Used Packaging Machinery Suppliers & Dealers

Used, refurbished, and reconditioned packaging machinery

The used packaging machinery market provides a lower-cost route to production capacity for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods manufacturers. Understanding the terminology helps buyers set expectations and evaluate offers correctly: used machinery — equipment that has been in production use and is sold as-is, without rebuilding or refurbishment; the price reflects the age, condition, and remaining useful life; inspecting used machinery in person before purchase is strongly recommended; no warranty is typically provided beyond what is agreed in the sale contract; suitable for buyers with in-house maintenance capability. Refurbished machinery — used equipment that has been inspected, cleaned, and repaired by the seller to a defined standard; worn or faulty components replaced; typically a short warranty (3–12 months) on refurbished parts; documentation may include a condition report, photos, and an inspection report; better risk management than buying used as-is; suitable for buyers without a large in-house maintenance team. Reconditioned (rebuilt) machinery — the most thorough level of used machinery restoration; the machine is fully disassembled, all worn parts replaced, repainted, and rebuilt to near-new condition; may include updated PLC, updated safety guarding, and new seals and gaskets throughout; the closest experience to buying new equipment at a fraction of new price; typically provided with a 12-month warranty; recommended for buyers who need production reliability and do not have the expertise or capacity to restore a machine themselves. Equipment types commonly available on the used packaging machinery market: filling lines (liquid fillers, powder fillers, auger fillers); bottling lines and monoblock fillers; labelling machines (pressure-sensitive, sleeve); capping machines; VFFS and HFFS packaging machines; cartoners and case packers; blister machines; palletisers; conveyors; stretch wrappers.

Buying guide and due diligence

Buying used packaging machinery requires more due diligence than buying new equipment. Key considerations: machine age and production history — older machines (over 15–20 years) may have obsolete PLCs, discontinued spare parts, and electrics that need upgrading for current safety standards; machines from reputable manufacturers (Krones, IMA, Bosch, Ishida) retain value and parts availability better than lesser-known brands; condition inspection — a personal or third-party inspection before purchase is essential for used as-is machinery; run the machine if possible; check for wear on key mechanical components (filling valves, star wheels, drive chains, gearboxes); check for corrosion on product-contact parts; review the maintenance history if available; CE compliance and safety — machinery sold into the EU must be CE marked; older machinery sold between private parties may have outdated safety guarding; upgrading safety guarding may be required before the machine can be put into production under EU Machinery Directive (EN ISO 13849) requirements; spare parts availability — confirm availability of spare parts for the specific machine model before purchase; for older machines, spare parts may need to be manufactured or adapted; installation and commissioning — budget for installation, commissioning, and operator training costs in addition to the machine purchase price; these are significant for complex machinery; language of documentation — manuals and HMI may be in the country of the original buyer (German, Italian, Chinese); budget for translation if needed. Used packaging machinery dealers operate globally and are particularly active in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors in Europe, North America, and emerging markets. Key search terms: used packaging machinery, second-hand packaging equipment, surplus packaging machinery, refurbished filling machine.

Frequently asked questions