Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/718149
AGGREGATES MANAGER / September 2016 29 where before it lasted a month or more. An OEM representative visits the site and fi nds the operation has been buying tension rails from a local fabrication shop to save mon- ey. The tension rails looked right, but were not tensioning the screen media properly across the screen deck, causing the sections to break. What saved the operation a few bucks up front on new tension rails cost them thousands of dollars in screen media and downtime for change-outs. In addition, if the faulty part caused the vibrating screen to operate incorrectly, there's a good chance that the strati- fi cation didn't occur correctly and that materials may have to be rescreened or discarded. If operators do notice a problem soon after installing a fabricated part, they can prevent further damage by shutting the machine down quickly. However, this still results in costly downtime, as mechanics order parts and make repairs. Any time the vibrating screen can't run will bite into profi ts, particularly for operations in the midst of production season or a mining operation, where a few hours of lost time can result in tens of thousands of dollars of profi t losses. This cost alone would quickly offset any savings from choosing fabricated parts. Stick with OEM While it's good business practice to fi nd ways to save money, site managers should not compromise on the qual- ity of vital equipment. The risks of expensive repairs and time wasted are just too high. Choose carefully when looking at replacement parts. While fabricated components are usually cheaper and may appear to work correctly, any variance could cause damage and downtime down the line. Continue to work with the original equipment manufacturer to guarantee a supply of reliable parts and the backing of a company with the resources to solve problems quickly. The right choice means more uptime, more profi ts, and the assur- ance that a part will only make a machine run better. AM Duncan High is the division manager of processing equipment technology at Haver & Boecker Canada. He has 26 years of experience with the company, which was formerly called W.S. Tyler. Hit the road with: collect them all! Flexible payment plans Downtime reimbursement Online certificates Flexible payment plans Downtime reimbursement Online certificates Hit the road with: collect them all! Protecting the rig that runs your business! Protecting the rig that runs your business! Protecting the rig that runs your business! Protecting the rig that runs your business! Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & affi liates. All coverage subject to policy terms. 1-800-PROGRESSIVE 1-800-PROGRESSIVE PROGRESSIVE.com Imperfections in fabricated shaft components can lead to excessive heat, resulting in bearing failure and premature wear of other components.