SCREENING MAINTENANCE_proof 24/08/2016 09:39 Page 1
SCREENING MAINTENANCE
The OEM difference
Duncan High, Processing Equipment Technology Division
Manager, Haver & Boecker examines the lifetime costs of
fabricated parts for vibrating screens
ne of the ways operation managers
naturally presume to increase profits in a
mining or aggregates operation is to cut
costs. Parts are often an area that production
managers eye as a way to save money, but it’s
important to look beyond the price and
understand the part that a component is playing
in the performance of a vibrating screen and
long term productivity. Operation managers
need to be sure they are choosing the most
reliable parts for their equipment. They need to
consider the knowledge, experience and
resources required to manufacture the part, the
potential hazards of using a fabricated version
and the value of having the support of the OEM.
Here’s a look at the difference between the two
and how those differences can impact production.
O
OEM expertise
Consider the difference between fabricated and
OEM components. Fabrication shops have come
a long way and are often able to produce quality
components, but some equipment, such as
vibrating screens, needs such a precise
tolerance that a fabricated part might not work
correctly no matter how closely it resembles the
OEM version. Only a machine’s manufacturer has
the precise equipment drawings, measurements,
plus/minus tolerances, material composition and
know-how on what needs to be heat-tempered.
This means only the manufacturer can produce a
component that fits those fine-tuned parameters.
Even a reputable fabrication shop with capabilities
similar to that of the OEM has to rely on reverse
engineering and guesswork to fashion a
replacement. The part may look identical, but if
it’s even a little off it could cause problems.
A vibrating screen isn’t so much a machine
as a complete system where every component
works in tandem to accomplish a specific goal.
If an operation screens 1,200 t/h, for example,
a manufacturer designs parts with different
strength and rigidity than they would for a 200
t/h application. This customisation ensures the
entire system runs to the proper g-force and is
strong enough to resist the forces of the
material running over the screen. The weight of
the parts, the required running speed, plus
amplitude are all taken into consideration
when balancing the screen. If an operation
chooses to fabricate a side plate and the
weight is wrong, for example, it could impact
the machine’s balance. This could lead to
improper motion in the vibrating screen
causing poor stratification of material, lower
bearing life, or premature breakage of body
components due to improper operation. In the
end, this leads to unscheduled downtime,
contaminated product, or the required tonnes
per hour not being produced.
Manufacturers design and build vibrating screens as a total system. The weight of the parts, required
running speed and amplitude are all taken into consideration when balancing the machine
130 International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2016
Duncan High is the Division Manager of
Processing Equipment Technology at Haver &
Boecker Canada. He leads a team focused on
providing customers with processing
equipment solutions to help them get the
highest possible production rates and reliability
Call for backup
Custom fabrication shops can’t offer the support
benefits of the original equipment manufacturer.
OEMs usually have the infrastructure to ensure
fast, efficient problem solving. If there is a
problem with a part, the OEM will take full
responsibili ty, quickly assess the situation and
send a replacement almost immediately. Most
parts shops don’t have the resources for a
quick, precise turn-around if the part doesn’t
work right, and there is no guarantee the
replacement fabricated part will be correct.
In addition, working with an OEM means
having a support team that understands an
operation, its production and equipment. They
know what parts will wear quickly and what
parts need to be on hand to limit downtime.
They often offer OEM supplier agreements that
ensure they will have critical parts in stock for
immediate delivery, limiting or eliminating
extended downtimes.
An OEM focus on vibrating screens also
brings an in-depth product knowledge that’s
rare elsewhere. Some manufacturer’s certified
technicians test machines as a system before
each leaves the factory, and they run the same
tests once the vibrating screen has been
commissioned to ensure results are identical.
They use this information to make sure every
component is running at OEM standards, and
the machine plus components are backed by a