Motor Failure: the big decision

Your motor should be your priority — if anything was to happen to it, it could set you back with costs but also your productivity. However, when the worst does happen, you’ll need to rectify the issue quickly and efficiently to minimise the impact downtime can have on your business.

Engineering teams are usually faced with tough decisions when it comes to motor failure, whether they think it will be best to repair or replace the motor. To make the best choice, they need to evaluate a number of factors. Here, motor repair specialist Houghton International explains what should be considered to make an informed decision in the event of motor failure.

To repair or replace your motor

Repairing something that is broken would seem like the best solution, especially with something as important as your motor. However, in some cases, repair work may not be the most cost-effective pathway. You will see the benefits of replacing an older motor. The EPAct and EISA law are working in tandem to set new efficiency standards for electric motors, and we’ve seen significant improvements in efficiencies over the years. If your motor is older, you may not be seeing the cost-savings that these new motors offer, which can be substantial over the lifetime of the motor.

Replacing your motor entirely will be more expensive than repairing it. However, you should balance the short-term costs with long-term savings to make an informed decision that will truly benefit your business.

The cost of motor downtime

A number of processes relying on the motor’s performance — downtime can have a significant impact on other areas of the plant, stopping productivity in its tracks.

Prices can vary depending on the company you go with. It is worth establishing what the costs will be should your motor ever fail. By doing so, you can then work out the best course of action. For example, if parts are needed or repair work will take an extended period of time, you could end up sacrificing a significant amount of revenue. In these instances, you may need to consider alternative measures, such as temporary fixes or the prospect of installing a new motor that is readily available.

Avoiding motor failure completely is the main aim. There are several different types of maintenance that can be carried out to ensure the longevity of your electrical motor.

To try and avoid an issue like motor failure, you must combat regular cleaning, performance monitoring and lubrication. Predictive maintenance includes monitoring the motor’s performance over time and establishing trends to work out when potential issues can arise, then putting measures in place to stop them.

Failure of the motor can be a huge set back in your day-to-day life. While you’ll need to consider how best to react in such a scenario, the emphasis is clearly on preventing the situation arising at all, avoiding wasted time and lost revenue.

Leave a Reply

Tweet
Share
Share