Richard Wilson of leading fan manufacturer Woodcock & Wilson explains the benefits of having industrial fans regularly maintained and serviced

Far too many companies neglect to have their fans maintained and serviced on a regular basis, choosing instead to run the risk of failure before actually doing something about it. However, the phrase ‘prevention is better than cure’ has never been more relevant - after all, you wouldn’t continue to drive your new car for years and years without having it regularly serviced. So why choose to neglect a piece of equipment that is critical to the smooth running of your operation?

Depending on its application an industrial fan can have a life span of more than forty years, during which time numerous potential problems can occur, ranging from dirt collecting in the impeller, throwing the fan out of balance, to the bearings and motors failing.

Neglecting to maintain and service a fan on a regular basis can also lead to serious health and safety issues. For example, a noisy and uncomfortable working environment for employees due to increased vibration can potentially breech Noise and Vibration Legislation. Companies therefore have a responsibility to consider the environmental impact of their work, maintain a clean working environment, take measures to reduce emissions and avoid accidents.

In addition, if a fan were to unexpectedly break down there is also the danger from critical failure of the rotating parts not to mention the costs associated with repair and lost production time.

Regular on-site maintenance and servicing by experienced engineers can help to detect and prevent faults to all types of industrial fans, reducing the risk of breakdown, saving time and money as well as ensuring the life expectancy of the machine is maintained.

A typical service only takes a day and would normally include the following:

-  inspecting the overall condition of fans
-  inspecting fan bearings for wear and re-greasing or replacing where necessary
-  inspecting, adjusting or replacing drive belts on belt driven fans
-  inspecting and checking alignment of couplings on direct coupled fans and replacing coupling if necessary
- removing access doors and checking impeller for wear or damage
- test running fans and monitoring vibration levels 

It is recommended that companies enlist the support of a fan servicing company that employs qualified engineers who understand the construction principals of fan manufacturing and design, as this experience allows them to draw on their in-house expertise when inspecting fans on site – crucial when fault-finding and problem solving.

In order to maintain competitive edge, more and more companies from a wide range of industries are realising the real and tangible benefits of having a contract maintenance and repair service for their fans, enabling them to maintain and maximise production performance levels at all times.

Make sure you’re company is one of them and that you don’t run the risk of failure. After all, prevention is better than cure!

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