Grading Line Finance

Q: Can I finance just an upgrade, such as adding optical sorting, to an existing line?

Yes, adding a sorting module or upgrading sizing technology to an existing roller table or weighing line is a common, smaller-scale project and can be financed on its own rather than replacing the whole line. This is often the more cost-effective route where the mechanical rollers and conveyors are still in good working order.

Q: What deposit is typical for grading line finance?

Expect 15–20% on hire purchase for a substantial line, in line with other significant production machinery. A smaller upgrade, such as adding a sorting module, may attract a lower deposit given the smaller overall value at risk. Established growers and packhouses with a multi-year trading history and existing buyer contracts are generally offered the more favourable end of that range, while a new packhouse operation may be asked for a higher deposit until it has built up a track record.

Q: Can I finance a used grading line?

Yes, there is an established trade in used grading equipment in the UK, and most lenders will finance a used line provided it has service history and is compatible with the crop and volume you need to handle. Expect the lender to ask about the age of the rollers, belts and any electronic sizing or sorting components, since these wear or become outdated at different rates.

Q: How is a grading line typically financed alongside other packhouse equipment?

Many growers finance the grading line as its own agreement, separate from cold storage, packing machinery or building works, since it has a distinct specification and a clear resale market of its own. This keeps the finance structure simple and makes it easier to upgrade the grading line in future without disturbing agreements on the rest of the packhouse.

Spread the cost of a vegetable grading line from £20,000 to £400,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance

Can you finance a grading line?

Yes, grading lines are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £20,000 to £400,000, and most deals are written over 36–84 months with a deposit of around 15–20%. Decisions typically take 3–5 working days. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

Typical Cost

£20k – £400k

Approval Speed

3–5 working days

Same-day agreement in principle for < £100k

Rates From

5.4% APR

What would a grading line cost per month?

Grading Line price (ex VAT) £90,000

Deposit 10%

Agreement term 60 months

Annual interest rate 9%

Balloon payment £0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical grading line price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate: From 5.8% APR
Term: 36–84 months
Deposit: 15–20%
Ownership: Yours at the end
Best for: Packhouses owning grading equipment matched to their crop

Finance Lease

Rate: From 5.4% APR
Term: 36–84 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for: Tax-efficient, claim 100% of payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate: From 6.5% APR
Term: 48–60 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return at end
Best for: Growers wanting to keep sorting and sizing technology current as buyer specifications change

Representative example

On a purchase price of £90,000: a 10% deposit of £9,000, then 48 monthly payments of £1,899 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £100,152, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification	Guide price	Type
Roller table grading line (single product, manual sort)	£20,000 – £50,000	Roller table line
Weight or size grading line with automated sizing	£60,000 – £150,000	Automated sizing line
Optical or colour sorting grading line	£120,000 – £250,000	Optical sorting line
Full packhouse grading and packing line	£200,000 – £400,000	Full packhouse line

Tax benefits

Grading and sorting lines, rollers, sizers, weighers and optical sorting equipment, are plant and machinery and qualify for the Annual Investment Allowance up to £1,000,000 in the year of purchase. This applies to the line itself even where it is installed inside a purpose-built packhouse building; if the project also includes building works to house the line, ask your accountant to separate the equipment from any structural spend on the contractor's invoice.

Market context

Grading lines are bought by vegetable growers running their own packhouse and by dedicated grading and packing contractors handling produce for several growers. A line is specified closely around a particular crop, potatoes, onions, carrots or brassicas typically need different handling, and around the size bands and defect tolerances a buyer requires, which makes it one of the largest single equipment purchases a packhouse makes. Finance suits this purchase because the line needs to be commissioned and running ahead of harvest, and spreading the cost keeps working capital available for the harvest and storage operation the grading line supports. Replacement and upgrade spend is driven mainly by mechanical wear on rollers and belts from continuous throughput, and by buyer specifications evolving, which can call for recalibrated sizing or added sorting technology rather than the whole line failing. There is an established trade in used grading equipment among UK growers, with specialist dealers regularly reselling well-maintained lines as operations upgrade to newer sizing or sorting technology.

Bad credit?

Some specialist lenders consider businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options may be available. Fundably may use a soft credit check for matching, which does not affect your credit score. A hard check may happen if you choose to proceed with a lender.

Frequently asked questions

Can I finance just an upgrade, such as adding optical sorting, to an existing line?