strategy · general
What actually drives the cost of a bespoke installation
The same description can differ by a factor of several depending on material, tooling, geometry and site conditions. Rather than publish a price range we cannot stand behind, here are the factors that decide the number — and how to make sure your quotation is measuring the same thing as ours.
7 min read · updated 2026-10-24
Why we do not publish price ranges
Because the range would be so wide as to be useless, and a wrong number is worse than no number. A play structure can vary by a factor of ten between a catalogue-adapted platform and a fully bespoke piece, and the description in both cases can be identical. We would rather give you the factors and let you see where your project sits.
The eight factors that move the number
Read your own quotation against this list. Any factor you cannot locate in the quotation is a factor you cannot compare.
- Bespoke or adapted — a proven platform adapted is a different product from a drawn-from-nothing item
- Material and finish — grade, coating system, film thickness, and the finish standard you are buying into
- Tooling — every new mould, jig or fabrication method is a one-off cost that a repeat order would not carry
- Engineering hours — structural, electrical and control design, plus the drawings that make it buildable
- Prototyping and testing — mock-ups, load and safety testing, and the cost of changing your mind cheaply
- Logistics — dimensions, weight, packaging, and whether it travels as one piece or several
- Site conditions — access, working hours, opening hours, and installation done at night
- Commissioning and support — training, documentation, and the length of the support window you buy
How to read a quotation you do not understand
Ask for the assumption list. Every serious quotation is built on assumptions about material, quantity, tolerance, finish standard, access and programme, and a good one states them. If they are missing, the number is not a price — it is an intention.
Then ask what is excluded. Exclusions are where the risk lives: freight, installation, commissioning, site permits, waste removal, power supply, making good, and any survey or design work not mentioned.
| Ask for | Because |
|---|---|
| The assumption list | Every number rests on assumptions you cannot see otherwise |
| The exclusion list | The gap between quotations is usually exclusions, not margin |
| The specification version quoted against | Two quotes can price different products |
| The inspection regime | End-of-line inspection moves risk to you |
| The payment milestones | Money should follow evidence, not dates |
Why we offer an open-book breakdown
On larger engagements we can show the cost composition — tooling, materials, engineering hours, fabrication, logistics, site work, support — so that you can see which parts of the scope are worth changing if the budget moves. It is more work for us and it is the reason clients stay for the next project.
Sources
- Harmonized System — customs classification reference — consulted 2026-10-24
- Incoterms — delivery terms and cost allocation — consulted 2026-10-24