Retrofit or new development?

Retrofit vs. new development: The right choice for your machines

In the fast-paced world of industrial production, companies are regularly faced with the decision of either modernizing existing machines through a retrofit or considering a completely new development. Both approaches have their specific advantages, but also their challenges. At KRÖNING – Automation, we support our customers in finding the optimal solution for them. In the following, we will examine when a retrofit is worthwhile and when a new development is the better choice.

What is a retrofit?

A retrofit involves adapting and modernizing existing machines to increase their performance or bring them up to date with the latest technology without replacing the entire system. This solution offers numerous advantages:

1. Cost savings: Since existing components can continue to be used, the investment costs are significantly lower than for a new development.
2. Time savings: A retrofit can often be implemented more quickly because a complete redevelopment is not necessary and the conversion focuses on proven technologies.
3. Proven technology: Instead of integrating completely new systems, the foundation of the machine remains. This allows you to fall back on proven solutions.
4. Reduced risk: Maintaining the basic structure minimizes the risk of unexpected problems, since you are building on a functioning system.
5. Sustainability: Retrofitting promotes the sustainable use of existing resources and reduces the need for new production.

When is retrofitting not the best choice?

Despite its many advantages, a retrofit is not always the ideal solution. In cases where the existing machine is severely outdated, inefficient or no longer economically viable, a new development may be the better alternative. Factors such as high repair costs, inefficiency and space requirements are particularly crucial here.

Our real-life example: new development of a carton erector

A current example from our practice shows when a retrofit is not sensible. Our customer used large, old and noisy carton erectors whose repair costs were increasing. These machines were not only cumbersome but also inefficient – the necessary adjustments would not have been able to significantly increase performance.

After careful analysis and consultation, we decided together with the customer to develop a new solution. The challenge was to drastically reduce the machine footprint without compromising performance. The result: we were able to reduce the size of the machine to just 1700 x 1100 mm while achieving an impressive output of up to 95 cartons per minute – a value that would not have been possible with a retrofit.

Conclusion: Retrofit or new development?

Whether retrofit or new development – the decision depends on the specific situation and the company’s goals. A retrofit can be an excellent solution for optimizing existing systems and controlling costs. However, if the machine is severely outdated or inefficient, a new development can not only increase performance in the long term, but also lead to greater profitability and competitiveness.

At KRÖNING – Automation, we have the expertise to implement both retrofit projects and develop customized new systems. Our many years of experience and extensive know-how in the field of special-purpose machine construction enable us to offer solutions that are precisely tailored to our customers’ needs. We are happy to advise you on the best solution for your machines – whether it’s a retrofit or a new development.

Let us design your future machines together!