How to Create an Effective Equipment Maintenance Strategy

Metals and Mining Review | Monday, May 24, 2021

The machine manufacturer should be able to provide users with an owner's manual that outlines the correct maintenance schedule for a specific piece of equipment.

FREMONT, CA:In metal recycling centers, machines are monstrosities crushing, pulling, and baling massive chunks of metal. This can give the impression of indestructibility to this equipment, but that is not true. Also, metal recycling equipment needs regular maintenance. The establishment of a recycling equipment maintenance plan is the first step toward proper maintenance.

Identify Any Emergency Maintenance Items

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One may have a machine that everyone on the job knows will shut down if it gets too hot or that cannot be run for more than six hours. These are the maintenance issues that have been identified. If the problem is a wiring issue, it does not matter how many times the o-rings on a machine is changed. One will not be able to operate a piece of equipment to its maximum potential unless the parts that can cause significant mechanical failure are replaced. It is critical to recognize these problematic components and develop a strategy for fixing the big mechanical issues that cost the facility money in lost production and downtime by putting band-aids on the real issue.

Recognize and Understand The Equipment

Knowing what equipment one is working on is the first step in doing proper maintenance. Scrapyards have big, hulking machines churning out metal bales. However, at the core of this operation is a pneumatic or hydraulically powered machine that works in the same way as any other manufacturing or production machine. The trick is to understand how the mechanism works and how the moving parts are broken down.

Briquetters, for example, would include the usual preventative maintenance plan for hydraulic machinery. Hoses, fittings, o-rings, lubrication cycles, and all other wear-and-tear products will need maintenance at some point. The machine manufacturer should be able to provide users with an owner's manual that outlines the correct maintenance schedule for that specific piece of equipment. Gather the equipment manuals and make a schedule for the machine's initial service points. This is the start date for the preventative maintenance program. From that point on, one will want to determine the service intervals based on the manufacturer's recommendations.

See Also:Top Metal Recycling Companies

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