At a time in the economy when every penny needs to be well spent, I would like to draw attention to a problem we have as suppliers to Brazilian industry. It is clear that no entrepreneur invests in his industrial park thinking about wasting money, but that is what happens when maintenance is not rigorously followed.

The main point gained when doing homework manutenção is the increase in the useful life of the machines. Make an analogy with your personal vehicle: if you run and ignore the right time for oil, filter and parts changes, when it breaks, you will certainly have a higher cost and will be without the car for longer.

To avoid this in the industrial context, there are two general models to follow. A preventive maintenance is the one planned to occur in a certain time interval. The predictive one, which can also be planned periodically, uses measurements by devices to check the condition of the equipment and any need for replacement.

Unfortunately, due to the condition of the equipment that comes to us for restoration, it is clear that this care is not always taken. And the result is an extra expense for the entrepreneur. Trying to extend the life of equipment and ignoring maintenance is not a good idea.

It is important to remember that each industrial profile requires a type of update and change planning. In the case of the chemical industry, for example, each company must plan the measurements according to the corrosive potential of the liquids it uses.

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A good example of equipment that requires periodic changes, but which is often neglected, is the diaphragm of valve sealing. It must be in perfect condition so that there are no leaks. Replacement must occur at certain intervals, because if there is a break, it compromises other components of the valve or even the entire system.

For these cases, the German technology that arrived in Brazil this year called Sistema Conexo, fits perfectly. It allows attaching chips to various equipment in the manufacturing unit, which gather information on the machine's composition, maintenance dates and even the name of the responsible professional. It is a resource that meets the transformation of Industry 4.0 – using information provided by the equipment itself for decision making.

Whichever maintenance model is chosen, the main recommendation is: follow the installation instructions, either via the website, catalog or other manufacturer contact. This will bring savings and peace of mind to your production process.

*Andreas Göhringer is CEO of GEMÜ Valves, Measuring and Control Systems in Brazil.

About GEMÜ – The subsidiary of the German multinational created by Fritz Müller in the 1960s provides the Brazilian market with valves of extreme efficiency and quality. The plant located in São José dos Pinhais (PR), which has 100 employees and celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2021, produces valves and accessories for the treatment of water and effluents in industries of all areas, such as steel, fertilizers and the automotive sector, as well as to integrate power generation systems. In the area of ​​PFB (pharmaceuticals, food and biotechnology), GEMÜ is a world leader and sells high-precision products throughout Latin America, with local service, in addition to consulting with professionals capable of guiding the choice of the best valve solution for each application.