A machine that arrives wrong is expensive. A machine that arrives wrong and was never inspected before it left the factory is worse, because by then the evidence is in a container and the balance payment has already been made.
Inspection is the cheapest point in the whole transaction to catch a problem. This article covers what to actually look at, in the order it is worth checking.
Why inspection timing matters more than inspection method
There are three moments a machine can be inspected, and they are not equivalent:
- Before crating — the machine is on the floor, powered, and can be run. Problems are fixable.
- After crating, before loading — you can see the packing but not the machine running.
- After arrival — you can see the damage, but the cost of fixing it has multiplied.
The middle option is the one buyers often end up with, because it is easier to schedule. It is also the least useful. Either inspect it running before it is packed, or accept that you are inspecting packaging rather than a machine.
1. Verify the machine against the specification, not against the catalogue
The catalogue tells you what the model can be. The specification tells you what you bought. Check the machine against the specification.
The items that most often differ between what was ordered and what was built:
- Motor power per motor — not the total. A machine may be quoted as having a certain total power spread across several motors, and substituting a smaller motor on one capstan changes how the machine performs.
- Voltage, phase and frequency — read the motor nameplate directly rather than trusting the paperwork.
- Control system make and model — inverters and PLCs are frequently substituted for equivalent-sounding alternatives.
- Die count and die position — count them physically.
- Reel or capstan diameter — measure it. Diameter affects line speed and wire capacity.
Ask the inspector to photograph the nameplates, not just the machine. A nameplate photograph is hard to fake and settles most arguments later.
2. Run it under load, not just power it on
A machine that spins without wire proves almost nothing. What you want to see is the machine running actual material through the full process.
For a drawing machine, that means: wire in, dies in place, running through all passes, take-up winding properly, and the line holding speed without the operator intervening. A short run at working speed tells you more than an hour of idling.
What to watch for during the run:
| What to watch | What it indicates |
|---|---|
| Wire breaking at a specific pass | Pass schedule or die condition problem |
| Speed dropping when load is applied | Motor sizing or drive configuration |
| Vibration or unusual noise at the capstans | Alignment or bearing issue |
| Operator constantly adjusting something | Control or tension setting not matched to material |
| Wire surface scratched after the die | Die bore or lubrication problem |
If the factory cannot run the machine under load because the correct material is not available, that itself is worth knowing before shipment rather than after.
3. Check the tooling and accessory scope
The machine is the visible part. The accessories are where scope quietly narrows.
Go through the packing list line by line and confirm each item physically:
- Drawing dies — quantity and grade. Dies are often quoted separately, and a machine that arrives with no dies cannot be started.
- Bending pins, centre pins and tooling blocks on bending machines
- Foundation bolts — these are heavy and easy to leave out; a machine without them cannot be installed
- Spare parts included in the order — belts, seals, bearings, fuses
- Special tools specific to the machine
- Manuals and electrical schematics — in the language your maintenance team reads
The electrical schematic deserves its own line item. It is the first document your electrician will ask for and the one most often missing.
4. Look at the electrical panel, not just the outside of it
Open the control cabinet. This is where substitutions are easiest to hide and where problems show up first.
What to look for:
- Component brands match the specification — compare the actual components against what was quoted
- Wiring is bundled and labelled — loose unlabelled wiring makes maintenance harder and suggests rushed assembly
- Terminations are tight and correctly sized — undersized terminals on a high-current circuit are a fire risk
- Grounding is present and correct
- Panel protection rating — relevant if the machine runs in a dusty or damp environment
- No loose parts inside the panel — screws, wire offcuts and tools left inside are more common than you would expect
Photograph the panel interior. It is the single most useful photograph you can take during inspection, because any later electrical dispute will refer back to it.
5. Check the packing before the container is sealed
Machinery travels by sea for weeks and is handled several times. Packing quality determines whether it arrives in the condition it left.
The things worth checking:
- The machine is secured to the pallet or skid — not just resting on it
- Moving parts are locked or braced — capstans, arms and carriages should not be able to move in transit
- Exposed machined surfaces are coated with rust preventive
- Control panels are sealed against moisture — sea air is corrosive and condensation inside a panel damages electronics
- Desiccant is present in enclosed areas
- Packing is export grade — plywood crating rather than cardboard or loose film
- Lifting points are accessible and marked
Ask for photographs of the packed machine before the container is closed. If the packing looks improvised, that is the moment to say so, not after unloading.
6. Confirm the documents match the goods
Documentation problems become your problem at the destination port, and some cannot be fixed retroactively.
- Commercial invoice and packing list match the physical goods exactly, including model and quantity
- Bill of lading consignee details are correct before the vessel sails
- Certificate of origin is present if your market needs it for duty purposes
- CE marking and declaration of conformity if you are importing into the EU
- Test reports if your market or customer requires them
Check the serial number on the machine against the serial number on the documents. A mismatch here causes problems at customs and with any future warranty claim.
Who does the inspection
Two practical options:
Third-party inspection. Companies such as SGS, Bureau Veritas and Intertek operate in China and can carry out pre-shipment inspection to a scope you define. The value depends almost entirely on how specific your scope is. “Visual inspection” tells you little; “function test under load with material supplied by the factory, photographs of all nameplates, verification of die count and quantity against packing list” tells you a lot.
Video inspection with the machine running. Cheaper, and for machinery often more informative than a paperwork check, provided you control what is shown. Ask for the machine running, the control panel open, the nameplate readable, and the operator stepping back so you can see whether the line runs without intervention.
Whichever you choose, do it before the balance payment. Inspection after payment is a much weaker position.
A short inspection checklist
- Machine verified against the written specification, not the catalogue
- Motor nameplates photographed and checked for power, voltage, frequency
- Machine run under load with actual material, at working speed
- Die count and tooling confirmed physically against the packing list
- Control cabinet opened and interior photographed
- Foundation bolts, manuals and electrical schematic confirmed present
- Packing inspected before the container is closed
- Documents checked for consistency with the machine serial number
- Inspection completed before the balance payment
If you are arranging an inspection and want a second opinion on what the specification should contain, the buyer checklist covers the specification side. If the machine has already arrived and something does not match, send us the details and photographs and we will tell you what can be done.
