Indramat manufactured some of the most reliable industrial motion control products the world’s ever seen. Indramat servos come with a 10-year estimated lifetime, which is the lifetime of the servo’s lubricated bearings. However, that estimate is kind of like the expiration date on a bag of sugar — it’s there out of necessity, but it doesn’t actually indicate shelf life. It’s common for Indramat servos to run two or three decades after installation before needing service.
They just don’t make them like they used to
This saying refers to the superior craftsmanship and attention to detail of goods made in the past. Goods used to be crafted or constructed. People took pride in their work and items were made to last a lifetime.
Then mass production was all the rage, and for a stretch of time the lowest possible cost was all that mattered to consumers. No one really cared where something was made, who made it, what it was made out of, or how well it was made as long as it was cheap. If it broke, which it most certainly would, you could easily toss it and buy a cheap replacement. It didn’t matter that you’d end up spending more money and wasting more resources in the process.
We’re slowly seeing a shift back to the old ways as people are willing to pay more for domestic, sustainably sourced, and responsibly manufactured goods. Consumers care more about company transparency and sturdy construction than they do about the lowest price tag. People choose to spend $5 rather than a buck for a dozen eggs if it means the chickens were treated fairly.
“They just don’t make them like they used to” also has a more literal meaning for Indramat motion control products. If your servo drive, control, or motor has an Indramat stamp, it’s a legacy product. This means that it is no longer manufactured. Indramat motion control products haven’t been made new in this century. So if you’re running a legacy Indramat system, you’ve got to take care of it.
Caring for your legacy Indramat products
You can’t just go out and buy a brand new Indramat servo motor. You have to care for your system and repair it as needed. Fortunately, Indramat systems were made in the tradition of quality and craftsmanship, which means that they’re designed to be repaired rather than replaced.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Ensure proper installation and use. Indramat systems can run for decades without service if installed and used properly. However, it’s still wise to service your system even when there isn’t a problem.
- Routine inspection and preventive maintenance allow you to identify problems-to-be and prevent errors before they occur.
- Clean your system whenever necessary. Excess pollution and buildup can cause your system to work harder than necessary.
- Clear faults and errors as soon as they occur. treat this like the check engine light on your car. Fixing a simple error prevents a big problem in the future.
- Make repairs as soon as the need arises. Again, waiting only increase the risk for downtime and the cost involved for repair.
- Don’t settle for a third party repair. You don’t actually save any money with third party repairs. Best case scenario, it takes longer than necessary to restore your system. Worst case scenario, your machinery is damaged beyond repair and you have to prematurely replace your system.
Indramat factory repair is the safest, most reliable, and most cost-effective solution for Indramat repairs. Call 479-422-0390 for all of your Indramat service needs.