FACILITIeS MAnAgeMenT
or reactive maintenance, site owners and operators should turn to companies skilled in this field. With over 70 years’ engineering expertise and operating one of the UK’s largest industrial servicing facilities, Alfa Laval is well-placed to consult on best possible strategies. Indeed, choosing a knowledgeable
supplier can help reduce the possibility of downtime and help businesses hit all- important sustainability targets. Taking into account the disruption to ongoing maintenance that has occurred since the first UK lockdown was announced in March 2020, engaging expertise can also help stave off the very real possibility of a ‘breakdown backlog.’ This situation, where unavoidable cutbacks on routine repairs has left a wide variety of components at risk of failure as they are brought back online, is one that should be avoided at all costs. Organisations such as Alfa Laval therefore provide regular in-field analysis to detect potential component issues before they become full-blown- problems. By doing so, key components such as plate heat exchangers do not need to be taken offline for extended periods for remedial work – a situation which could by itself cause disruption. Such an approach allows organisations
to minimise maintenance costs while keeping production on-schedule. Skilled engineers from these organisations can diagnose component issues and restore them to prime working condition with expertise that may not otherwise be readily available within some
companies’ workforces. Furthermore, the reach of companies like Alfa Laval,
which holds 97 per cent of its parts in stock for next-day delivery, ensures businesses will not remain offline for a prolonged period of time.
The sound Long-Term choice
In conclusion, while expert servicing can be treated as a ‘marginal gain’ that can be de-prioritised due to COVID-affected finances and priorities, the opposite is actually true. Indeed, especially at a time when operational budgets have been straitened by the pandemic, and as margins recede and markets become increasingly commoditised, effective maintenance is a must. The so-called ‘marginal gains’ realised
through properly maintaining specialised equipment such as plate heat exchangers can also positively impact the entire production process, leading to reduced downtime, more sustainable use of energy and higher yields. With competition continuing to ramp up as businesses recover and look forward to undisrupted operations once again, such benefits could be hugely impactful on an organisation’s short and long-term health. Contrastingly, remaining complacent and opting for a reactive maintenance strategy could lead to further issues and problems companies can ill afford. To download Alfa Laval’s full report on
plate heat exchanger maintenance, ‘Fit for Duty’, visit:
www.alfalaval.co.uk/fitforduty
Alfa Laval
www.alfalaval.com
FACTORY&HAnDLIngSOLUTIOnS | jULY/AUgUST 2021 31
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