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Author Topic: Storm Surface Factory Pro?  (Read 5778 times)

StormFreak5552

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Storm Surface Factory Pro?
« on: September 14, 2008, 01:31:03 PM »
Our bowling alley has thought of investing in one of these machines to bring revenue to our newly added pro shop. Does anyone have any comments about this machine and any comments on how it runs and if it really is that top notch piece of work storm says it is? I've watched videos and they sanded and polished an attitude shift in maybe 10 minutes but i'm really not believing any of that.
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fluff33

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Re: Storm Surface Factory Pro?
« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2008, 09:35:31 PM »
I would do an analysis of the potential income against the cost to figure out what your return on ivestment would be and how long it would take before you realize a profit.
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Dan Belcher

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Re: Storm Surface Factory Pro?
« Reply #2 on: September 14, 2008, 09:36:21 PM »
quote:
I've watched videos and they sanded and polished an attitude shift in maybe 10 minutes but i'm really not believing any of that.
Since I don't know of any center that has one of these (they're just so friggin' expensive!), I don't know much about them aside from what the videos show.  But why would you not believe it can do that?  It seems more than reasonable considering the type of machinery it uses to sand and polish equipment.
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StormFreak5552

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Re: Storm Surface Factory Pro?
« Reply #3 on: September 14, 2008, 09:40:09 PM »
Yes the machine is so friggin expensive and I can't see why it wouldn't do the job from the machine but it's kind of mind blowing that a machine can sand and polish a ball by it self with no human experience at all! Are the normal factories any cheaper than the pro version, if it is I do like the layout of all the settings much better than the knobs and switches of the pro

Edited on 9/14/2008 9:41 PM
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J_Mac

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Re: Storm Surface Factory Pro?
« Reply #4 on: September 14, 2008, 09:43:02 PM »
On potential argument against the Surface Factory when compared to other Haus type resurfacing machines is that the Surface Factory may not be able to bring an out of round ball back to round.

The Surface Factory is years ahead of the "luster king" style ball "maintenance" machines still found in many bowling alleys.

I'm pretty sure Buddies Pro Shop uses one... you might be able to contact them for feedback.

On edit -
Didn't realize there are two versions of this machine...

Edited on 9/14/2008 9:45 PM
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StormFreak5552

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Re: Storm Surface Factory Pro?
« Reply #5 on: September 14, 2008, 09:48:10 PM »
So pretty much the Haus machine does all of this plus take the ball back down to it's spherical presence, while the factory pro only just polishes and sands?
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J_Mac

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Re: Storm Surface Factory Pro?
« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2008, 10:05:23 PM »
quote:
So pretty much the Haus machine does all of this plus take the ball back down to it's spherical presence, while the factory pro only just polishes and sands?


I'd say that a Haus (or any of the 3 headed resurfacing machines) does all of this with more human interaction required, but they do a better job of keeping plugged balls (or any ball) round.

The Surface Factory (either version) does resurfacing, sanding, and polishing without as much human interaction as the "Haus", but may not maintain or return a ball's "spherical presence" as you put it.
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StormFreak5552

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Re: Storm Surface Factory Pro?
« Reply #7 on: September 14, 2008, 10:29:52 PM »
Okay, thanks alot guys or girls
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actsbowler21

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Re: Storm Surface Factory Pro?
« Reply #8 on: September 16, 2008, 08:22:43 AM »
We demonstrated the Surface Factory at our center during the World Youth Championships.. The machine was amazing in what it can do. There are different things to consider.. You have to consider your traffic and how busy your pro shop staff is during business hours..and you have to figure out how it would work after hours when your pro shop is closed..


During the world youth championships and tournament of americas, we were so busy in the shop with drilling on two presses that we didn't have a free hand to do any sanding and polishing or the potential resurfacing work. After putting the machine into demo mode and showing the results,we saw some traffic with the machine being used.

Now after the tournament bowlers had left the center, we saw little to no interest or use of the surface factory. Even with showing it to our local customers, the feedback was not to pay the different pricing points for what they wanted..I think out of the two weeks we had the machine, local customers dropped maybe $20-$30 into it, while the WYC and ToA bowlers dropped more into it mainly out of interest and appreciation of new bowling technology.. The local customer just wants the quick sand and polish on the spinner.

The other issue arises with having the machine on the concourse. If you or the pro shop owner has a good relationship with center management and can trust someone to keep an eye on it after hours when the shop is closed, you can definitely benefit from having the machine.. If you don't think the center staff is capable of playing security, you'll never want to have it operating outside of your shop hours.. the abralon disk and polishing pads are exposed and easy to take, you can lock the door but then you're not going to do yourself any good as the machine is sitting idle when you could be making a few extra dollars during the league night or after...

Overall I was very impressed with the Surface Factory, but felt that our shop does not see the right amount of local interest to purchase it. It does great work, quality work. Just not worth the money right now for our shop to invest.
--------------------
Justin Buford
Rich Gibson's Pro Shop at Boardwalk Bowl in Orlando, FL

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Good Luck to my housemate T. Reeves and good friend Dave O'Sullivan out on Tour this year.

Edited on 9/16/2008 8:23 AM
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