Thinking beyond OEMs
All too often, buyers of machine knives tend to stick with OEM replacement blades when it comes to their processing and packaging machinery.
But this is a mistake…
OEM blades – whilst they might possess the same logo as the machinery they’ll be used with – can be overpriced and not designed with the very latest knife and blade technologies and coatings.
Original equipment manufacturers rely on buyers, stock coordinators and procurement managers not being aware that there are superior alternatives out there.
However, if you’re going to maximise your profitability in 2023, it’s dependent on your buyers being willing to explore these superior alternatives.
What to look for in a machine knife manufacturer
It pays – quite literally! – to look beyond OEM replacement blades and look for alternatives from leading manufacturers such as MRMK.
But, what exactly should you be looking for in a manufacturer? To help, we’ve detailed the key things to look for when you’re shopping around for a machine knife partner.
A reputation for quality
Blade making – especially when making blades for industrial applications – is a craft that requires exceptional attention to detail, a thorough knowledge of blade-making and metallurgy and, of course, consistency.
When looking to partner with a machine knife manufacturer, you should look for companies – like MRMK – that are able to demonstrate a strong track record of using precision engineering, the very best materials, and a thorough QA process to design and make the highest-quality blades.
Look for testimonials, case studies, and ask around your fellow buyers to see if a machine blade manufacturer meets this standard.
A partner, not a supplier
As machine blades are a consumable that need to be refreshed and replaced on a periodic basis, you should look for a machine knife manufacturer that will be a true partner rather than just a supplier.
Here at MRMK, we take exactly that approach and aim to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for all things machine knife related.
We not only stock a vast range of knives but are able to create completely custom knives that exactly meet your requirements. We also offer a regrinding service that’ll help you eke more life out of your blades and get them back to full cutting performance.
By taking a ‘partner’ mindset, we aim to be maximally flexible and to accommodate your requests wherever possible.
For example, we know that sometimes a blade will break, and you’ll need a replacement ASAP in order to reduce costly downtime. We work with our partners to ensure that they get what they require as soon as possible.
Don’t just take our word for it, though. Here’s what a stock co-ordinator at the UK’s leading dairy producer had to say about our partnership approach:
“When we place a knife order with MRMK, we know it’s going to be here the next day. That simply doesn’t happen with the other knife suppliers we’ve tried”.
In other words – if there’s something you require that is in any way tangentially related to machine blades – MRMK can probably help! If you have an enquiry, you can reach our friendly, expert team on +44 (0) 1909 519815 or at: [email protected].
Quality guaranteed
When looking for a machine knife manufacturer, ensure you choose one that doesn’t merely ‘sell and forget’.
When you’re investing your valuable budget in machine knives, you want to know that you’re getting quality and service guaranteed.
At a leading machine knife manufacturer such as MRMK, that’s exactly what you get. Being based in the heart of Sheffield, our knives are made from hardened stainless steel which has been sourced from only ISO 9001:2008 accredited suppliers.
You can’t get better quality than that!
Consultative service
Service is a very important quality that you should look for in a blade manufacturer too.
Ideally, you should work with a blade manufacturer that doesn’t simply make and supply blades in isolation. Instead, you want a supplier that gives thought as to how the blade will be used in context and the broader operation of the machinery it’ll be fitted to.
To put it another way – work with a manufacturer that doesn’t just sell blades, but one that sells solutions to your cutting issues.
Here at MRMK, this is the approach we take – providing a consultative service that doesn’t merely look at your blades, but your cutting requirements as a whole.
In fact, in many instances we can work with companies on a project basis, tackling a series of challenges and creating appropriate solutions.
Take this project for example. When one of the UK’s leading providers of freshly prepared food needed to reduce stock holding costs across their business and source reliable, cost-effective machine blades, they chose MRMK.
The company’s stock controller explains why:
“MRMK were selected by the previous stock controller because they could offer the best price with the same quality.
We gave them the samples of the blades we needed, and they were able to perfectly replicate them for us. Now, whenever we need new blades, we come back to MRMK and ask ‘can you replicate this?’”.
A strong track record
More than anything else, if you want to maximise your profits in 2023, you need to partner with a machine knife manufacturer that has a demonstrated track record.
Not only should they be able to produce knives at the highest possible quality, but they should do so in a customer-first, collaborative way.
Here at MRMK, this has been our approach from day one.
As a result, we boast over 800 customers across 50 countries worldwide – all of whom have benefitted from using MRMK machine knives.
If you want to reap these benefits – and achieve your profit targets in 2023 – partner with MRMK today.
MRMK: the machine knife manufacturer of choice
Do you want to reduce downtime? Enjoy rapid lead times? Save money on your blade spend? Improve the profitability of your operations?
Then speak to MRMK about your blade requirements today
For more machine blade buying guides, advice and information, read the MRMK News and Insights Hub…
How Your Industrial Knives Can Help Your Business Reduce Costs in 2023 | A Practical Guide to Machine Knives and Blade Material Selection | The Ultimate Guide to Blade Coatings and Their Benefits
