If your electric motor fails, you stand to lose a lot in terms of both cost and 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.
Overall, there are three options when motor failures occur: to rewind, 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.
Repair vs rewind: the costs
It may seem like the obvious choice to start repair once an issue arises. However, in some cases, repair work may not be the most cost-effective pathway.
Replacing the motor completely may be a wiser option if your motor is older. 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.
Repairing a motor is normally more affordable than installing a new motor. However, you should balance the short-term costs with long-term savings to make an informed decision that will truly benefit your business.
What does motor downtime cost?
Motor failure can lead to additional costs across your business. With 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.
How much this downtime will cost is unique to your business. You should establish what these costs will be should the motor 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 breakdown should be the priority. There are several different types of maintenance that can be carried out to ensure the longevity of your electrical motor.
Preventative maintenance — such as cleaning, lubricating and performance monitoring — can help stop potential issues in their tracks. 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.
Motor failure is bad news for businesses. 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.