1. Van Walt Ltd
Logger for Life
Data Collection

2. The TOTAL cost of ownership of equipment
Capital: (the purchase price of the equipment)
If it’s cheap always buy?
It depends on the length of the project
Maintenance
What is it? (a water level logger requires much less maintenance than a multiparameter system)
(Shelf) life of components (for example a pH sensor, a PID lamp)
The more it is used the less (unexpected) maintenance you will need
Cost of Storage (when not in use)
Administration
Stock Control
Allocation of capex to a project
Verification/Calibration
Updates (think of a laptop that has not been used for 6 months)
Depreciation

3. Some advice
The more you use the equipment, the cheaper the cost of ownership
It costs more to store than to deploy
If you do not have dedicated store room and maintenance staff don’t own equipment

4. To buy or not to buy It depends…. What is the length of the project?
Can the equipment be re-used on another project?
What is the purchase price?
How big is it?
How much maintenance does it require?
Allocation to the next project: a caution
How many projects start on time and finish on time?
How often does the next project start immediately at the end of the previous project?
Does each project require the same config?
Sometimes, often, rarely

5. Do I buy this equipment to deliver results, information, data?
Why own equipment?
Ask yourself:
Do I buy this equipment to own? Or
Do I buy equipment because I need it?
Do I buy this equipment to deliver results, information, data?

6. The “Logger for Life” concept
A maintained long term rental
Minimum term is 6 months
Charges are invoiced monthly in advance
Advantages
Easy to budget
Easy for you to quote
Cost-effective solution
No repair costs (if it breaks/malfunctions just have it replaced)
Can include regular exchanges (calibration/verification) on a like for like basis
If the project over-runs then continue with monthly payments
If the project finishes early send the equipment back and the monthly charges stop
Monthly charge includes everything except:
Site visits
Loss or vandalism

7. The “Logger for Life” concept
Disadvantages
You never own the equipment
The equipment is likely to have been used before (not necessarily new)
For longer term projects likely to be more expensive than owning
Cut off +/- 3 years?
Not really suitable for low cost items (<£ 500)
Not available for every product

8. The “Logger for Life” concept
An Example:
24 month project
Measurement of Level, pH, ORP, Temperature, EC, DO
Telemetered hourly to desktop
The equipment
vanwaltDataHub Telemetry system with solar array
AquaTroll 500 with all required parameters
Web interface
Purchase price: £ 7120, add 15% for repairs during the period £ 1070, Total £8190
Logger for Life: £ 285 per month, for the project duration 24 month Total £6840
When does warranty expire?
A month before a malfunction

9. The “Logger for Life” concept
An Example:
9 month project
Measurement of Level, pH, ORP, Temperature, EC, DO
Telemetered hourly to desktop
The equipment
vanwaltDataHub Telemetry system with solar array
AquaTroll 500 with all required parameters
Web interface
Purchase price: £ 6900, add 15% for repairs during the period £ 0, Total £6900
Logger for Life: £ 285 per month, for the project duration 9 months Total £2565

10. And to finish….
Van Walt’s new movie 

11. Questions?