If your tea business is looking to purchase new tea processing equipment, you should consider several key factors, according to Jakub Nowak, sales manager at Scorpion, which is based in Rozdrażew, Poland.
Scorpion is a leading manufacturer of machines, equipment and processing lines for the tea and herbal industries, among other sectors. The company has more than two decades of experience, and its machines are placed in numerous tea processing businesses around the world – such as Dary Natury, a large tea producer in Poland that uses a significant range of Scorpion tea equipment.
Scorpion routinely works with international tea businesses like Dary Natury – whether the business is purchasing one piece of equipment or a full line of machines. “The Scorpion company is distinguished by an individual approach to each client, to each project separately,” says Nowak. “We focus on quality and reliability.”
Nowak recently shared six key insights related to purchasing tea processing equipment.
1. Most Tea Processing Companies Use Old Equipment
Overall, Nowak believes that tea processing businesses – no matter where they are based – are characterized by rather outdated machinery. “Many companies do not introduce innovative machines and solutions into their business for various reasons, but one of them is the lack of knowledge that newer, more advanced machines have existed and have been functioning well on the market for more than 20 years. Many companies still use wooden machines, often of their own home production.”
Nowak encourages the tea industry to explore its options and consider upgrading to newer equipment. “Our machines are fully automated, so only one person is needed to operate even an entire line, which relatively translates into reduced labor costs.”
2. Wood vs. Metal? Metal Is Better
According to Nowak, metal machines are the way to go. “Unfortunately, many tea processing companies still use wooden machines,” he explains. “These are primarily machines with little durability and are more suitable for a museum than a production company.”
Nowak says the advantage of metal machines over wood machines in the tea industry is huge. “Steel machines are able to withstand much greater loads and work longer without failure, which has a huge impact on the uninterrupted production cycle,” he says. “First of all, it is about the movement and vibration that the machines are subjected to during operation. Another important fact in favor of metal machines is that they do not absorb the scent of individual teas like wooden machines. In addition, steel machines are easier to clean. Also, many companies do not want to cooperate with tea companies that use wooden machines in production. It is primarily about applying certain hygienic standards. Products made in the process of wooden machines are often not released for sale, as they do not meet hygiene standards.”
3. Your Tea Equipment Line Can Grow as You Go
Before your business acquires new equipment, Nowak says take a step back and think about how you want your business to grow. “I think that the most important question a customer should ask himself before buying new equipment is: What does he want to achieve with this, what is his goal for the next two to 10 years?”
Nowak points out that Scorpion machines can easily adapt to a customer’s needs, and its line of equipment can grow as your business grows. “Most of our machines can be used individually or combined with each other, creating entire production lines,” he says. “When the customer wants to expand his range or change something in production, usually you do not have to give up the existing solutions, but only plug one or two new devices into the existing line.”
4. You Can Customize Your Tea Processing Equipment
“All of our machines are customer specific,” says Nowak. “We do not manufacture machines for stock, we do not have machines ready for sale. We produce on an ongoing basis for specific orders, so the customer should know that he can get a better machine, designed specifically for their business.”
We are able to adjust the size and arrangement of our machines to the needs of a given customer, and even fit our machines into existing lines.
Nowak notes that it’s important to order your equipment from Scorpion a few months in advance, to allow plenty of time for the equipment to be produced – especially if it’s going to be customized.
5. Equipment Training Is Available
For those companies that want a little extra help with launching their new equipment, training is available. “Most of our machines are intuitive and not very complicated to use,” shares Nowak. “However, we offer each of our clients full assembly of our machines and training, so they can get to know our machines, how they work, and so they can understand critical and important points about working with the equipment.”
6. Many Tea Equipment Suppliers Do Not Offer a Warranty or Spare Parts
Nowak says be sure to purchase tea processing equipment that comes with a warranty, as some providers do not offer any protection or even spare parts. “Scorpion, on the other hand, offers a 24-month warranty for all machines. I would like to point out that our machines operate worldwide, and we do not receive many emergency reports. However, we always react within 48 hours and we have all the spare parts that may be required, which also has a big impact on the continuity of production.”
Nowak says that the tea industry can reach out to him if they have any questions about tea processing equipment or purchasing new solutions. “Thanks to our machines, a potential customer can quickly become a tycoon in the industry and quickly develop the company, raising it to the highest levels.”
To learn more about Scorpion, visit Scorpion.pl.
Aaron Kiel is the editor of World Tea News.
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