Knowledge base
In short
A good plate heat exchanger offer states clearly what is included, which documents come with it, how the unit is tested and when it is delivered. Asking about these four points before ordering shows quickly whether a supplier has understood the circuit or only quoted a price.
Two offers for the same plate heat exchanger can look alike on the first page and be very different underneath. One covers the whole job, the other leaves the awkward parts to the buyer. This guide lists in plain words the questions that separate a good offer from a poor one, so that the comparison is made on substance and not on the price line alone.
What Exactly Is Included
The first question is about scope. Does the offer cover the exchanger only, or also the frame, the connections, the supports and the first set of spare gaskets? Are insulation, drip trays or guards part of it? A low price often hides the items that are left out, and they come back later as extras.
A good supplier writes the scope down item by item and states what the buyer has to provide, such as foundations, pipework and electrical connections. If the scope is vague, ask for it in writing before comparing anything else.
What Was Assumed And What Documents Come With It
An offer is only as good as the data behind it. Ask which liquids, temperatures, flows and pressure limits the selection is based on, and whether the supplier has checked them against the circuit or simply copied them from the enquiry. An exchanger selected on wrong assumptions will not behave as promised, however good the paperwork looks.
Ask also which documents arrive with the unit: the data sheet, the drawing with connection positions, the material certificates where they are needed and the operating and maintenance instructions. These are what the commissioning team, the inspector and the maintenance crew will rely on for years.
Testing, Warranty And Service
Find out how the unit is tested before it leaves the supplier and whether the buyer or an inspector may witness the test. Ask what the warranty covers and from which date it runs, and who is responsible if the performance falls short of what was promised.
Service matters as much as the first delivery. A supplier should be able to say how spare plates and gaskets will be supplied later, how long they remain available and who to call when a unit starts leaking or loses performance.
Delivery And Who Is Responsible
A delivery date is only useful if it is clear what it refers to: the order, the approval of the drawing or the receipt of the payment. Ask what could delay it and how the supplier will tell you. Ask also who carries the risk in transport and who handles the paperwork for export or site delivery.
TECS Engineering designs and delivers plate heat exchanger solutions for engine, power plant and industrial cooling circuits; send the circuit details, and the engineering team will answer with a clear scope, the documents and the delivery plan.
In Short
- Ask for the scope item by item and for what the buyer must provide
- Ask what the selection assumes and whether it was checked against the circuit
- Ask which documents and certificates arrive with the unit
- Ask how the unit is tested and whether the test can be witnessed
- Ask what the warranty covers and how spare parts are supplied later
- Ask what the delivery date refers to and who carries the transport risk
What To Send With An Enquiry
- The liquids on both sides and the heat to be moved
- The temperatures and pressure limits of the circuit
- The documents and certificates you require
- Any test or inspection you want to witness
- The delivery place and the date you need the unit
- Whether spare parts or service support are wanted with the order
Questions We Are Often Asked
What should a good plate heat exchanger offer include?
A written scope listing every item supplied, the assumptions behind the selection, the documents that come with the unit, the testing, the warranty and the delivery terms.
Why is the cheapest offer not always the best?
Because items left out of the scope, wrong assumptions or missing documents come back later as extra cost and delay. Compare what is included, not only the price.
Which documents should I ask for?
The data sheet, the drawing with connection positions, the certificates your project requires and the operating and maintenance instructions.
Can I witness the test of the unit?
Often yes. Ask before ordering, and state it in the enquiry, so that the supplier can plan the test with you or your inspector.
How do I know the supplier understood my circuit?
A good supplier asks questions about the liquids, the temperatures, the pumps and the space, and states its assumptions in the offer. Silence on these points is a warning sign.
Contact Us
Send us the heat duty, the fluid temperatures and flow rates, the ambient conditions and the installation limits. We answer with a design proposal - or write to us on WhatsApp.
