In many logistics businesses, loading bays are operating at maximum capacity as the build up to Christmas continues. This has led directly to a surge in emergency call-outs for service engineers as loading equipment is put under increasing pressure.
Higher volumes also mean there is a greater chance of accidental damage and with temporary staff and agency drivers added to the mix, there is the added risk that a lack of familiarity with procedures could add to the safety issues at a site.
There has been a steady growth in demand for routine preventative planned maintenance as more and more operators realise both the safety and financial benefits. If a breakdown or accident occurs, it is not just the cost of an emergency call-out that can affect operations. There is the knock-on effect of the downtime and sometimes, even the added hazard of short cuts being taken with malfunctioning loading bay equipment.
Mark Moore, Service Manager at Hörmann (UK) Limited has seen both the good and the bad already this year. He said, “We were approached earlier in the year by a major operator to ensure that all their loading bay equipment was properly serviced and operating at maximum efficiency by putting in place a national maintenance program. On the other hand we have examples of equipment failing simply because springs haven’t been re-tensioned. A routine job that ends up costing a lot more than it should.
“It is understandable that equipment, that has proved to be reliable year-in year-out, can sometimes be taken for granted. Our 24/7 repair service has become exceptionally busy but we are trying our best to minimise customers’ costs by offering routine maintenance of other equipment while on-site. This way we can reduce call-out costs and prevent similar incidents occurring.”
Hörmann operates a 24/7 maintenance and repair service for all makes of equipment. Preventative planned maintenance programmes can be put in place that not only give you the peace of mind that equipment is operating safely but can also help to minimise downtime and maximise the utilisation of equipment.
An added benefit of Hörmann’s service, maintenance and emergency cover is that all activity is recorded on a real-time support system. The linking of the tablet computers carried by the service engineers to the central system also creates a database of equipment or assets to ensure that maintenance schedules are met in a timely fashion. Importantly this system will keep records of all actions and recommendations in one place, creating a simplified audit trail and ensuring that the correct data is always on hand for insurance and risk assessment purposes.
Additionally the relevant data is readily available to check that all equipment is compliant with the recently introduced CE marking regulations.
Regular service and maintenance can save you time and money, by reducing downtime, improving efficiency and extending the life cycle of equipment.
To reflect this, Hörmann is also able to offer extended warranties for its own equipment when service contracts are included, adding further value.
For more information on the support and extended warranties available, contact Hörmann’s service team on 01530 516856.
Hörmann Group
Tel: 01530 516888
Email: info@hormann.co.uk
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