Investing in any equipment for your plant is often a big decision. You must take a survey of equipment to be replaced, and what has to be replaced first. Which items are truly necessary, and which ones are nice to have? You also have to consider upgrades and new technology. Is it worthwhile to replace your hand strapping tools with an automated machine?
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Then there’s the question of budget. Other departments may feel their needs are more pressing. Once you’ve been approved to purchase a strapping tool or machine, you know you must keep it in good condition.
The bigger issue could be you don’t have an unlimited budget to maintain the machine. Just like you won’t get budget approval for replacing every strapping tool you own, you also might not have the budget to strip and rebuild each tool annually.
There are more budget-friendly ways to maintain your strapping tools and machines. These tips will help you keep maintenance costs to a minimum and keep your tools in great working condition for years to come.
Clean the Machines After Every Shift
Sometimes, it’s the simplest steps that prevent the biggest problems. Such is the case with making sure you clean your strapping tools and machines after a shift.
It can be tempting to skip this step, especially if your team’s busy or behind. Poor communication between shifts can also mean no one performs cleaning tasks, because they assume someone else will handle it.
Simply cleaning your tools, though, keeps them free and clear of build-up. Dirt and debris can collect and cause jams or even bigger problems with your tools.
This is a quick and cheap fix, because it takes just a couple of minutes every shift to clean the machine or tool. It prevents bigger problems and malfunctions, which cost more time and money to fix.
Schedule Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance sometimes seems like an extra cost. You might imagine how much money you could save by not replacing parts on a regular basis.
The truth is that regular, routine maintenance is less expensive in the long run. Replacing a part here and there is less costly than having the machine malfunction or a tool need a complete rebuild.
Tools that aren’t maintained well are also less efficient, so you could be losing revenue because jobs have to be redone. Scheduling a day or two for regular maintenance of your strapping machines and tools can keep them in better working order. When tensioners operate correctly and cutter blades are sharp, your team will be able to finish their strapping tasks in no time.
Better yet, it doesn’t cost much to schedule regular maintenance. Routine maintenance tasks are often straightforward and can be completed relatively quickly. Scheduling one day down and replacing one small part can save you on costly repairs.
Invest in a Preventative Maintenance Plan
If you’re ready to go one step above and beyond, then you can invest in a preventative maintenance plan for your strapping tools and machines.
At first glance, this seems like an upfront cost. You might wonder how that’s budget-friendly.
Working with the experts can save you time and money when it comes to maintaining your tools. They can assist you in dealing with routine maintenance on a regular basis. You will also have access to certified experts whenever something complex does crop up.
Your team doesn’t have to spend time guessing, and you can avoid more serious issues when you have a great preventative maintenance plan in your back pocket.
Train Your Team
Finally, take the time to train your team on the importance of proper maintenance. This can be as simple as showing them how to effectively clean out dirt and debris after so many uses.
With the right training, your team will be ready to help you protect your strapping machines and tools.