Florida Innovator Gives Shop Owners Peace of Mind

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.– Until recently, stoneworkers, glassworkers, and woodworkers had limited options when choosing new shop equipment: They could buy expensive new equipment or – if it was available – more reasonably-priced used equipment.

“It seems like a no-brainer, right?” says Florida-based machinery expert Joe Alva. “Used equipment is attractive to buyers because it’s cost-effective.”

So what’s the hitch?

“Just as with used cars, you might not find what you want on the lot,” Joe explains.

The risk of poor-quality or ill-maintained used equipment is high, leaving buyers wondering whether their assets will rapidly become liabilities.

“Evaluating the quality and reliability of used equipment is a job for experts,” Joe says, “And until now, no one’s filled that niche. That’s why I formed NRS Equipment.”

Joe’s innovative strategy offers capital-equipment buyers a groundbreaking alternative when purchasing equipment. Since 2008, his brainchild, National Recovery Sources (NRS), has offered cost-conscious consumers used equipment that has been repaired and reconditioned – and carries an iron-clad guarantee previously unheard of in the used marketplace.

“I kind of fell into this by accident,” Joe admits. “It’s not the career I expected when I started selling stone equipment in Italy a dozen years ago! But when I came back to this country, I decided to open a tooling company, which led me into machinery.”

Almost organically, equipment sales segued into used equipment.

“With the recession, I found myself accepting used machinery in trade. This left me with equipment that I wanted to sell – but only after ensuring it was in good enough working order that I could stand behind it.”

Since his “accidental” foray into guaranteed used stone equipment, Joe finds himself in the unique position of being the only company in North America that will refurbish every brand in the industry and – more-importantly – to guarantee the equipment.

In addition, he’s branched off from stoneworking tools, and now offers glassworking and woodworking machinery.

Most impressively, there are no lemons leaving NRS!

“We work closely with many manufacturers to ensure we have quality parts for each piece of equipment we fix,” Joe states. “Our process starts with trucking the machine – using appropriate rigging – to our Punta Gorda facility. We have our own highly-skilled technicians perform the tasks necessary here to restore the equipment to optimal working condition.”
    
The degree of refurbishment is driven by the purchaser’s specifications. “We can take a piece of equipment and restore it to factory condition, with a full guarantee,” he explains. “Or, we can do a body recondition, which is cosmetic.”

As with many other things in life, more work is costlier – but also offers greater peace of mind.

Once a machine is upgraded to the level the buyer wants, NRS delivers and installs it and, if requested, trains personnel on its proper use and maintenance.

With 20-30 pieces of machinery in inventory at most times, Joe says his preferred client is someone who knows what piece of equipment he needs, and wants a guaranteed good-quality used machine.

“For a lot of people,” he says, “it just doesn’t make sense to buy new equipment.

“When they go with NRS, they can count on savings of at least 50 percent – and they can do it with confidence, because our machines are guaranteed. Our aim is to form lasting relationships with customers, so that they know they can purchase from us with peace of mind.

“Also, if there is the need of a NEW piece of equipment, our customers can turn to Poseidon Industries, NRS’s sister company, that offers bridge saws 100%-made in the U.S.A.!”

Joe invites those searching for quality stoneworking, glassworking, and woodworking equipment with an eye value to visit NRS’s website at www.stonemachinerylocator.comto learn more about the company and what it offers. He welcomes inquiries at [email protected].