Direct answer: A customer-equipment storage or toll-processing page cannot just say "we accept customer material and manage equipment." It should state which equipment may be stored, how it is received and receipted, who handles installation/commissioning and site conditions, how run scheduling and operating responsibility are split, who bears maintenance, calibration and consumables, how insurance and damage compensation are agreed, how equipment data/programs are segregated, how EHS and safety duties are allocated, how return/removal works, and whether unpaid fees permit a lien. Otherwise, when a customer asks "who pays if the machine breaks, can I take it back any time, will you see my programs, who bears downtime," the answer becomes an ad-hoc meeting.
This guide is for production, equipment, quality, legal, finance, EHS, and website teams at manufacturers in Changzhou and nearby industrial areas. It explains how to build and accept a customer-equipment storage/toll-processing page. Information is current to 2026-11-02. It is a review of public regulations and project practice, not storage, contract-work, insurance, or legal advice; specific receipt, use, maintenance, compensation, return, and lien arrangements depend on the contract, equipment list, insurance policy, and applicable law.
Customer equipment is not free yard space: receipt needs a list and a receipt document, and damage or loss through poor custody creates liability. Use needs clear rules for operation, maintenance, consumables, downtime, and insurance. Return and lien also need clarity: the depositor may collect at any time, yet where storage or other fees are unpaid the custodian may have a lien—so do not say "take it any time" and "we hold it for unpaid bills" in the same contract without reconciling them.
How does the equipment-storage page relate to consigned-material, subcontracting, leasing, and tooling pages?
The consigned-material page answers "how customer material is received, stored, used, and returned"; the subcontracting page answers "how we assign work to subcontractors"; the leasing page answers "how we lease equipment to customers"; the tooling page answers "mould cost/ownership/trials"; the equipment-storage page answers "customer equipment sits in our plant and we toll-process or keep it—how it is received, used, maintained, insured, and returned." Consigned material is material; equipment storage is a machine or device. Subcontracting goes out; storage comes in—the opposite direction.
The common break is: a customer delivers a machine with no acceptance list, so scratches and missing parts cannot be pinned down; the machine sits on the shop floor and anyone can operate it, causing damage; maintenance/calibration/consumables are not agreed and downtime becomes mutual blame; programs/recipes/customer data on the machine are not segregated; insurance is not bought or the beneficiary is wrong; when the customer wants it back, unpaid fees or work-in-progress are unresolved; the contract says "collect any time" and also "lien for unpaid fees" without reconciling the two. A page that states receipt, use, maintenance, insurance, data, return, and lien gives the customer and internal teams one playbook.
| Page/entry | Answers | Audience | Cannot replace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment storage | Receipt, use, maintenance, insurance, data, return | Customer, production, equipment | Storage/toll-processing contract |
| Consigned material | Customer material receipt/use/return | Customer, warehouse | Machine/device storage |
| Subcontracting | Our outsourcing/subcontract control | Customer, procurement | Customer equipment coming in |
| Leasing | Our equipment leased out, rent, ownership | Customer, finance | Customer-owned equipment |
| Tooling | Mould cost, ownership, trials, transfer | Customer, procurement | Equipment storage and operation |
This page map is editorial; the contractor must properly keep the client's materials and work results under Article 784 of the Civil Code.
Which equipment may be stored, and how should scope be stated?
State the equipment type (production machine, inspection equipment, fixture, special device, prototype), model/serial number, quantity, purpose (toll processing/display/commissioning/stock), placement area, expected duration, whether it connects to our utilities/network, and whether hazardous chemicals or special equipment are involved. Define what is accepted and what is not: oversized, overweight, high-energy, high-safety-risk, confidential, or export-controlled equipment needs separate assessment. Scope must land in the equipment list and floor location, not "customer equipment is welcome."
