David Moore (X) Dec 28, 2013:

@ Sabine: Certainly none taken. But "Bestand(s)" (as prefixed to the "-scheren", which in a packaging plant are likely to be the shears of which Phil has spoken) is a word which here to me means the machinery in an existing plant, which is evidently being enlarged (I guess by the new owners), sooner than "inventory" which is rather more "stock at value", than a machine capable of further use. When valuations are made, there is a wide margin between the value of a "going concern", which this appears to be, and a concern which has ceased trading. In the latter case machinery would more often be included at disposal (often as scrap) vaue, while machinery with residual (economical) service life would attract a much higher valuation.

Sabine Reynaud Dec 27, 2013:

Sorry, no offense intended. It's a little bit like the difference one might see between many and much, a smaller distinct number of items vs a mass noun. Stock or inventory of product or raw material, not inventory of machines for production. But I might be wrong. see #2 http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Bestand

David Moore (X) Dec 27, 2013:

@ Sabine R.: Don't you like "existing" as a synonym for "inventory" in this context, then? And if not, can you perhaps explain why not?