Three Tips to Keep Your Mobile Rig in Shape


Jerry Pollard and Jake Jacobson, Intech Equipment & Supply, Inc.

Think about all the garages you have been in. Some are messy, and some are clean and organized. When you step into a garage for the first time, does that contribute to your opinion of the owner?

The same principle applies to your mobile spray rigs. Keeping your mobile spray rigs clean and organized will definitely impact your professional image, but it also may impact your profits.

Equipment readiness can make or break your spray foam operations. It’s time to take control of your spray system, learn how to increase its operational readiness, and boost your spray foam quality and productivity above and beyond your competition. Here’s our Top 3 on how to do it.

1. Housekeeping

Clean your work area, organize it, and keep it clean. Everything should have a place. Simply put, a messy, dirty rig will not perform effectively and efficiently over time. Here’s why:

Iso, resin, hydraulic oil, compressor oil, pump lubricants, air tool oil, and other common liquids used on a spray rig can be rather sticky by nature. When not cleaned from equipment, these sticky substances attract dust, dirt, debris, and other airborne contaminants. These contaminants increase friction and abrasiveness on pump shafts, seals, motor shafts, and other moving parts, lending to their degradation and eventual failure. A clean spray rig reduces the possibility of dangerous slips, trips, and falls.

Clean equipment will highlight a potential problem or leak, and dirty equipment will hide it. Clean-up time should be an integral part of the daily routine. Keep it clean!


2. Change Fluids and Filters

It is amazing to me that many spray rigs, typically in the $40,000 to $90,000 range, receive no preventive maintenance at all. When it breaks, it gets fixed. Does that make sense? Design engineers have specified fluids and filters for the function and protection of the equipment. Ignoring the fluids and filters in your spray system is the fastest way to degrade and eventually destroy your equipment.

Keep all fluids and filters clean per recommendations in equipment manuals. Here are some typical fluids and filters you should maintain on a regular basis.

Fluids:
•    Generator – coolant, oil, battery
•    Air compressor – Electric: compressor oil, motor bearings. Gasoline: compressor oil, engine oil
•    Proportioner – Iso pump lubricant, hydraulic oil, lithium grease on threaded fittings
•    Fresh air system – solvent flush per manufacturer when needed to increase air flow
•    Air system – drain receiver, filters, and coalescers daily

Filters:
•    Generator – air, oil, fuel
•    Air compressor – Electric: air pump inlet filter. Gasoline: air pump inlet filter, engine air filter, fuel filter
•    Proportioner – inlet strainer, hydraulic filter, lube bottle strainer
•    Spray gun – inlet material filters, check air exhaust muffler
•    Fresh air system – inlet filter, outlet filter
•    Air system – air filters, coalescers, desiccant

3. Establish a Preventive Maintenance Program

Some benefits of improved maintenance might result in reduced repairs, reduced down time, reduced overtime, increased equipment life, increased equipment availability, increased consistency and quality of foam, increased productivity, improved competitive position, lower cost to deliver product, and lower overall maintenance cost.

Management, supervisors, and production planners must support the maintenance effort with their attention and money. Many applicators cannot and/or will not perform the required maintenance tasks unless it is driven from the top down. Management, supervisors, and production planners must allow for clean-up time at the end of each day and must schedule down time. Scheduled down time puts you in control of when maintenance is performed and increases productivity over time. Small repairs should be completed on the spot, if possible. Large repairs should be scheduled as soon as the problem is identified and completed on time.
   
Make a decision today to clean up that messy rig and get it organized. If you are already there, review your maintenance records. Plan, establish, and follow through with a preventive maintenance program, and enjoy the benefits of a well-maintained and productive spray rig. Your existing and future customers will take notice.


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