Preventive maintenance
Why preventive maintenance is essential
No technical system is maintenance-free. Even the best-designed and built automation solutions are subject to wear, aging, and changing conditions.
Without preventive maintenance, these small changes often only become visible when a failure occurs. This leads to unplanned downtime, disruption of processes, and in some cases even quality issues. Preventive maintenance is specifically aimed at preventing this.
Through regular maintenance, the technical condition of your system remains predictable. Components are inspected in a timely manner and, where necessary, replaced preventively. This prevents small signs of wear from developing into major problems.
Long-term benefits
The greatest advantage of preventive maintenance is certainty. You know that your systems will continue to function as intended, not only today but also in the months and years to come. This provides peace of mind on the work floor and confidence in your automation.
In practice, we see that systems that are consistently maintained preventively have a remarkably long service life. Installations from the early 2000s are still in operation today, simply because they have been well maintained over the years. Preventive maintenance therefore demonstrably extends the lifespan of your investment.
In addition, it helps to limit corrective maintenance—maintenance after a failure. Failures can never be completely ruled out, but by working preventively, you can often anticipate them. Worn components are replaced before they fail, minimizing unplanned downtime.
From reactive to planned maintenance
A key difference between corrective and preventive maintenance is planning. Corrective maintenance often takes place under time pressure: a system is down and needs to be operational again as quickly as possible. This is stressful, both for the laboratory and for planning.
Preventive maintenance, on the other hand, is planned. You know when we will visit, which activities will be carried out, and what the impact will be on your daily operations. Where possible, we schedule maintenance at times when the system is less critical, for example in the evening or in phases, so that your laboratory processes are disrupted as little as possible.
This planned approach ensures that maintenance remains manageable and becomes part of your normal operations, rather than an unwanted interruption.
Which systems do we maintain preventively?
Virtually all systems we supply are eligible for preventive maintenance. This includes larger automation solutions such as the Kitty, Irina, Iris, and our MLS. Custom-built machines are also maintained preventively.
Whether it concerns a standard solution or a custom-built system, any system that is used intensively benefits from regular maintenance. New systems are also included in the maintenance schedule shortly after commissioning—not because there is already significant wear, but precisely to ensure that everything continues to function as designed.
How often does preventive maintenance take place?
The frequency of preventive maintenance is not fixed. It is determined based on several factors, such as the type of system, the intensity of use, and the role of the system within your process.
A high-throughput laboratory that operates 24/7 places different demands on maintenance than a lab that only operates during office hours. Systems that run continuously inevitably experience wear more quickly. In such cases, we visit more frequently to monitor the technical condition.
The starting point is always the same: maintenance that fits your specific situation.
What does a preventive maintenance visit look like?
A maintenance visit begins even before our engineers arrive on site. In advance, we align on any specific points of attention and ensure that the right tools and parts are brought along. This allows us to work efficiently and avoid surprises.
During the visit, we carry out inspections, cleaning, adjustments, and replacements in accordance with a fixed maintenance plan. Where possible, we do this in phases so that your system is not out of operation for extended periods. In some cases, we work (partly) in the evening hours, ensuring that the system is fully operational again the next working day.
This approach offers an additional advantage: we can immediately verify that everything is functioning correctly in your daily practice after maintenance. This provides extra assurance for both you and us.
Maintenance contracts: clear and tailored to your needs
For preventive maintenance, we work with maintenance contracts. These contracts provide clarity regarding frequency, response times, and service levels. For most larger systems, a standardized maintenance level applies, often mandatory during the first years after delivery. After that, the contract can be renewed annually.
For some systems, multiple service levels are available. The choice strongly depends on how critical the system is to your process. If downtime is immediately problematic, you may opt for a higher service level with fast response times. If a manual alternative is available, a lower level may be sufficient.
It is important that these choices are always made in consultation. We think along with you and provide honest advice about what is sensible and what might be unnecessary overkill. Ultimately, you remain free to choose the maintenance level that best fits your risk tolerance and operational needs.
Investing in certainty
Preventive maintenance is not a cost item, but an investment in continuity, quality, and peace of mind. It helps you maintain control over your processes, prevent unexpected downtime, and extend the lifespan of your systems.
Would you like to know what preventive maintenance could mean for your specific situation? Or are you curious which maintenance level best suits your laboratory?
Please feel free to contact us via the form at the bottom of this page. We are happy to think along with you and provide non-binding advice on the best approach for your systems.
Want to know more about this service? Contact us!
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