Distinguish "storage" from "toll processing": pure storage (custody) and producing with the machine (contract work) carry different duties—the former leans on custody, the latter involves operation, quality, EHS, and capacity. The page can say "customer-equipment toll processing/short-term storage supported," but must not promise "any equipment can be placed." Special equipment (lifting, pressure vessels) must meet regulatory requirements; a contract clause alone is not enough.
| Item | What to state | Evidence | Common gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment type | Production/inspection/fixture/device/prototype | Equipment list | Vague scope |
| Model/serial | Unique ID, quantity | Nameplate/photo | No number |
| Purpose | Toll processing/display/commissioning/stock | Contract | Purpose unclear |
| Area/term | Location, start and end | Floor plan | Open-ended |
| Connections | Power/gas/water/network/foundation | Site confirmation | Discovered on arrival |
| Exclusions | Oversized/high-risk/confidential/controlled | Assessment | Accept everything |
This scope split is editorial; specifics follow the equipment list, contract, and site conditions.
How should receipt inspection and receipt documents work?
On receipt, both sides inspect together: appearance (scratches/rust/deformation), accessories/tools/spares, documents (manual/certificate of conformity/drawings/software licence), electrical and safety condition, metrology/calibration status, and serial/nameplate; take photos/video and issue a custody receipt or handover sheet signed by both sides. Record damage or missing items on the spot to avoid later dispute; enter the equipment into our register, apply an internal label, and assign a responsible department/location.
The Civil Code provides that the custodian should issue a custody receipt (unless another trade practice applies), must keep the goods properly, and is liable for damage or loss caused by poor custody during the storage period (a gratuitous custodian is exempt if it proves no intent or gross negligence). Even where equipment storage is not a typical custody contract, receipt documents and the duty of proper care remain the baseline. The page can say "joint inspection and a handover sheet," but not "delivered as-is, we bear no liability whatsoever."
| Item | What to do | Evidence | Common gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Scratches/rust/deformation/oil leaks | Photo/video | Not inspected |
| Accessories | Tools/spares/cables/fixtures | List | Missing items |
| Documents | Manual/certificate/drawings/licence | Handover sheet | Missing |
| Condition | Electrical/safety/metrology/calibration | Test record | Accepted faulty |
| Marking | Serial, internal label, location | Register | No label |
| Receipt | Signed handover/custody receipt | Signed copy | Verbal |
Receipt requirements are in Articles 891, 892, and 897 of the Civil Code; specifics follow the contract.
Who handles installation, commissioning, and site conditions?
State the installation conditions (foundation/floor load, power/gas/water, compressed air, exhaust, network, fire protection, lifting access), who installs/commissions, who bears the cost, acceptance criteria, training, and documents supplied; who approves modifications/additions and who owns them. Customer equipment entering the plant can affect our line layout, safety aisles, and electrical capacity, so assess and confirm in writing in advance. Safety responsibility during installation/commissioning (installer/operator) must also be stated.
"The machine will just work when it arrives" is a common mistake: voltage/air supply/foundation mismatch, inability to fit through the door, insufficient exhaust, or inadequate fire separation all cause delay and extra cost. The page can provide an "entry conditions checklist" and "who does what," but must not promise "install and run on arrival." For special equipment, installation/modification must be performed by qualified units under regulatory requirements.
| Item | What to state | Evidence | Common gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site/foundation | Load, dimensions, access, lifting | Plan/confirmation | Won't fit through door |
| Utilities | Power/gas/water/exhaust/network | Interface confirmation | Insufficient capacity |
| Install/commission | Who, cost, acceptance criteria | Contract | Duty unclear |
| Modification | Approval, ownership, restoration | Change order | Return dispute |
| Safety/fire | Clearance, aisles, permits | Inspection record | Non-compliant |
| Training | Operation/maintenance/safety | Sign-in/assessment | No training |
Installation arrangements are editorial; specifics follow the contract, site conditions, and special-equipment regulation.
How should use, scheduling, and operating responsibility be split?
State who operates the equipment (us/customer/both), operator qualification/training, scheduling priority, available hours, capacity ownership, product ownership, quality liability, downtime/fault handling, and customer on-site conditions. Where customer equipment is used for our production, who is liable for output quality depends on the contract and actual operation; where the customer operates it, we provide space/utilities but safety duties still need allocation. Do not treat "the machine belongs to the customer" as "operation, quality, and safety are none of our business."
