an onsite laboratory, preferably ISO-17025 calibration accredited.

From a business process perspective, the best refurbisher(s) will adhere to most or all of these characteristics:

Your equipiment is sourced from known owners (such as a customers of that refurbisher) or an OEM technology refresh arrangement.
The unit will be evaluated per a documented process - not simply a 'checkover'. The unit is opened, main chassis and subassemblies are cleaned and inspected, the firmware and operating system software is evaluated and updated if appropriate. The options are evaluated and tested.
The refurbisher has the capability to perform component level repair and/or has repair arrangements with the OEM for parts, documentation, and support.
The unit is calibrated to FULL OEM specifications, again - not simply a 'sample inspection'.
The refurbisher supplies, or adds, all relevant accessories, OEM documentation, and ancillary equipment as you would have received the unit new.
The unit is warrantied by the refurbisher, with a 'right of refusal' if the unit not delivered or operating as described, to full OEM spec.

These key elements remove the risk from the purchaser, and ensure that the refurbished unit is truly 'like new', from an operational standpoint, with a greater cost advantage.

One refurbisher that we highly recommend is NSCA Technologies. In business for 20 years, and have their own ISO-17025 laboratory (Tra-Cal). This organization delivers excellent quality and stands behind their work. http://www.nscainc.com/ +1.301.527.9200 NSCA carries most major OEM equipment from Agilent, Anritsu, Fluke, Frederick Engineering, HP, Rohde & Schwarz, Tektronix, and many others. The units come warranted, calibrated, and in excellent shape.

This blog will be updated frequently, and will serve to provide guidance on market dynamics, product opportunities, and industry trends. Stay tuned!