What moves the price
Five things account for most of the difference between one quote and the next:
| Cost driver | Less expensive | More expensive |
|---|---|---|
| Etch area | Small sheets, benchtop | 1500×3000 mm huge-plate |
| Automation | Manual load / unload | Auto loaders, conveyors, in-line stations |
| Throughput | Batch, low volume | Continuous, high volume |
| Chemistry | Single etchant, manual top-up | Regeneration & dosing systems built in |
| Scope | One machine, one step | Turnkey line: coat, expose, develop, etch, strip, finish |
Notice that scope is usually the biggest lever. A single etching machine is one number; a full line that does every step and runs three shifts is a different conversation entirely.
The three buying tiers
Almost every enquiry lands in one of these three brackets. Use it to place yourself before you ask for a quote:
| Tier | Who buys it | Etch area | Relative investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory / benchtop | R&D, universities, prototyping, low volume | Small sheets | $ |
| Single production machine | A working shop doing one process step well | Standard to large | $$ |
| Turnkey line | Volume manufacturers, PCB & metal parts at scale | Standard up to huge-plate | $$$$ |
A lot of customers walk up the ladder: prove the process on a benchtop etcher, move to a production machine when the orders are real, then add matched stations into a line. Buying a step at a time spreads the cost and you only automate what's actually a bottleneck.
What a GE quote includes
So you can compare like with like, our quotes are built to cover the machine and what it takes to run it — not just the steel:
- The machine, configured to your etch area, metal and chemistry.
- Recommended etchant and the concentration and temperature to run it at.
- Site requirements — power, water and ventilation — sent up front so you're ready on day one.
- Installation guidance and process training for your operators.
- Remote and on-site technical support; spares and consumables on request.
- Export packing and freight, itemised separately, to 30+ countries.
Don't forget the running cost
On a high-volume line the etchant, water and power often matter more over a year than the purchase price. Regenerable cupric chloride and a regeneration system can cut chemical spend sharply — worth modelling before you size the machine. The etchant guide walks through the trade-off.
Getting an accurate number fast
We don't publish fixed prices because we'd only be guessing at your part. Send us these three and we'll come back with a real figure, usually within one business day:
- Material and thickness — e.g. 0.3 mm 316 stainless, or 1 oz copper PCB.
- Part or sheet size — and how many parts per sheet if you know it.
- Monthly volume — this is what decides automation and therefore most of the price.
A drawing or even a clear photo helps. From there we'll tell you the right tier, what it costs and what it will and won't do.
Common questions
A benchtop laboratory etching machine. It takes small sheets, runs on single-phase power and suits R&D, schools and low-volume work. Many customers prove the process on one, then scale up to a production machine or line once the orders justify it.
Our quotes cover the machine, recommended chemistry, installation guidance and process training, plus remote and on-site support. We tell you the power, water and ventilation the machine needs up front so your site is ready when it arrives.
Yes — we've exported to the USA, Japan, Australia, Europe and 30+ countries. We can quote ex-works or arrange sea or air freight plus the export paperwork. Shipping is itemised separately so you can compare it with your own forwarder.
Mainly etchant, water, power and resist. Regenerable cupric chloride and etchant-regeneration systems cut chemical spend a lot on high-volume lines — which is usually where running cost, not purchase price, decides the real cost per part.