More and more companies are turning to refurbishment of their canmaking machines and parts as a cost effective and efficient way of increasing the productivity of their lines. Our engineers work with the full range of CMB Engineering equipment, including some of our earliest models, as well as other manufacturers' machines. The scope of refurbishment can be tailored to suit your needs, with the end goal being to ensure every element is in optimal condition.
Using Refurbishment and Enhancement to Boost Productivity and Flexibility
As we age, routine physicals and check-ups with the doctor guide us toward treatments and supplements that we can take to keep our bodies going and improve our health. Canmaking machines need care too, in order to keep them running healthily and to maximise return on the capital investment. Can production technology is extremely robust and developed specifically to operate for decades, with no deterioration in operating efficiency, when regularly maintained. A well-balanced regimen, including consistent maintenance and refurbishment, with a dose of enhancements and upgrades can extend machinery lifetime; ensuring optimum line performance and enhance speed and flexibility for output and efficiency gains.
Can manufacturers can enlist the advice of expert engineers to determine whether their machinery is in need of a refurbishment, or if upgrades are available. As with human healthcare, prevention is always better than treatment; and can manufacturers know that implementing a preventative maintenance programmes will ensure their machines are always at their best.
Time for a Refurb?
Can manufacturers worldwide are striving to maximise production throughput while maintaining can quality, and keeping an eye on the bottom line. More and more companies are turning to refurbishment of their machines and parts as a cost-effective and alternative way of maintaining the productivity of their lines. The scope of refurbishment, tailored to a specific plant, line or machine with the end goal being to ensure every element is in the best possible condition; enabling the production of the highest quality product. Refurbishments can vary from full machine rebuilds to specific component overhauls. It is important however, to plan properly and implement such refurbishments to minimise disruption and downtime.
Something Old, Something New
Canmakers know that they need to be on their toes to provide packaging that meets ever-changing industry demands however, this does not necessarily require replacing an entire machine or line; it is possible to achieve a number of alterations or improvements through the enhancement or upgrade of existing equipment. There are a number of key trends affecting the canmaking industry which can be met with equipment upgrades and enhancements; for example, with changing consumer needs and brand owner demands for increased product differentiation, new can sizes and shapes are becoming more popular globally. In North America particularly, differentiation is a key concern. This is leading to a growing number of manufacturers focussing upon upgrading their equipment, in order to produce cans that stand out from the competition.
Meanwhile in Asia, raw material costs are a major concern, thus leading regional can manufacturers to frequently request conversion of their equipment to produce lighter-weight cans. In some instances, upgrading canmaking machinery with new features is an effective way of adapting production lines to these shifting conditions. This can include the addition of components, such as an Internal Base Reforming (IBR) Unit, which further strengthens the dome of the can base. An IBR allows the use of thinner coil stock to reduce the weight of cans, enabling manufacturers to use less material and minimise cost without affecting packaging integrity.
Seek Advice
Before a refurbishment or upgrade decision is made, it is important for manufacturers to assess the needs of their market and to discuss these with their equipment suppliers. This will determine how best to adapt their canmaking lines. For ideal outcomes, suppliers should have engineering experts who can travel to customers’ manufacturing facilities to identify how to optimise production line performance, and minimise operating costs. As well as guidance regarding the latest innovations to upgrade machinery, these engineers can also audit machinery to identify which, if any, components require additional maintenance or refurbishment to ensure optimal productivity.
To keep their machines healthy over the long-term, can manufacturers, in consultation with their machinery suppliers, should devise a maintenance and equipment auditing regimen. Audits are designed to identify components such as rams, bearings and bushes that may need replacing to maintain product quality. Many canmaking machines have been designed to allow the quick and efficient replacement of existing components with new parts to minimise downtime. Manufacturers should be sure to enlist the assistance of their equipment suppliers to calculate the total cost of ownership of existing refurbished or updated machinery, in comparison with investment in new machinery, to make an informed decision.
Canmakers and their Machines: A lifelong Partnership
Well-maintained, productive can manufacturing equipment is critical to the success of a canmaking operation; and there are number of ways to bring the best out of their machinery. In the same way that regular health checks can identify potential problems, providing insight into possible improvements and preventing bigger issues in the long term; regular maintenance and refurbishment can be a cost-effective solution that provides the manufacturer with higher efficiency and extended equipment life. In addition, upgrading or enhancing existing machinery with new components can help canmakers meet the changing demands of their customers. With the right care, provided by trusted experts, and the option of prescribing a little something extra when needs change, canmaking machinery will live longer, adapt where possible, and help manufacturers to prosper.