Any materials recovery facility or recycling plant houses several types of equipment. The waste processing facilities require conveyors, forklifts, loaders but primarily, they need balers. If you are on the lookout for recycling equipment, then keep in mind that except the sorting and the separating machinery, you can get most of the equipment for hire. Even temporary operators can be hired to circumnavigate a labor jam.
However, this post is all about recycling balers and everything you need to keep in mind regarding maintenance. The baler is like the heart of an MRF or a material recovery facility. The better you and your operators are in terms of handling and maintenance, the lesser is the downtime. A baler consists of several hard to replace parts that include motors, pumps, cylinders and liner plates. It is therefore imperative to take proper care of the baler to keep your recycling plant up and running.
Find your expert baler repair and assorted services at the Recycling Balers Inc. for more information regarding the dos and don'ts of baler maintenance read on.
Keep it clean
Any equipment lasts longer if it is operated in a clean environment. It goes the same way for the recycling balers as well. Dust and debris are the two main elements that can cause baler breakdown. Keep in mind that balers often operate at high temperatures, and the dust acts as an insulator. This means the more dust/debris you have on your baler, the harder it is for the equipment to cool down.
Inspection for baler maintenance
Make sure that your operator or the staff maintains regular inspections for the baler equipment. Recycling balers come with a manufacturer's instruction booklet that summarizes the guidelines for baler maintenance on a weekly, monthly, and annual basis. This mode of preventive maintenance will make sure that your staff can identify the minor problems before it goes out of hand.
Stock up on the inventory
Here is a pro-tip for you; maintain and stock up on the inventory for baler spare parts. As we had stated in the earlier section, it is quite a difficult feat to get hold of spare parts for a recycling baler. This means, if anything goes south, the downtime will be minimal. It is a wise move to spend a bit of extra cash to load up on the spares when they are available. Because during the downtime your competitors are the ones making all the profit. Inquire about the critical spare parts and recommendation to your manufacturer or the baler rep.
Learn about the expected life
Several critical parts inside the baler need replacement after a period. Some of these can't be repaired, and it might take weeks to get one manufactured. These include the cylinders, the hydraulic, and the electrical components. Read up on the expected life of these components so that you have a clear idea of when to get them replaced. Keep in mind that if there isn't a store in your city, you might have to order one online, which means there will be shipping delays as well.
The planned preventive maintenance approach
The more you plan a preventive strategy for maintenance of your baler, the better you are at anticipating and negating small problems snowballing into complicated ones. You don't have to start repairing when the baler breaks down, instead go for routine maintenance you minimize the times you will need significant repair work. Yes, there will be certain repairs that will always lead to downtime like the relining of the equipment. Preventive maintenance is also paramount for ensuring safe operation of the baler. Maintain a weekly, monthly, and annual schedule book to inspect all the components of the equipment for safe operation.
Here is an inspection plan for you.
Components for daily inspection
- Levels for the hydraulic fluid
- The temperature of hydraulic fluid
- The hoses for the hydraulics
- Filters and cylinders
- Pumps, valves, and motors
- Check the proximity switching system
- Tensioner feed, knotter and tier cutter track and springs
- Visually inspect the cleanliness in and around the equipment
- Coolant and radiator systems
Components for weekly inspection
- Debris in the cylinder housing
- E-stop system functions
- Bale input chamber
- Bale floor for structural damage
- Placement of warning stickers
- Motor
- Magnets for oil tanks
- Items to inspect weekly include:
- Oil filters
- Drive unit bearings
- Proximity and limit switching systems
- Every electrical component
- Base cover for the tracks
- Lubrication on the knotter and track components
- Track springs
- Safety guards
Components for a monthly inspection
- Shear blade clearance
- Floor and side plating
- Pressure gauges for the hydraulic systems
The hydraulic system needs expert-level maintenance and care to ensure its proper working. The fluid needs to be analyzed periodically following the OEM or the Original Equipment Manufacturer's instruction. Maintain the oil analysis program according to your equipment manufacturer. Keep in mind that if you are looking to avoid serious breakdowns, then routine maintenance will increase the expected life for your machine.
Employee training is important
Employee training is paramount to the safe and hazardless operation of your baler. A good loader or a forklift specialist doesn't make an excellent baler handler. You need an expert or get your staff trained at baler maintenance and operations centers. Yes, there are automated versions available in the market today, but there are still functions that the individual has to be responsible for. Hire an expert and ensure the proper care and handling of your equipment.
Expert operators are maintenance gurus as well
Your baler operator will have a clear idea about the equipment he/she is operating. This means you can leave the daily inspections and maintenance on the expert. The system operates under conditions of tremendous pressure and temperature. This means a regular inspection and the experienced well-trained eye is required to ensure safety on the facility premises. There cannot be a more accountable choice than a trained expert concerning day-to-day maintenance of the baler.
The baler is well and truly the heart of the recycling operations and facilities. Ensure proper care of your equipment, and your baler will provide exceptional service. Keep your trade spinning-profit for decades.
