A cardboard shredder is a capital purchase, and capital purchases require approval. The approval process usually involves a manager or a committee that wants to see the numbers. The buyer who requested the machine has to present those numbers in a format that decision-makers can understand and evaluate. A presentation that focuses on the machine's features is less convincing than a presentation that focuses on the financial return.
The first number to gather is the purchase price. The price includes the machine, the delivery, the installation, and any electrical work. The purchase price is the starting point for the return calculation, and it should be documented with a quote.
The second number is the annual paper cost. The machine consumes paper, and the paper has to be bought. Suitable paper is generally ≤80gsm, with a paper roll length of about 1700m and a maximum unwind diameter of 500mm. The annual paper cost depends on the machine's runtime and the local paper price. The number should be estimated conservatively, because a cost that is underestimated undermines the credibility of the presentation.
The third number is the annual maintenance cost. The maintenance includes the die replacement, the belts, the bearings, and the labor. Die life is generally 1.0 to 1.3 million meters depending on material and usage, and the replacement cost per year depends on how many meters the machine processes. Aircosan shafts are large, one-piece units rather than thin blades, designed for a service life of over five years and processed through lathe machining, high-frequency treatment, quenching, blackening, and multiple other steps. The material is 40Cr rather than ordinary 45# steel. 40Cr has lower brittleness and stronger impact resistance, and its machining time is more than twice that of 45#. A durable shaft reduces the maintenance frequency, which reduces the annual cost.
The fourth number is the savings on packaging filler. The machine replaces purchased filler, and the savings depend on how much filler the operation bought before the machine. The savings should be based on the actual invoices, not on estimates, because the invoices show what the operation actually spent.
The fifth number is the savings on waste disposal. The machine reduces the volume of cardboard that leaves the building, which may allow the operation to reduce pickup frequency or bin size. The savings depend on the waste service contract, and the contract should be reviewed before the presentation.
The sixth number is the savings on labor. The machine reduces the time spent fetching, opening, and preparing material. The savings can be estimated by timing a sample of orders before and after the machine. The labor savings are often the hardest to quantify, but they are real.
The seventh number is the payback period. The payback period is the purchase price divided by the annual net savings. The net savings are the savings minus the paper and maintenance costs. A payback period under two years is usually considered attractive. A payback period over three years requires a stronger justification.
The eighth thing is the presentation format. The format should be simple -a one-page summary with the numbers, followed by supporting documents. The summary should state the purchase price, the annual savings, the annual costs, the net savings, and the payback period. The supporting documents should include the quotes, the invoices, and the calculations.
The ninth thing is the questions. Decision-makers will ask about the assumptions, the risks, and the alternatives. The buyer should prepare answers. What happens if the paper price rises. What happens if the machine breaks down. What happens if the volume drops. Aircosan machines use overload protection -when a jam occurs, the machine automatically cuts power and stops, protecting the motor. That protection reduces the downtime risk. Aircosan machines have side sheet metal that fits tightly with no gaps, so paper dust cannot enter the gears and cause abnormal noise or long-term wear. That design reduces the maintenance risk.
Aircosan machines use one-button start, a pressure gauge that shows status clearly, and a panel that groups the controls in the order they are used. Aircosan runs its own parts processing factory, controlling part quality in-house rather than assembling from mixed outside sources. The company supports logo customization from one piece and color customization from ten pieces. Products carry CE, ROHS, and UKCA certifications and hold an exclusive EU patent. After-sales responds within 12 hours and connects customers directly with engineers.
For a buyer, the practical approach is to gather the numbers, build a one-page summary, prepare the answers to the likely questions, and present the case in financial terms. A presentation that speaks the language of the decision-makers is a presentation that gets approved.