Hume Machinery - poor service for plastic extruders for pipes

I would like to share my experience with others who may be looking for machinery in the plastics/pipe industry.

I emailed Hume Machinery looking for spare parts in the December 2021, but they said they were closing for the break they will get back to me around the 10th January 2022.

I sent a reminder on January 10 2022, looking for spare parts and a new machine.

From the 10th January 2022, right until mid-February I phoned and sent numerous emails to remind them about my quote. It was worse than dealing with home affairs. They kept on asking for information that was not required or waiting for some pricing from the director.

Eventually, when they did decide to respond to request to quotation, their response was in such poor taste, as follows:

-Their quotation did not provide spare parts for my current machine as requested -They provided a quote for a new machine (that I had also asked for). However, because they are so busy and do not need business, they quoted a ridiculous figure, that is more than 3 times what I have bought the same machine for. -To date (May 2022), no follow up from the company. -Also very vague answers when we asked them about suppliers for raw materials etc. - Besides the machine that was overpriced, they quoted a service and comissioning charge of R350 000. I bought a new machine for less than that price.

So I ended up buying 2 machines imported from India for less than a quarter of the R3 million plus that Hume Machinery quoted me. The machines were set up and operational within 2 weeks, whilst it takes Hume Machinery 2 months only to respond to a request for quotation.

My advice to all those in the industrial sector is to support Indian/Chinese imports as the local manufacturers are still way behind international standards in terms of standards and exorbitantly overpriced. There is a general sentiment that spare parts on machines sourced overseas are difficult to get, but this is untrue.