"The customer uses its own machine" still needs management: visiting personnel must follow our EHS/access/confidentiality rules; damage to the machine or scrapped product caused by customer operation must be allocated; damage caused by our operation also needs a compensation mechanism. Scheduling conflicts (customer urgent order vs our orders) need agreed priority and compensation. The page can say "operation and scheduling per contract," but must not promise "always first in line."
| Item | What to state | Evidence | Common gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Us/customer/both, qualification | Contract/training | Anyone operates |
| Scheduling | Priority, hours, compensation | Schedule | Inserted anytime |
| Output ownership | Product/scrap/samples | Contract | Unclear |
| Quality liability | Who is liable for output quality | Quality agreement | Blamed on machine |
| Downtime/fault | Notice, repair, recovery | Record | No notice |
| Visitors | EHS/access/confidentiality | Training/access | Free entry |
Use and scheduling arrangements are editorial; specifics follow the contract, quality agreement, and site management.
Who bears maintenance, calibration, and consumables?
State daily checks, preventive maintenance, fault repair, calibration/verification, wear parts, consumables, software upgrades, and spare-parts supply—who does it, who pays, and who bears downtime loss. For customer equipment used in our plant, daily cleaning/checks are usually done by the user, while professional repair/calibration may be done by the customer or its vendor; allocate by cause (normal wear/misoperation/inherent defect/third party). Keep calibration/verification certificates so output data remains credible.
"The machine is the customer's, so maintenance is theirs" is not always right: if we operate and schedule it, daily maintenance may sit with us; if it sits unused long-term, the custodian still needs rust/moisture protection and power-on checks. Consumable/wear-part costs belong in the quotation so the customer does not "afford to run it but not to fix it." The page can say "maintenance duties allocated by contract," but not "maintenance is none of our business."
| Item | What to state | Evidence | Common gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Checks/maintenance | Frequency, items, records | Check sheet | Not done |
| Fault repair | Response, labour, parts | Work order | Duty unclear |
| Calibration | Cycle, body, certificate | Certificate | Overdue |
| Wear parts/consumables | List, price, buyer | List | Ad-hoc charges |
| Software/upgrade | Version, licence, cost | Record | No upgrade |
| Downtime loss | Allocation, cap, exclusions | Contract | All on one side |
Maintenance arrangements are editorial; specifics follow the contract, equipment manual, and quality agreement.
How should insurance, damage, and compensation be agreed?
State who insures (property/machinery breakdown/third-party liability), the sum insured, beneficiary, deductible, claim notification, and claim support; classify damage as normal wear/misoperation/poor custody/force majeure/third party, and agree loss assessment, repair, compensation cap, and exclusions. During the storage period, damage or loss caused by poor custody must be compensated by the custodian (unless a gratuitous custodian proves no intent or gross negligence); the contract may set more specific liability. Do not treat "insured" as "fully compensated."
Customer equipment is often expensive to repair, so insurance and compensation terms need early discussion: does the sum insured cover replacement cost, who bears the deductible, is downtime loss covered, does the customer's own policy cover equipment at our site. After an incident, preserve the scene, notify the insurer and customer, and document the loss assessment; do not promise compensation or waive recovery on your own. The page can say "insurance/loss assessment per contract," but not "we pay for all damage at our site."
| Item | What to state | Basis | Common gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Cover, sum, insured, beneficiary | Policy | No insurance |
| Damage classes | Wear/operation/custody/force majeure | Contract | Never liable |
| Loss assessment | Assessor, standard, dispute | Assessment | Verbal estimate |
| Compensation cap | Replacement/repair/deductible | Contract | Unlimited liability |
| Downtime loss | Covered, cap, exclusions | Contract | Not stated |
| Incident | Preserve scene, notify, claim | Record | Handled privately |
Compensation liability is in Article 897 of the Civil Code; specifics follow the contract and policy.
How should data, programs, and accounts be segregated?
Customer equipment may contain PLC/HMI programs, recipes, process parameters, customer data, and remote accounts; state data ownership, access rights, backup, deletion/return, prohibition on copying, and the boundary of remote support. Our staff access only as authorised; customer remote access goes through a controlled channel with logs; before return/contract end, delete our accounts and temporary data and obtain customer confirmation. Do not keep copies of customer programs on the machine or use them for other customers.
