MACHINING & MACHINERY EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE
NATIONAL FLOORING EQUIPMENT
Moving and maintaining your flooring machinery
As Emmert Wolf said , a man is only as good as his tools , so operators and rental companies should focus on maintaining their machinery to make them as effective as possible . With some replacement parts costing thousands , extending the lifespan of each part in a surface removal machine is key to reducing downtime , costs and increasing productivity . Here Geoff Putz , vice president of manufacturing at surface preparation expert , National Flooring Equipment , answers some common questions about loading and maintaining equipment .
To remain efficient and cost effective , operators must remember to protect their machines during the floor removal process to reduce damages and help extend the lifespan of each machine component . A lack of care with machinery could create health and safety risks to the operator and rapidly decrease the lifespan of parts . Here are some of the main ways to protect your machinery .
HOW DO I SAFELY TRANSPORT A WALK-BEHIND SCRAPER ?
During loading and unloading , operators risk slamming a walkbehind into the floor as it moves up a ramp , which can drastically shorten the lifespan of the machine . Contractors should always attach and use transport wheels when manoeuvring walk-behind scrapers to limit damage and remove them while in transit to limit additional movement when in a vehicle .
Operators can load the machines in different ways depending on what ’ s available . For example , if there is an electrical outlet , operators can simply drive the machine up a ramp and onto the trailer . If electricity is not available , take the drive pins off the wheels to allow free movement , check the tilt is up and use a winch cable to pull it onto the vehicle . Check local laws when securing the machine to ensure it meets regulation , but we also recommend using a chain to tie the machine down to stop it getting damaged during transportation .
HOW DO I UNLOAD AND RELOAD A RIDE-ON SCRAPER ?
When the transport wheels are attached flat to a ride-on scraper , the machine will tilt back a little to stop the wheels spinning around as it moves , altering the centre of gravity . Operators should always back ride-ons into the trailer , so the centre of gravity is more stable and safer as the machine is unloaded .
The weight and size of the ride-on machines can be a risk to the operator , so we recommend that any operator wears personal protective equipment when using the machinery , like steel toe shoes , to protect them from any accidents . The weight also needs to be taken into consideration when choosing a trailer to use . The weight of some machinery could easily damage a trailer if not properly reinforced , costing businesses large sums to replace damaged equipment .
HOW REGULARLY SHOULD I MAINTAIN MY MACHINERY ?
The lifespan of components is heavily reliant on how regularly you use the machinery . If there is an accident , we do see new machines needing repair work . More commonly , if a machine is rented out , it can be five or six years before parts need maintaining or replacing . If the machine is owner operated , some will never need replacements and other we will see ten years after purchase for battery replacements or new chargers .
National Flooring Equipment has surface preparation experts around the globe who are always available for after sale support on any surface preparation issue , from choosing the right machine to effective transportation .
To talk to our experts , contact National Flooring Equipment today https :// nationalequipmentdirect . com / contact .
108 PECM Issue 58