Product category:
PCB Assembly Equipment and Tools
News Release from: Ekra | Subject: Finance service
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 03 June 2003
Rental contracts ease production
expansion
Originally devised to answer demand for investment aid in the electronics assembly sector in Germany, Ekra has extended its novel finance service to the whole of Europe.
In response to the increasing demand for investment aid in the electronics assembly sector in Germany, especially among small- and medium-sized companies, Ekra has created its own finance service for the acquisition of its products, which has now been extended to the whole of Europe This increased demand has caused severe delays, and companies are facing difficulties as a result
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 14 Nov 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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In order to assist customers Ekra has introduced a financing service model which will make their machines available to the customer over a running time of up to 48 months on a rental contract basis.
If required, Ekra offers a complete guarantee for the total four-year period.
According to Roland Heynen, Executive Vice President of Ekra, the company's best-selling X5 printer will cost approximately Eur 1760 per month.
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An additional Eur 150 will be charged for the optional service guarantee, over the full period, which then becomes a fixed part of the rental contract.
The major advantage of this financing model, which is unique in the electronics manufacturing industry, is that the customer can order the most advanced screen or stencil printer, or any other Ekra machine, without the obligation to provide all the formalities that are required, for instance, when applying for a bank loan.
A signature on the rental contract is sufficient.
After the termination of the rental contract period the machine is returned to Ekra.
The monthly rental payments are fully tax deductible for the customer and the printer will not be listed as a fixed asset in the customer's account.
For Roland Heynen the new financing model is an additional service to all Ekra customers in Europe.
He explains the need for such a service, with the example of Germany, where Ekra's client base for the most part consists of small and medium-sized manufacturers: "Every day we hear our clients complain about the difficulties they face when trying to organise capital for future investments.
The banks stall and ask for all possible kinds of securities and information about the company and its returns.
To procure these documents and to draw up business plans, balance sheets and business management evaluations is very time-consuming and with an uncertain outcome.
We therefore decided to make the lives of our customers easier and created this new financing model.
The customer signs a rental contract, with a full guarantee if required, and a couple of days later the new machine is part of his production line without time-consuming formalities.
The other big advantage is the customer is able to calculate his costs to the penny".
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