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What is Preventative Maintenance?
Preventative Maintenance (PM) is essential for keeping your shredding equipment in optimal working condition. The simplest way to stay on top of PM services is to follow the regimen provided in your equipment manual at the time of purchase. Establishing a daily, weekly, and monthly routine ensures that any potential issues are identified and addressed promptly.
For more in-depth inspections, a quarterly or semi-annual service by an industry professional is recommended. These professionals can go beyond the day-to-day maintenance tasks, providing detailed information on major components that are beginning to wear and need attention. This includes inspecting cutting chambers, rollers, conveyance systems, electrical connections, and identifying wear and corrosion that could eventually lead to significant operational risks. Qualified professionals ensure your system operates within proper specifications and identify items needing attention.
Consequences of Neglecting Preventative Maintenance
Neglecting PM can lead to a range of issues, varying based on which part of the equipment is most impacted. Here are some potential problems:
- Hydraulic Oil Performance: Without regular maintenance, hydraulic oil temperatures may rise, leading to decreased efficiency and potential system shutdowns.
- Component Failures: Major components such as PTOs, Bin Tipper Actuators, and Shredder Chambers may fail due to lack of PM.
- Increased Wear and Tear: Failure to lubricate moving parts can lead to increased friction and metal oxidation (rust), causing expedited wear and eventual failure.
- Cascading Failures: For example, lack of lubrication on bin tipper sprockets can initiate a cascading failure effect, affecting the sprocket shaft, encoder, tensioning plates, chain, encoder coupler, and bushings.
- Cooling Issues: Debris stuck in the fins of hydraulic oil cooler can slow down the cooling process, forcing the shredding system to shut down until the oil cools to the required temperature.
Preventative Maintenance Tips
Our maintenance manuals include comprehensive daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly checklists for PM of shredder components. Here are some common tips:
- Lubricate PTO Parts: Regularly lubricate bin tipper chains and sprockets.
- Check Tension: Regularly check the tension of the tipper chain and shredder knife stack.
- Inspect for Rust: Identify and fix any rust spots.
- Monitor Hydraulic Oil/Reduce/Shredder Gearbox: Regularly check quality of oil, change oil filters and breathers.
- Clean Coolers: Hose down the cooler to remove debris from the fins.
- Visual Inspections: Conduct visual checks for deformities, oil leaks, exposed wires, irregular noises, or material wear.
Professional Maintenance Services
We highly recommend using our technicians for PM services, as they are the most knowledgeable about the shredding systems. While some customers handle their own PM or employ onsite mechanics capable of following our maintenance schedules, or even use third-party mechanics, we believe that PM performed by our certified technicians is the best approach.
By adhering to a rigorous PM schedule, you can ensure the longevity and efficiency of your shredding equipment, prevent costly downtime, and maintain compliance with regulatory standards. Proper maintenance is a small investment that yields significant returns in terms of operational reliability and cost savings.
For any additional information or specific questions about your system, always reach out to your Shred-Tech technical service team.
