Write down the project requirements before comparing equipment
Define the application, diameter, depth, geology, production target, site access, emissions requirements, preferred brands, budget, delivery date, country and nearest port. List the tools, compressors, piling drill rods, drill rods, hammers or spare parts required with the machine.
Use these requirements to compare candidates. If project information is incomplete, identify what remains unknown and the assumptions used for the shortlist.
What information to provide at once when requesting a quote
It is advisable to provide the intended use, hole diameter and depth, ground conditions, planned schedule, destination and existing supporting equipment. If you already have specific candidate machines, include the page links or equipment IDs; if the model has not yet been decided, first describe the working conditions. When comparing quotes, list the main machine, tools and supporting equipment, inspection and repair, export packing and transport costs separately, and record the currency, quote date and validity period.
After receiving the materials, label each piece of information as a seller statement, visible in photos or video, supported by documents, the result of an on-site inspection, or still to be verified. This makes it clear which evidence needs to be added next, rather than treating a running video as confirmation of the whole machine's condition.
List candidate machines and their identity records
Each candidate machine should have a stable stock ID, current location, evidence of model and serial number, a statement of year, a statement of hours, configuration, a photo set and availability status. Photos at the model level alone are not enough. Ask the supplier to show that specific machine in a current video, along with a written or verbal statement of the stock ID.
Screen candidates against the project requirements and basic identity information, and record why each machine was included or excluded.
Verify identity and ownership before inspecting condition
Request the machine nameplate, engine and main-component nameplates, seller company information, location, and any ownership or purchase documents that are reasonably available. Check that the serial-number identity is consistent across photos, videos, quotations and the contract. If the stated year is inferred rather than documented, label it as claimed.
An identity marker cannot prove good condition, but condition evidence lacking a stable identity marker may belong to another machine. Check the two separately, and require that any replacement restarts the relevant checks.
Inspect the machine in stages
Start with a structured live video covering the complete machine, displays, main functions and known defects. Qualified personnel should conduct cold starts and function demonstrations under the applicable manual when equipment and site safety conditions permit. If the candidate remains suitable, arrange an independent or buyer-appointed on-site inspection. For high-value or overhauled equipment, qualified personnel can conduct the necessary fluid analysis, pressure tests, measurements and operating demonstrations under the applicable manual when equipment and site safety conditions permit and the work is feasible.
- Keep stock ID and the nameplate clearly visible in the evidence set
- Record the seller's claims and the inspector's observations separately.
- Test the functions with the highest repair risk
- List defects, open issues, and each agreed remedy
- Before final acceptance, recheck items that were replaced or repaired
Standardized Quotations and Contracts
A comparable quote should specify the specific machine, configuration, included tools and accessories, scope of repairs, inspection status, price basis, payment terms, delivery time, export preparation, documents and exclusions. It should state whether the price is EXW, FOB, CFR, CIF or another agreed Incoterm, and specify the port.
The contract should attach the stock ID, main configuration, and the agreed condition or remediation list. Where specific tests and inclusions can be stated, avoid vague promises such as "in good working condition." Use payment milestones tied to verifiable events, and conduct the transaction with appropriate commercial and legal advice.
Clarify the acceptance criteria before paying a deposit
Write down the evidence that must be accepted before each payment: identity documents, live video results, third-party inspection, agreed repairs, a final functional check and loading verification. Specify who can approve deviations and how a deviation changes the price or delivery. This prevents unresolved inspection issues from turning into a dispute after the machine has already been scheduled for transport.
Also clarify the validity period of the quote and the hold. A used machine may still be for sale before the deposit is received, but the buyer should not assume that a similar substitute machine is automatically acceptable. If the exact machine changes, re-check the identity, condition and scope of the substitute machine.
Treat the loading stage as a second identity-verification checkpoint
Before loading, verify the exact machine once more, photograph the serial number identification and condition, and check that the accompanying tools and parts are complete. Record the disassembly, lifting, packing, container or vessel loading, and the final seal. The packing list should identify the individual components and packages.
Heavy drilling rigs require measurement of dimensions and weight. Please confirm crane capacity, lifting points, transport supports, and assembly requirements at the destination. Even if the inspection is successful, the rig may still be affected by improper disassembly or transport damage.
Plan commissioning before the vessel departs
Designate the destination team, crane, transport, assembly tools, manuals, filters, fluids and critical spare parts. Share loading photos and disassembly instructions with the team. Agree on how remote technical support, replacement parts and defect claims will be handled after arrival.
GLOBMACH can help shortlist specific machines against the project requirements and coordinate inspections and export preparation. Provide the requirements and destination so the information needed for the next step can be confirmed.
