Factories are about much more than machines. Behind every production line are people, decisions, relationships and life projects. In industry, a machine can mark a turning point for a company, but it is the connections between people and businesses that make those opportunities possible. Know more about the first second hand machine sold in Africa by Machinepoint in this article.
At MachinePoint, we have spent decades connecting companies that need machinery with equipment that still has plenty to offer. But our work goes beyond simply finding a machine. It is about understanding each customer’s needs, getting to know the markets they operate in and building relationships based on trust that last over time. The story we want to share is a good example of that.
This deal also has a special meaning for MachinePoint: it is our first project in Kenya, a market with significant potential for industrial growth, where having a close understanding of companies’ needs is essential.
When growth means taking the next step
Print Parts is a printing company based in Kenya. Like many growing businesses, it reached a point where its existing infrastructure started to limit its ability to expand. Demand was increasing, orders required faster turnaround times, and the company needed to strengthen its production line to keep moving forward.
However, buying new machinery is not always the best option. Delivery times, the investment required or specific production needs can make used industrial machinery a particularly attractive alternative.
It was in 2023 that Marcos Castellanos, a MachinePoint sales representative, first met Print Parts at the Propak East Africa trade show. At the time, the family-run company had a small team of four people producing labels and was working with olders machines they had managed to adapt to their needs.
But as demand continued to grow and market changed, the machine’s capacity started to fall short. A year later, Marcos and the company met again at another trade show and picked up the conversation about purchasing a used European machine that would allow Print Parts to take the next step in its production, as they had already reached the limits of their existing equipment.
In this context, used machinery offers companies the opportunity to access professional equipment with a more manageable investment, reduce the time needed to expand production capacity and, above all, find solutions that fit their actual needs.
For Print Parts, this machine is not simply another piece of equipment. It is an upgrade: a significant step forward from the machinery they had been using until then and a tool that will allow them to increase capacity, improve their processes and enter a new stage of growth.
Understanding the market and companies’ needs: a key part of the relationship
This is where market knowledge once again becomes essential. Finding a machine is not simply about locating available equipment. The role of a specialised partner is to provide a broader perspective: understanding what the buyer needs, which technology fits their production, what level of investment they can manage and which equipment available on the market can become a realistic solution for their business.
And in growing industrial markets such as those across Africa, understanding the local context can be just as important as knowing the technical specifications of a machine.
That is why, in a used industrial machinery deal, price is only one part of the equation. Thanks to the groundwork already done and MachinePoint’s knowledge of the African market, our team was able to identify an opportunity and reach an agreement with another factory to make a European machine available to Print Parts, giving the company the equipment it needed for its next stage of growth.
More than a machine: a new stage for the company
For Print Parts, acquiring its second machine means much more than simply adding another piece of equipment to its factory. It is confirmation that the journey since those early days has paid off. The company has grown, expanded its customer base and reached a point where it needs a production setup capable of keeping up with that growth.
So, it is also a story about trust between companies. If the first deal with Print Parts helped establish that relationship, we expect to strength our collaboration and also to open the door to new projects together.
Used machinery as a driver of industrial growth
The Print Parts story shows that used industrial machinery can be much more than a lower-cost alternative to new equipment. It can provide a way to access technology, increase production capacity, shorten lead times and take advantage of new business opportunities without having to make the same level of investment required for a new machine.
Extending the useful life of industrial equipment also contributes to a more efficient and circular industrial model: a machine that is no longer needed by one factory can become exactly what another company needs to grow.
At MachinePoint, our role is to connect those two realities. But behind every deal, there is something more: people. A machine can move from one factory to another, from one country to another and even from one continent to another. The relationships built along the way, however, remain.
As a result of the relationship between the companies, Print Parts has shared with us some words:
Dear MachinePoint Team,
On behalf of Print Parts Limited, we would like to sincerely thank you for recommending excellent machine for our operations.
Since its installation, the machine has been performing exceptionally well. We have noticed a significant improvement in our production quality, efficiency, and overall output. Your technical advice and guidance in helping us choose the right machine for our specific needs was truly invaluable.
We are very satisfied with its performance.
We look forward to doing more business with you in the future and will certainly recommend MachinePoint to our partners.
Thank you once again.
A conversation at a trade show, a first purchase, a problem solved or a second call years later can all become part of a company’s story.
And those stories also help build a brand. Because industrial growth cannot be explained only through production figures, revenue or the number of machines on a factory floor. It is also about the people who believed in a company when it was still small, those who helped find a solution when production capacity became too limited, and the partners who were there for each new step along the way.
Is your company looking to increase its production capacity with quality used machinery? Get in touch with MachinePoint at info@machinepoint.com.
