Mining repair and support service from Altra Industrial Motion

In many cases, the easy-to-reach resources have already been extracted, meaning todays equipment is increasingly sophisticated and having to work even harder to reach what is left.

Maintenance of equipment is a vital consideration in all areas of the mining industry, where high mechanical stresses and the reliance on aging equipment can quickly impact on asset availability. The cost of downtime is significant, and that of unplanned downtime even more so. Any necessary repairs frequently extend far beyond the single component that failed, with an unexpected failure often being the cause of damage to other components with the machinery, resulting in further costs.

Such is the challenge of the operating environment that preventative maintenance is essential, with sensors now routinely embedded into equipment to flag up impending mechanical problems. Even so, unexpected breakdowns are still considered an unfortunate fact of life for many mine operators, which is hardly surprising considering the stresses and strains that mining equipment is subject to.

Altra Industrial Motion provides service and repair centres that are strategically located close to many of the world’s largest mining regions. For example, the company has certified rebuild and service facilities in North America, South America, South Africa and central Europe, recognising the importance not only of local presence but also of native language speakers. Services can include commissioning, maintenance, comprehensive overhaul, and even a complete rebuilding of the original component.

The company’s certified repair and support services ensure that equipment is maintained to the highest standards to guarantee long-term asset availability. The company can point to many instances where faulty installation or the use of non-genuine parts has quickly compromised an operation, in some cases causing significant damage to other areas of the powertrain.

A good example was the installation of non-genuine replacement friction discs in a large 60 inch Wichita Standard Ventilated Clutch. Upon machine start-up following the installation, it was discovered that the discs were severely unbalanced, which led to a very high level of vibratory load and subsequent premature tooth failure. Although the machine was stopped almost immediately after installation, unfortunately damage had already been inflicted on the main clutch parts, resulting in unnecessary expense and downtime.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/product-news/16042019/mining-repair-and-support-service-from-altra-industrial-motion/