Service After the Sale: Why Parts Availability, Dealer Support, and Reliability Matter More Than You Think

Every machine needs service eventually. See why parts availability, local dealer support, and reliable design matter more than the price on the quote.

When you're comparing a commercial deli slicer, patty former, or other meat processing machine, the spec sheet usually gets the most attention. How large is the blade? How powerful is the motor? How many patties per hour? What's the price? Those are fair questions, and they're often the same ones buyers ask when comparing brands like Hobart, Bizerba, and Hollymatic. But one question has a bigger impact on your operation over the life of the machine: What happens when you need service? Sooner or later, every piece of equipment needs maintenance. Parts wear. Components fail. Accidents happen. When that day comes, the support behind your equipment matters just as much as the equipment itself. At ABM USA, we believe the sale is only the beginning of the relationship. Our equipment is built for reliability, low maintenance, and long-term value, and it's backed by a dealer and support network across the United States and Canada.

The true cost of a machine isn't the purchase price

Many buyers compare equipment on the initial investment alone. In reality, the purchase price is often the smallest expense over the life of a machine. The real cost of ownership includes:

Downtime
Service calls
Replacement parts
Labor disruptions
Lost production and lost sales
Emergency repairs

A lower-priced machine that breaks down more often, takes longer to repair, and costs more to maintain can end up far more expensive than a premium machine. That's why experienced operators focus on total cost of ownership, not just the price on the quote.

Built for real commercial use

Reliability starts with design. ABM machines are made in Italy with heavy-duty, industrial-grade construction, built for grocery chains, butcher shops, food processors, institutional kitchens, and high-volume delis where equipment has to perform every day, year after year.

That focus on durability helps reduce component failures, unplanned downtime, maintenance costs, and how often equipment needs replacing. Simply put, a machine that breaks less often costs less to own.

Protection against moisture

Moisture getting into electrical parts is one of the most common causes of equipment failure in food processing. Slicers and other machines face washdowns, sanitizing chemicals, temperature swings, and daily cleaning.

To stand up to those conditions, ABM slicers use IP69-rated switches and IP65-rated motors, well above the protection levels common on many machines in the market. For owners, that means fewer service calls, fewer unexpected shutdowns, lower maintenance costs, a longer equipment life, and a better return on investment.

Downtime costs more than most people realize

When a slicer or patty former stops running, the cost goes well beyond the replacement part. You may be dealing with employees standing idle, delayed production, empty deli cases, missed orders, lost sales, and emergency service fees.

A failed switch or motor often costs a fraction of the downtime it creates. For many grocery stores and processors, the most expensive part of a repair isn't the part. It's the lost productivity while you wait for a fix. That's why service infrastructure matters.

A dealer network built around uptime

ABM USA supports customers through more than 80 authorized dealers across the United States and Canada. That means you get:

Local support and service relationships
Faster response times
Experienced technicians close by
Regional know-how

Our dealers aren't just salespeople. They're equipment professionals who deliver, install, train, and service, and they understand how urgent it is to get production back on track. When downtime hits, local support makes all the difference.

The importance of parts availability

Even the best technician can't finish a repair without the right part. Many equipment owners know the frustration of finding out a simple component is backordered or weeks away. A repair that should take an hour suddenly takes two weeks.

That's why ABM USA has made a major investment in replacement parts inventory here in North America. Our goal is simple: keep you running. Today, more than 98% of replacement parts orders ship the same day we receive them.

When production is on the line, having the right part right away can be worth more than any spec on a brochure.

Customer service doesn't end after the sale

At ABM USA, we believe the true measure of a manufacturer is how it supports customers after installation. That means answering questions quickly, supporting our dealers, keeping parts in stock, offering technical help, and helping you get the most life out of your equipment. Our goal isn't just to sell you a machine. It's to help you succeed with it for years to come.

What to look for beyond the spec sheet

A commercial slicer isn't just a machine. It's a critical piece of production equipment. When you compare slicers, patty formers, and other meat processing equipment, look past horsepower, blade size, and price, and consider:

Build quality and reliability
Service support and technician expertise
Parts availability
Strength of the dealer network
Long-term ownership costs

These are the factors that decide whether a machine becomes a long-term asset or an ongoing headache.

The bottom line

Anyone can promise performance on day one. The real test is what happens years later.

With Italian manufacturing, industrial-grade construction, strong electrical protection, more than 80 dealers across North America, a deep parts inventory, and over 98% of parts orders shipping the same day, ABM USA is built around one goal: keeping you running.

The best slicer, patty former, or processing machine isn't the one with the lowest price. It's the one that delivers the most uptime, the strongest support, the fewest headaches, and the lowest cost of ownership over its life.

Want to know who supports ABM equipment in your area? We'll connect you with your local dealer.

‍

A Bigger Feed Tray Does Not Necessarily Mean Less Operator Labor

Some competing machines appear to have a larger area for holding ground product. However, what looks like a large hopper may function more like an open feed tray. Product is placed on top of the machine, and the operator must continue managing and feeding that product toward the forming system while the machine runs.

Read article

One Machine, Two Jobs: How an ABM Patty Former Can Replace a Bulker

When most people think about a patty former, they picture burgers. But what if the same machine could also make bulk ground meat portions, meatballs, sliders, and traditional patties, all without buying separate equipment?

Read article

The Hidden Costs of a Commercial Deli Slicer: Why Purchase Price Is Only Part of the Story

A slicer's price tag is only part of its cost. See how downtime, parts availability, and washdown protection shape what a deli slicer really costs to own.

Read article