We regularly appraise food processing plants, and one constant is that they are all fascinating. From the basics of rice and almond processing, the specialty equipment of row-crop packaging and winemaking, to the intricacies of legacy facilities, I remain amazed by the technology. When I was hired by a CPA to appraise his client’s evaporation…Read More
Valuing Recycling Equipment: Case Study
Considering obsolescence for recycling equipment Following the most recent transfer of ownership, an expansive multi-generational waste management and recycling corporation in central California needed a business valuation for gift tax return. While a business valuation can be performed without an equipment valuation, in the case of machinery-heavy industries, the prudent option is to involve…Read More
Specialty Equipment: Orchards & Vineyards
Big changes are happening in California agriculture! As farmers convert massive amounts of acreage to orchards and vineyards, abandoning annual crops like tomatoes and rice, farming equipment is changing as well. As one would expect, orchard and vineyard crops use entirely different machinery types, especially for harvesting. This is an interesting transition for appraisers of…Read More
Glass Fabrication Equipment Appraising
Recently we had the pleasure of inspecting and appraising a glass tempering and coating plant. Residential window glass production slowed considerably from 2008 to 2014 due to the devastating effects of the Great Recession on the home building market and construction in general. During that period of time a number of firms in the industry…Read More
Grocery Equipment Valuations
Next time you walk into a grocery store, take a moment to appreciate all the equipment on the sales floor –– from the cantilevered gondola shelves to the automated checkout stands, the food bar, water dispensing machine, and of course, all the refrigerated display cases: enclosed freezers, reach-in refrigerated cases, the open topped freezer boxes…Read More
Appraising Plastics Industry Equipment
Plastics, as a manufacturing industry with its own specialized equipment that needed to be appraised, started to take hold shortly after World War II. It wasn’t until the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, however, that “modern” plastics really started to come into their own. Nowadays, of course, we’d be hard-pressed imagine a life without plastics;…Read More
Appraising Recycling Equipment
Recycling equipment appraisals are more and more common as the recycling facilities industry continues to grow. According to a recent study released by waste360, this industry has grown at an annual rate of 3.3% in the years since 2008, despite a slump in prices for recycled commodities during the recession.
What Does the Future Hold for Construction Equipment Values?
As a construction equipment appraiser, I’ve been watching values for for construction equipment rise, and that’s true whatever the reason for the equipment appraisal might be. Generally, construction equipment appraisals are for the purposes of collateral loans or due diligence for buy/sell negotiations, but this year we’ve also provided construction equipment appraisal reports for family…Read More
CARB Regs in Appraising Small Fleets
Recently I valued a 1994 flatbed truck used for heavy hauling. Even though I’ve done more truck appraisals than I can count, this one in particular proved the importance of double-checking CARB rulings. What I discovered was so interesting that I put together a case study regarding the truck appraisal under the current CARB regs….Read More
Appraising CNC Machines
Appraising automated machinery is a regular part of our equipment and machinery appraisal practice. Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) automated machinery appears on asset lists not only at large manufacturing operations of all types, but also in small custom machining shops. I’ve appraised them for purposes of collateral lending, buy/sell agreements, family law, and insurance purposes….Read More
Appraising Restaurant Equipment: What’s Real Property?
Appraising restaurant equipment often begs the question of which equipment is personal property — and should be valued for the purposes of the appraisal — or real property — as in, part of the real estate. While most folks have never considered whether a walk-in cooler, for example, is equipment or real estate, that’s a question…Read More
Got CARB? Diesel Off-Road Equipment Deadlines
Is your mobile off-road diesel equipment CARB-compliant? Just in case you missed the memo, reporting and labeling is now mandatory for all off-road fleets per the California Air Resources Board (CARB) mobile off-road diesel equipment regulations. If you haven’t reported your applicable equipment yet, you might want to put a rush on it order to…Read More