Many factors go into the decision of whether you should replace or retrofit your industrial Grote slicer. Click here to learn what is important to consider.
When food manufacturers experience growing or evolving production demands, the capabilities of their existing industrial slicers may no longer suffice. Confronted with this challenge, many processors are left to choose between purchasing a brand-new slicer or retrofitting their existing one.
Making this decision requires consideration of several factors such as cost, production requirements, and whether or not Grote can retrofit your existing slicer.
Read on to discover valuable insights to consider when deciding if you should replace or retrofit your Grote slicer.
RETROFITTING VS. REPLACING
Cost
The overall cost is one of the primary factors influencing the decision to retrofit or purchase a new industrial food slicer. While retrofitting can be a more cost-effective option in the short term, it’s essential to weigh the costs of upgrading against the price of a new machine.
For instance, an electrical upgrade for an older Grote Slicer/Applicator may cost around $50,000, while a new machine currently runs about $170,000+. However, if the retrofit is more extensive and the cost approaches 50% of a new machine’s price, it’s often best to opt for a new one instead.
Machine Vintage, Design
The build of your existing machine can also influence your decision. If you have an older hydraulic slicer, it’s advisable to buy a new one as the cost and complexity of retrofitting are too great.
Mechanical changes in the frame or a component that is part of the main structure (e.g., changing an aluminum part for stainless steel) would also make it cost-prohibitive and potentially unsafe to perform a retrofit.
RETROFITTING CONSIDERATIONS
Upgrading your Grote industrial slicer offers several other advantages above and beyond the initial cost savings, such as improvements in cleaning and sanitizing, as well as reduced unplanned downtime.
Leaner times for food processors make retrofitting a viable option over purchasing new equipment. However, the retrofit process itself can be cumbersome and could take some back-and-forth to get it right.
Here are some important considerations to take into account when deciding if you should retrofit your industrial slicer:
Improved Sanitation
Retrofitting a slicer can significantly improve sanitation, especially for older machines. For example, Grote slicers manufactured pre-2002 may not adhere to the AMI sanitary design principles, which are now standard for all equipment.
If your existing slicer is older than 2021, Grote has added several new sanitary features to our latest Slicer/Applicator that make it even easier to clean than before. You’ll experience shorter slicer cleaning and sanitation downtimes due to the improved design.
Improved Blade Life & Performance
All Grote slicers feature the AccuBand disposable band blade pulley system, but our latest Slicer/Applicator system has updates including pulley sizing, blade path, and automatic blade speed adjustments – all to improve blade and blade guide life.
Regardless, whether new or old, we find many blade performance issues are due to setup and maintenance errors. Instead of retrofitting or replacing the machine, we first recommend training and preventative maintenance to determine the cause and address blade and blade guide performance.
Planned vs. Unplanned Downtime
Sometimes our suppliers no longer sell a particular component or part we would typically use to repair your older Grote machine. Retrofitting your existing slicer with modern parts sooner than later will prevent a rather lengthy unplanned downtime when obsolete parts break down in the future.
Grote engineers can provide you with a rough estimate of how long it will take to fix an unplanned downtime event with your existing equipment. We can also compare that against the price to replace your industrial slicer so you’ll better understand the potential impact.
The Retrofit Process
To retrofit your older slicer, we recommend scheduling an inperson technical service visit to inspect the condition of your machine and identify necessary maintenance, upgrades, and optimization opportunities. Having our tech onsite for one to two days eliminates the back and forth and missed details of phone calls and emailing photos.
However we collect the information, our team:
- Collects the serial number
- Analyzes that design verses today’s standards, design, and components
- Identifies retrofitting opportunities, or
- Recommends replacement if the retrofitting is too complex or expensive
- Performs upgrades, either in your plant or ours depending on the complexity
- Can commission the new machine and retrain your team
When modifying your machine, it pays to have expert Grote technicians by your side, to ensure your team and updated slicer perform optimally.
REPLACING AN INDUSTRIAL SLICER
When buying a new slicer, there are many different factors to consider. Flexibility, production, and sanitation rates can all influence the type and configuration of the ideal machine for your facility. Grote manufactures a wide range of industrial slicers that will provide you with improved quality control, increased production, and higher yields.
Calculating the ROI of an industrial slicer machine is also essential as it enables you to determine if the capital investment makes sense for your business. Conducting this critical step will allow you to assess the profitability of new equipment, when you’ll realize payback, and whether you should replace your industrial slicer now or later.
UPGRADE TO NEW OR RETROFIT? LET GROTE HELP YOU DECIDE
Whether you choose to retrofit or invest in a new slicer, Grote has got you covered. Our experienced team members will work closely with you to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your investment. Contact us to get a new slicer quote or click below to discover tips on how to extend the lifespan of your existing one.
How to Extend the Life of Your Industrial Slicer