Conveyor Chain Maintenance

Conveyor chains depreciate as time passes on.  To reduce operational costs, companies should endeavor to keep their conveyor chains working optimally. Regular maintenance is, therefore, a necessity rather than an additional cost. This can be achieved through the following ways;

Come up with a preventive maintenance schedule
This does not have to be a time-consuming affair, rather, taking a walk, listening and looking into anything out of the ordinary should be enough. Oil drippings and unusual noise should be pointers to a problem. The operation area should be clean so that you can identify these oil drippings. Alternating the maintenance technicians ascertains fresh eyes every time it is checked, therefore making it easier to identify a problem. Any damage should be reported immediately to keep the system from breaking down completely thereby compromising operations. A skilled technician should be able to correct a problem before it blows out of proportion.

Performing regular system audits
It is imperative that technicians document their observations. Keeping detailed reports of their maintenance and repair activities as well as when parts are replaced can help predict the maintenance schedule. It is vital to slow down the conveyor system, as always operating it at full speed only leads to premature wearing out. The conveyor chains should be serviced as and when it is due and comprehensive conveyor chain checks be carried out quarterly and annually by independent technicians.

Replacing worn spare parts
Much as you may have a near perfect maintenance schedule, parts wearing out is quite inevitable. Not every worn out part of a conveyor chain can halt the production, but if not immediately replaced, it can cause critical damage to other parts and lead to massive losses. Stocking of critical parts is advised to avoid huge mechanical downtimes.

Lubricating the chain
Every once in a while a lubricant should be poured on the conveyor’s tail, on the side bearing the load. This allows it to move the lubricant across the entire wear strip thereby keeping the surface slippery. Please consult a specialist as not all lubricants are compatible with every conveyor system. In most cases, thorough cleaning and lubrication of conveyor rollers and plates increase its longevity.

Conveyor chain maintenance should not be viewed as an extra expense. Regular maintenance can even extend the conveyor chain’s recommended time of operation. Planning for emergencies and coming up with contingency plans where everybody knows what to do in case of a breakdown is imperative. For any inquiries on all issues related to Conveyor Chain, feel free to contact us.

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