"From the outset, my banks are not my allies when it comes to financing my production equipment," he declares with a touch of provocation. "I prefer to reserve my borrowing capacity for real estate investments or external growth operations."
Eric Rassinoux of Atecmaa Packaging has always relied on the creativity of equipment manufacturers to finance the acquisition of laser cutting machines or welding robots. However, after a compressor failure, he gradually turned to leasing: "It was a real disaster, none of the machines were operational. I opted for a full-service lease agreement to avoid experiencing such a situation again."
This transition led him to integrate leasing into his business model. Currently, a third of his clients use this financing method, and its popularity continues to grow. "The advantages are so obvious that more and more industrial companies are adopting this approach. It's a real change in mindset, supported by younger generations," he emphasizes.
Indeed, the usage-based economy offers several advantages: increased equipment reliability, obsolescence management, cost adjustments during the initial setup, etc. Leasing also simplifies decision-making processes and offers financial benefits, such as no debt on the balance sheet and no advance payment of VAT.
This virtuous economy also promotes the financing of second-hand equipment and retrofitting, thus helping to extend the lifespan of machines.
At the heart of this system are financial partners such as Corhofi, Leasy, and Siemens Financial Services. Each assumes the financial risk while offering specific solutions tailored to individual needs. The goal is to simplify and diversify financing options by adjusting parameters such as residual value, payment schedule, and loan term. "Financing is a crucial tool for boosting sales, especially in the production machinery sector. Today, the food processing market is fully ripe for this type of offering," says Mickaël Touboul, Deputy Managing Director of Leasy.
Discussing financing should no longer be taboo in the future. On the contrary, it could help highlight the advantages of using new equipment and potentially prove to be a differentiating factor for French manufacturers.
