The Importance of Equipment Repairability
Unlike the cost and specifications of equipment, its repairability and quality maintenance are often overlooked by buyers. However, these factors are equally important!
According to American statistics, an industrial enterprise can lose up to 5 billion dollars in a year due to downtime caused by equipment failure.
Is it possible to prevent emergencies without purchasing a second set of equipment?
Causes of Breakdowns and Repair Costs
The average cost of equipment repair accounts for approximately 40% of its original value. The exact figure can be determined only after a detailed analysis of the breakdowns.
What are the most vulnerable spots in servo systems? Typically, major problems arise due to failures of electronic components. Mechanical failures are generally easier to diagnose and remedy, unlike electronics.
The main causes of breakdowns may include:
- Normal aging of equipment, as the lifespan of individual components is limited;
- Moisture or contamination ingress;
- Incorrect connections or significant temperature fluctuations;
- Voltage spikes in the electrical network to which the equipment is connected.
Maintenance - What to Pay Attention To
To extend the lifespan of drives, it is advisable to follow simple rules:
- Protection from extreme temperatures, dirt, moisture, and mechanical damage;
- Maintaining stable operating voltage;
- Qualified servicing by company specialists.
It should be noted that qualified staff are the most important component of service. Their thorough knowledge of the equipment helps in accurately identifying the causes of failures. Only they can ensure uninterrupted operation even if the warranty period has already expired. Restoring damaged parts and systems opens up new possibilities for equipment that may be decades old.
What to Choose - Replacement or Repair
Experts recommend considering repair instead of replacement in several cases:
- When the cost of a new unit exceeds the repair costs;
- When the faulty unit is no longer manufactured, and the manufacturer advises replacing the entire line;
- If there is no support for the new equipment;
- Replacing the unit requires additional costs and reconfiguration of systems.
Moreover, acquiring specialized technological equipment in a short time can be quite difficult, which may lead to significant reductions in equipment downtime through repair.