"The machine is in our plant, so the programs are visible" is a risk: customer recipes/processes may be core secrets, and staff copying or leaking them creates confidentiality and competition exposure. Equipment connected to our network should be segregated (VLAN/firewall) so customer devices do not become an attack path; remote maintenance accounts need least privilege and auditability. The page can say "data segregation/controlled access," but must not publish customer programs or parameters.
| Object | What to do | Evidence | Common gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Programs/recipes | Ownership, no copying, access | NDA/access | Copied freely |
| Accounts/remote | Least privilege, controlled channel, logs | Account record | Shared account |
| Network isolation | VLAN/firewall/admission | Network diagram | Direct intranet link |
| Backup/deletion | Who backs up; delete before return | Deletion record | Copies retained |
| Customer confirmation | Return/deletion confirmation | Confirmation | Not confirmed |
Data segregation is editorial; specifics follow the NDA, customer confidentiality requirements, and network security policy.
How should EHS and safety responsibility be allocated?
Customer equipment entering the plant must be included in our EHS management: risk assessment, guarding, emergency stop/interlocks, warning signs, operator training, PPE, fire protection, hazardous chemicals/dust/noise/emissions; customer personnel entering the plant must follow our rules and receive a safety briefing. Who rectifies the equipment's own safety defects and whether it may run must be stated; do not drop safety requirements because "the machine belongs to the customer." Accidents must be reported, rescued, and investigated under the emergency plan.
"The customer's machine, the customer's responsibility" rarely holds inside our plant: as the site controller/employer we still owe work-safety duties; if customer equipment does not meet safety requirements, we may refuse to run it or require rectification. The page can say "equipment must meet our EHS requirements and customer personnel must receive a briefing," but not "customer equipment safety is none of our business."
| Item | What to do | Evidence | Common gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risk assessment | Equipment/process/site risks | Assessment | Not assessed |
| Guarding | E-stop/interlock/guards/signs | Inspection record | Run while faulty |
| Training/briefing | Operation/emergency/PPE | Sign-in | No training |
| Customer staff | Access/rules/briefing | Record | Free entry |
| Incident | Report/rescue/investigate | Record | Concealed |
EHS requirements are editorial; specifics follow work-safety, fire, and environmental law and company policy.
How should return, removal, and lien be handled?
State return conditions (fees settled, work-in-progress/inventory handled, equipment condition, accessories/documents returned), the removal window, transport/lifting responsibility, site restoration, and sign-off; the depositor may collect at any time under the custody rules, but where storage or other fees are unpaid the custodian may have a lien—reconcile the two in the contract rather than saying "collect any time" and "hold for unpaid bills" without conditions. Before return, delete data and remove our labels.
"The customer wants to take it back" often brings disputes: unfinished work-in-progress, unreturned moulds/fixtures, unpaid fees, damaged equipment; a return checklist and settlement flow avoid disputes over holding equipment or goods. A lien must be exercised in accordance with law and contract; do not dispose of customer equipment privately. The page can say "return per contract settlement, lien exercised lawfully," but not "unpaid bills means we may sell it."
| Item | What to state | Basis | Common gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return conditions | Fees, WIP, condition, accessories | Contract | Unclear |
| Removal | Window, transport, lifting, restoration | Plan | Last minute |
| Acceptance | Signed by both, photos | Handover sheet | Not inspected |
| Collection | Depositor may collect anytime | Art. 899 | Refused |
| Lien | Unpaid fees, lawful exercise | Art. 903 | Private sale |
| Data/labels | Delete accounts, remove labels | Record | Left behind |
Return and lien are in Articles 899, 900, and 903 of the Civil Code; specifics follow the contract.
What should the page say, and what must not be published?
