1. Who manufactures the laser and the laser source?
Although quality laser systems and sources are manufactured worldwide, there are cases where the quality can be a concern or, worse, the systems have imposed import/export restrictions. Restrictions can result from noncompliance with published performance standards, lack of required certifications, or national security concerns due to the manufacturer’s relationship with a foreign government or military.
Resources such as the FDA regularly publish information on companies facing restrictions, such as Import Alert 95-05, published on October 25, 2024.
Unfortunately, there are no restrictions on promoting these systems, and it is still possible for these lasers to reach the U.S. market — posing a risk to any operation. Non-compliant equipment can run into challenges being supported or serviced due to restrictions, pose a safety risk, or — in the worst cases — create financial liability for a business. Knowing more about the laser can save you a lot of pain in the future.
2. What is the availability of spare parts? What suppliers provide subcomponents?
Regardless of the equipment’s quality, you may need to replace components at some point in its life cycle. This can range from standard wear items to preventative maintenance or an unanticipated failure. Knowing the availability of spare parts, who manufactures them, and how to get them can be vital in getting your equipment back up and running as quickly as possible.
Another key element is knowing how a manufacturer specifies their sub-components and manages their supply base. In some cases, low-cost manufacturers use a revolving supply base where equipment built one month may not have the same components as one built the next. A constant shift in suppliers leads to challenges in securing replacement parts when needed. This may also lead to the use of unproven or lower-quality components, resulting in high failure rates and increased downtime.
3. What does the service and technical support organization look like?
As with spare parts, access to domestic-based service is critical to ensuring your equipment is available when you need it. Some manufacturers only have service and support available from their main office. When that is located overseas, communication and coordination of service operations and support calls can be challenging. Understanding this can be the difference between a profitable month and dealing with unhappy customers.
4. What is the expected overall service life of the equipment?
When investing in capital equipment, the expectation is that your purchase will perform for years — often 15 years or more. Buyers must be aware that many low-cost systems are designed with a different expectation of service life — perhaps as little as 3 to 5 years. The equipment buying cycle in the manufacturer’s home market may differ from U.S. expectations. Less robust build quality can bring down prices, but it also leads to frequent replacement.