In the competitive environment of industrial production, every minute counts. Flow-pack wrapping machines are a mainstay of many production lines, but like any industrial equipment, they are subject to wear and tear and occasional failure. That’s why having an adequate stock of spare parts is not only advisable: it is essential.
The importance of a stock of spare parts
In the manufacturing industry, operational efficiency is a goal that is constantly pursued to maximize productivity and reduce costs. Companies that integrate automatic flow-pack wrappers into their production lines must bear in mind the different scenarios that arise when industrial equipment wears out.
This is where having a stock of spare parts plays an important role. Having this kit can avoid long machine downtimes in case of failure, anticipate the end-of-life of mechanical and electrical components or ensure the availability of parts when they have noticeable wear.
Why should you have a stock of spare parts for your wrapping machine
Downtime reduction
The main goal of having a stock of spare parts is to have the ability to minimize downtime. When a flow-pack wrapping machine suffers a failure, every minute counts. Having the replacement part available instantly avoids the waiting time for new material, which varies depending on part availability. This delay could cause a complete shutdown of the line, significantly reducing the company’s production capacity.
Having an adequate stock allows fast and efficient replacement, minimizes downtime and ensures that production starts again as soon as possible.
Cost control and long-term savings
While it is true that having a stock of spare parts involves an initial investment cost, this is quickly offset by the savings from reduced downtime. The cost of unplanned downtime can be 10 to 30 times higher than the value of the spare parts required for industrial machines, according to studies by consulting firms such as Deloitte and McKinsey.
Some of the factors that cause costs to spiral out of control are:
- Loss of production.
- Delays in the supply chain.
- Additional costs for emergency maintenance.
- Increased logistics costs.
Long-term effects on equipment
In addition to the immediate impact on production, a machine that is not properly maintained (including timely replacement of worn parts) can suffer more serious and costly damage in the long run. This could lead to more critical failures, which could be avoided by following the maintenance recommendations of the OEMs as well as of the flow-pack wrapping machine suppliers.
At Synchropack we emphasize the importance of having a basic spare parts stock beyond the free spare parts package we offer after equipment purchase. In addition, our machines have a customized preventive maintenance plan. In this way, we increase the safety and reliability of our equipment by anticipating possible interruptions and at the same time extending the useful life of the equipment.
The economic impact of not having spare parts in stock
The lack of spare parts not only means a direct cost associated with the repair but can also have an indirect impact on different areas of work. Some of the costs that a company may face when a flow-pack wrapper stops are: loss of production while the machine is out of service, delays in the delivery of goods or higher repair costs when resorting to urgent services, either for shipping or repair.
Having a basic stock for wrapping machines is not an unnecessary expense, but a strategic investment that guarantees production continuity, reduces long-term costs and protects customer relations.
Which spare parts should be part of the basic stock?
A good stock of spare parts should include the components that are most likely to fail or that are critical to the operation of the stretch wrapper. Some of the components that should not be missing in a flow-pack’s basic stock are:
- Knives: they are essential to ensure accuracy and efficiency of the wrapping process.
- Jaws: they are basic parts in the formation of the packages and the cutting of the film.
- Sensors and photocells: these devices are responsible for synchronizing the packaging process and product detection.
- Motors: their failure can paralyze the entire packaging machine.
- Bearings: a fundamental pillar to ensure that the packaging cycle is correct, and the different groups of the machine move in a synchronized way.
If you need more information about our spare parts and maintenance service, you can contact us at service@synchropack.com and we will evaluate your case.