A public page should include: equipment types and scope, receipt inspection and documents, installation conditions, use/scheduling and operating responsibility, maintenance/calibration/consumables, insurance and compensation, data segregation, EHS requirements, return/removal and lien, and a contact route. Do not publish: customer names, equipment lists/serial numbers, drawings/programs/recipes, prices, insurance policies, or incident details. Say "customer-equipment toll processing/short-term storage supported, inspection and settlement per contract"—not "any equipment accepted/fully compensated/collect any time."
The page exists to let customers know how to place, use, and return equipment—not to put the shop-floor asset list online. Wording must be precise: "joint inspection, maintenance/insurance/compensation per contract," "return per settlement, lien exercised lawfully"—not "delivered as-is, we bear no liability whatsoever." Customer confidential information is handled under an NDA.
| Module | What to write | Evidence/asset | Common gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Types/scope | Equipment type, purpose, area, term | List | "Equipment welcome" |
| Receipt | Inspection items, documents, marking | Handover sheet | No inspection |
| Installation | Conditions, duty, acceptance, training | Confirmation | Discovered on arrival |
| Use | Operation, scheduling, output, quality | Contract | Anyone operates |
| Maintenance/insurance | Checks, calibration, consumables, cover, compensation | Contract/policy | Not stated |
| Data/EHS | Segregation, access, deletion; safety | NDA/policy | Ignored |
| Return/lien | Conditions, removal, acceptance, lien | Contract | Contradictory |
| Boundaries/links | No customers/equipment/drawings; consigned material/subcontracting/leasing reachable | Access control | Over-disclosure |
These modules are editorial; public scope, customer data, and wording follow confidentiality and legal advice.
Go-live acceptance checklist
Ten checks: equipment scope, receipt documents, installation conditions, use/scheduling, maintenance/calibration, insurance/compensation, data segregation, EHS, return/lien, and public boundaries. Each needs an owner, evidence, and review date. The pass condition is not "the page says we accept equipment," but that a customer can hand over, use, maintain, claim, and collect per the page, and the company can execute the process.
Before go-live, run one real customer machine through: receipt inspection → installation/commissioning → operator training → scheduled use → maintenance/calibration → incident claim → return/removal → data deletion. Any step that fails is a gap in the page or the process.
| Check | Pass condition | Evidence | If it fails |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Type/purpose/area/term/exclusions | List | Add scope |
| Receipt | Appearance/accessories/documents/condition/marking/receipt | Handover sheet | Add inspection |
| Installation | Site/utilities/duty/acceptance/training | Confirmation | Add conditions |
| Use | Operator, scheduling, output, quality, downtime | Contract | Add clauses |
| Maintenance/calibration | Checks, repair, calibration, consumables, upgrade | Records | Add duties |
| Insurance/compensation | Cover, assessment, cap, downtime | Policy/contract | Add insurance |
| Data | Ownership, access, isolation, deletion, confirmation | NDA/records | Add isolation |
| EHS | Assessment, guarding, training, visitors, incidents | Inspection record | Add requirements |
| Return/lien | Conditions, removal, acceptance, lawful lien | Contract | Add process |
| Boundaries/links | No customers/equipment/drawings; consigned material/subcontracting/leasing reachable | Page test | Remove/fix |
This checklist is editorial; specific storage, use, compensation, return, and lien arrangements follow the contract, policy, and applicable law.
Who should read this, who should not, and what decisions does it support?
It suits manufacturers in Changzhou and nearby areas with customer material toll processing, customer equipment custody, prototype storage, capacity cooperation, or customer-specific devices—especially equipment, auto parts, electronics, metal processing, and testing. It also suits buyers assessing a supplier's equipment-custody capability. It does not suit businesses with no customer equipment on site, pure standard products, or teams wanting one page to replace contract/insurance/legal advice.
Read it if you are in production, equipment, quality, legal, finance, EHS, or a website vendor; you are building an equipment-storage page, cleaning up receipt/maintenance/insurance/return flows, or handling customer equipment damage/unpaid fees/removal; or you need to answer "what equipment can be placed, how is it inspected, who operates, who maintains, who insures, how is data segregated, how is it returned, can we lien." Skip it if you treat "the machine is the customer's" as an exemption, run a site without inspection/insurance/documents, or want a page saying "all damage compensated/collect any time." It supports self-review of scope, receipt, installation, use, maintenance, insurance, data, EHS, return, and lien.
