08 8443 6766
Transit Mixer Service
Underestimating the importance of equipment maintenance is taking a toll on your bottom line. The saying “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” is too often the way some view construction equipment maintenance.
Why would you pay for service on your equipment if there is nothing wrong with it? Believe it or not, there are several reasons. Construction equipment is an investment — one that requires time & money to keep in optimal shape.
MAINTENANCE
Preventative equipment maintenance is key to extending equipment life & ultimately saving you time and money. While your perception may be that paying for preventative maintenance is unnecessary spending, the reality is that without it, you’re often left with more expensive repairs.
Marleston believes in the importance of preventative maintenance, & after reading over the following reasons, we think you will, too…..
KEEP EQUIPMENT RUNNING EFFICIENTLY
A new piece of equipment is in optimal shape. It runs efficiently. The definition of efficiency for each piece of equipment may differ, but new equipment runs like a well-oiled machine & that’s good for business.
When equipment runs efficiently, projects get done on or ahead of schedule, & your bottom line does well. Keeping that optimal, like-new condition is key to maintaining that level of equipment efficiency. If maintenance suffers, so does efficiency. When efficiency suffers, so does your bottom line.
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SMALL PROBLEMS GROW OVER TIME
We’ve all seen it before. Something isn’t working exactly the way it used to, but it isn’t affecting our job in a big way, so we continue, sometimes even making adjustments in how we use the piece of equipment to keep things moving. While it may seem like this is the most efficient way to get the job done in the short term, it could cause you major headaches in the future.
If something isn’t working the way it should, no matter how small, chances are it’s going to grow into a bigger problem if it isn’t addressed.
FIXING BIG PROBLEMS IS EXPENSIVE
While it may seem like it doesn’t make sense to spend the time & money to have it inspected or repaired when you’re able to work around it, the reality is waiting is going to cost you even more. Bigger, more complex repairs come with a bigger price tag. Think of more than parts, yes, a more complex problem will likely come with having to replace more &/or larger parts that are expensive, but it doesn’t end there.
Big problems often translate to more downtime, & more downtime means you’re suddenly behind schedule &/or unable to take on a new project. If you have employees on the clock that were scheduled to work with that piece of equipment, now you’re paying them despite the fact that they are unable to work temporarily due to equipment downtime.
Obviously, if you get to this point, you’ll do what it takes to get the equipment back up and running as soon as possible, but that too comes with an additional set of costs. Expedited shipping for parts comes with a price tag. It all adds up. Bigger problems have a snowball effect. Don’t wait for the bigger problem — invest in the small one.
REDUCE INJURIES AND FATALITIES
Because of the high levels of death and injury to construction workers, the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012–2022 focuses on this industry as a national priority. Over the five-year period from 2015 to 2019, there were 150 worker fatalities in the Construction industry in Australia. The majority of these (57%) occurred in the Construction services industry sub-division. Younger workers aged under 25 accounted for 15% of fatalities in the Construction industry, compared with only 9% of fatalities across all industries. Source
If your equipment isn’t being serviced on a regular basis, there’s a chance it isn’t working properly. If it isn’t working properly, you’re increasing your chances of workplace injury or death as a result of equipment failure.
BOOST YOUR RESALE VALUE
Chances are you’ll eventually be looking to sell a piece of equipment to upgrade to a newer style. Whether you plan to trade it in for a newer model or sell it through a private sale, you want to get the maximum amount you possibly can for that piece of construction equipment.
Detailed records of heavy equipment maintenance will go a long way in getting you the most money for your resale.
Here’s why: Think about the last time you bought a piece of used equipment. Regardless of whether it was a piece of heavy construction equipment or the family car, many of the questions you have are the same:
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Is it reliable?
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Was it maintained properly?
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Has it ever had significant damage that could continue to affect its performance?
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Service records and documentation answer many of these questions & put many of the concerns of the unknown to rest. You can’t put a price on the confidence having those service records on a used piece of equipment gives you.
Make the investment in your construction equipment maintenance up front, it will pay off later.
Regardless of how much safety training you or your employees have been through, they don’t have control over equipment failure. Of course, there will always be unexpected breakdowns, but you can minimize them by being proactive about your construction equipment maintenance.
Workplace injuries and fatalities are tragic and expensive. Company morale suffers, & so does your bottom line. One of the benefits of maintenance doubles as a proactive step in reducing the number of injuries or fatalities you have on-site. You can’t put a price on your team’s safety in the field.
If you’ve invested in a piece of equipment that is new or lightly used & covered under a warranty, you have extra motivation to stay on top of routine equipment maintenance. Equipment warranties often require detailed service records in order to be covered.
If you’ve invested the money in purchasing a newer piece of equipment that’s covered, it makes sense to invest the time in keeping its routine maintenance up to date. However, it doesn’t end with completing the service, you also need to keep detailed records & receipts of the service history so if a repair is needed, you have the documentation to show that those repairs are needed even though you’ve kept up with the routine maintenance on the piece of equipment.
As a side note, the fact that equipment manufacturers require proof of routine maintenance is something worth noting in itself.
MAXIMIZE WARRANTY COVERAGE
SET AND STICK TO A MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Every piece of equipment is different. They all have their own intricacies & need a maintenance & repair schedule to match. Over time, there are some seals, belts, bolts, etc., that will need to be replaced. Rather than waiting for these parts to cause a problem, replace them when they are scheduled to be replaced.
How do you know when that is? The piece of equipment will have an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) maintenance recommendation. Commit to it. It may seem like by being proactive you’re attempting to fix something that isn’t broken, but trust us, neglecting to do this will result in expensive repairs.
Those seals, belts & bolts are all a part of a much larger system, & the last thing you want is to replace the whole thing. Not only does that involve a higher cost for parts, but it also leads to increased downtime as a result of the equipment needing a more extensive repair.
CONDUCT REGULAR INSPECTIONS
KEEP EQUIPMENT CLEAN
Construction equipment, no matter how big and heavy, is still susceptible to dirt & contaminants. Remember, this large piece of equipment is made up of several moving parts, all with their own intricate system. If filters aren’t changed regularly and breathers and electronics aren’t kept clean, they impact the way the equipment runs & can ultimately cause an expensive repair. When things get dirty, they can break down.
No, inspections are not the same thing as maintenance schedules. Construction equipment should be inspected every time it’s used. Trained operators should know what to look and listen for to ensure equipment is working properly. Checking for simple things, like signs of wear on equipment, can go a long way. The reality is heavy equipment is often used with vibration, high temperatures & friction? all of which contribute to the wear and tear of moving parts. Add age to the mix, and you have a recipe for deterioration.
This happens with all equipment, & the key to extending equipment life is to make sure you do something as simple as adding an operator visual inspection to your equipment use requirements. Noticing warped belts, dry or cracked seals & loose bolts may seem small, but these things can be identified through a visual inspection & fixed before they cause a larger problem. We also recommend keeping up with any more extensive inspections that may be a part of your OEM maintenance plan.
HOW MARLESTON CAN HELP
Whether it be concrete manufacturing plant silo or filter inspections, including reporting, to repairs & servicing of the plant equipment to transit mixer service, repairs & parts we can assist you. We offer, for example, different transit mixer service levels with reporting/recommendations for follow-up & when these should be attended to.
CONTACT
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Tel. 08 8443 6766
40 Manchester Street,
MILE END SOUTH, SA 5031
VISIT
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Monday - Friday 07:30am - 16:00pm
Saturday 07:30am - 11:30am