Processing, July 2019

Also remember to carefully evaluate each option against the desired performance criteria Fine tune maintenance procedures Once established a preventive maintenance program can be continuously improved with tweaks over time Performing destructive testing on a replacement hose for instance can help determine whether a hose was replaced too soon or too late Analyze the recorded historical data to determine if any intervals should be lengthened or shortened Further operators can observe which speci c hoses require frequent replacement and then consider alternative material options or coverings to prolong the life of those hoses Stay prepared with replacement hoses Once regular replacement intervals have been established new hoses can and should be ordered in advance Keeping spare inventory is good practice because even the best preventive maintenance programs cannot predict or prevent every possible issue that may arise Spare hoses should typically be on hand for the following circumstances Critical applications Always keep readily available spares to correct hose applications that present critical safety hazards or severe downtime potential Likely failures Some hose operating environments simply have greater failure potential Keep spares on hand to accommodate frequent replacements for hoses kinking moving in two planes or experiencing vibration for example Alternatively find a more suitable hose for the application or adjust the system to remove strain on the hose Special applications Keep spares of hoses that present sourcing di culty For example if a hose featuring a specialized material has a three week lead time from the supplier keep several spares on hand to avoid prolonged downtime Realizing a return on investment Developing implementing and maintaining a preventive maintenance plan for industrial hoses requires a significant amount of work but the investment is worthwhile With fewer required replacements enhanced safety and optimized processing uptime the proof will quickly be revealed in the form of cost savings and improved pro tability An original version of this article appeared on the Swagelok Reference Point blog here www swagelok com en blog industrial hose maintenance plan saveplant thousands Alice Chin is eld engineer North America for Swagelok Company She can be reached at alice chin@ swagelok com Swagelok Company www swagelok com Completely Customizable 12 Processing JULY 2019 N F P A Compliant CI SERIES VALVE Endless combinations of features and options for your application your material and your industry acsvalves com CI Open End Rotor Closed End Rotor Helical Rotor Adjustable Rotor Metering Rotor Staggered Pocket Rotor These grab sampling system panels feature elbows and adapters at the horizontal hose end connections to prevent hose strain Visit processingmagazine com for more on maintenance and safety MORE ONLINE