Door Industry Journal - Winter 2014

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk industrial doors feature 28 THE door industry journal winter 2014 Prevention is better than cure for safe operations Systems and equipment need to be flexible and adaptable for maximum efficiency, but importantly deliver a high level of safety at all times. Leading industrial and garage door manufacturer Hörmann explains how investing in preventative maintenance services can help greatly improve industrial companies’ day-to-day functions and provide long-term financial gains. Businesses have strong commitments towards improving health and safety due to legislative changes and responsibilities within human resources. The wider use of automated equipment means a greater reliance on technology for safe and efficient operations. This is something small to medium enterprise owners, as well as blue- chip industrial corporations are starting to recognise. As a result, we have seen a trend in businesses looking to improve their internal and external processes, with maintenance becoming a central part of commercial planning. Preventative maintenance is seen as providing multiple benefits, as a robust and viable safety regime should be at the core of an organisation’s operations. This will inevitably lead to cost savings by reducing downtime and extending the all- important lifecycle of everyday equipment. Traffic light systems, wheel locks and sequenced operating systems offer some of the more technical solutions to safety concerns, while enhanced natural lighting, reduced slip hazards and better training are practical measures that are being adopted in industrial operations across the country. At Hörmann, we’ve seen an increase in demand for both more complex technical systems and for simple design solutions, such as transparent panels in roller shutters to improve visibility. Over the winter months in particular, an increase in emergency call-outs is to be expected. With distribution networks at maximum capacity, cold weather or accidental misuse of equipment can easily lead to breakdowns and costly emergency call-outs. This is particularly prevalent when hiring temporary staff over busy periods, as some may be inexperienced. And with safety systems often mechanically integrated, the consequences of downtime are not financially viable. However, in the last few years, the Hörmann service team has been privy to companies requesting additional checks of functioning equipment to prevent any further problems. In order to meet this growing need, we have developed 24/7 support that features a number of total preventative repair and maintenance packages. Multi-brand fixed price servicing is also proving popular. Companies are given greater flexibility and value by using just one maintenance provider for a range of equipment. This also helps to simplify their service schedules and regulatory compliance. With detailed documentation and audit trails often required for risk assessment and insurance purposes, we now offer real-time reporting. Using tablet computers, service engineers are linked to a central system, Mark Moore