BALING EQUIPMENT FOCUS
by brian taylor
Maintain, People
The reasons to be diligent with maintenance compile at the bottom line.
Buddy Himes of Himes Service Co.,
based in Waco, Texas, has spent the
past three decades either helping
recyclers to avoid production problems or correcting existing problems for
them if it’s too late for preventive equipment maintenance.
In his role installing, maintaining and
servicing recycling equipment at paper-stock plants and material recovery facilities (MRFs), Himes also has become
convinced that good housekeeping is a
critical part of maintenance and production efficiency.
In a presentation he has at times given
to recycling companies and at recycling
industry events, Himes touches on several
aspects of plant maintenance.
AVOIDING BALER BLOWOUT
As much as the ultimate cost savings of
maintenance is preached, Himes says he
still receives questions that cumulatively
lead to the question: “Is maintenance a
bad word?”
He says some comments he receives
along this line include:
• From production managers—I don’t
like it but it’s necessary.
• From maintenance people—The first
thing that gets cut is the maintenance
budget.
• From maintenance people—I just
don’t have enough time to do preventive maintenance because I’m too busy
repairing broken down equipment.
Why else might maintenance be considered a “bad word?” Himes says other
reasons he hears include added cost, the
struggle to find qualified personnel to
perform the work and the cost of inventorying spare parts.
Hiring an employee just for maintenance may not be sustainable, or, if one
is hired, he or she may begin to take on
other tasks that soon get in the way of the
ideal maintenance schedule, Himes says.
66 REC YCLING TODAY // FEBRUAR Y 2009
www.Recycling Today.com
