The commonly accepted definition of Proprietary, related to products, is that they are produced under the exclusive legal right of the manufacturer, and that the manufacturer has no obligation to divulge any information about the product, its form or function to anyone unless it contractually agrees to do so.
While purchasing equipment of a proprietary nature may often have a lower initial purchase price than some non-proprietary competitors, the catch comes in the long term cost of product support and maintenance as you become a captive sales audience of the manufacturer. Your choices of service and parts on proprietary equipment can be limited and very costly.
Comparable non-proprietary equipment is frequently available, must conform to equally high government standards and safety regulations and provides a far more economical choice as a long term capital investment. Whenever possible, you should consider purchasing your equipment with non-proprietary components to broaden your maintenance options, lower your long term costs and reduce the chance of manufacturer induced product obsolescence.
When you purchase your equipment you should specify in your purchase agreement that the product contains no proprietary hardware or software and that current drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, specialized tools, and software be in your possession and available for the use of your qualified maintenance personnel and/or any qualified third party service organization of your choosing and that all manufacturers change notices and service bulletins that apply to your product be delivered to you in a timely manner.
Paramount Elevator Company is qualified and proud to provide, install and service all non-proprietary equipment of any age.