Lingyi Information is a website development and enterprise AI project provider, not a custody, contract-work, insurance, or legal body. This article is not a substitute for custody, contract-work, insurance, or legal advice. Changzhou projects are delivered remotely or on site as confirmed per project; Lingyi is one candidate, does not claim a local office or team, and does not promise compensation, conversion, or inquiries.
FAQ
If customer equipment is damaged at our plant, who pays?
It depends on the contract and the cause: damage or loss caused by poor custody during the storage period is compensated by the custodian (a gratuitous custodian is exempt if it proves no intent or gross negligence); misoperation, inherent defect, force majeure, and third-party causes are allocated per contract. Insure, assess the loss, and preserve evidence; do not treat "insured" as "fully compensated."
Can the customer collect the equipment at any time?
Under a custody contract the depositor may collect at any time; the contract may still set conditions such as settled fees, handling of work-in-progress/inventory, and return acceptance. Where storage or other fees are unpaid, the custodian may have a lien, but it must be exercised lawfully and the equipment may not be sold privately. Reconcile both points in the contract.
How should programs and recipes on the equipment be protected?
State data ownership, access rights, no copying, controlled remote access, logs, and deletion before return; segregate equipment connected to our network; our staff access only as authorised. Delete and obtain customer confirmation at contract end to avoid retained copies or use for other customers.
Who is responsible for customer equipment safety?
As the site controller/employer we still owe work-safety duties: risk assessment, guarding, training, signs, and emergency response; if customer equipment does not meet safety requirements we may refuse to run it or require rectification; customer personnel entering the plant must receive a safety briefing. "The machine is the customer's" does not remove safety requirements.
Who pays for maintenance, calibration, and consumables?
Allocate by contract: daily checks/cleaning may sit with the user, professional repair/calibration with the customer or its vendor, and wear parts/consumables can be reflected in the quotation. State responsibility for normal wear/misoperation/defects and downtime loss, and keep check/calibration/repair records.
Should the website publish the customer equipment list?
Not advisable. Publish the mechanism ("customer-equipment toll processing/short-term storage supported, inspection and settlement per contract"); customer names, equipment lists/serial numbers, drawings/programs, prices, and insurance policies are confidential. Provide redacted materials through a controlled channel for customer audits.
One-sentence takeaway
A Changzhou manufacturer's customer-equipment storage/toll-processing page should not say "customer equipment accepted." It should turn equipment scope, receipt documents, installation conditions, use and scheduling, maintenance and calibration, insurance and compensation, data segregation, EHS, return and lien, and public boundaries into a verifiable checklist—so a customer can hand over, use, claim, and collect per the page.
Method and limitations
This is a review of public regulations and project practice, not custody, contract-work, insurance, or legal advice on any company's equipment storage, toll processing, custody, insurance, or contracts. No undisclosed customer lists, equipment lists, drawings, or prices were used. Categories, checklists, processes, and the acceptance checklist are editorial suggestions, not custody, contract-work, insurance, or legal conclusions. Specific receipt, use, maintenance, compensation, return, and lien arrangements depend on the contract, equipment list, insurance policy, and applicable law.
Sources and scope
Information is current to 2026-11-02. The following are public official/primary pages; their scope, version, and wording control.
- Civil Code of the PRC, Articles 784 and 785: Cyberspace Administration of China. The contractor must properly keep the client's materials and completed work, and is liable for damage or loss caused by poor custody; the contractor must keep confidentiality as required and may not retain copies or technical materials without permission.
- Civil Code of the PRC, Articles 888, 891, 892, 897, 899, 900, and 903: Cyberspace Administration of China. Definition of a custody contract, custody receipt, duty of proper care, liability for poor custody, the depositor's right to collect at any time, return of the original and fruits, and the lien for unpaid fees.
- Product Quality Law of the PRC (third amendment 29 December 2018), Article 26: Hami Municipal People's Government (NPC text reprint). The producer is responsible for the quality of its products; products must not present unreasonable danger, must have the required performance, and must conform to the stated standard or indicated quality.