The hazards of hydraulic systems are well documented: component failures, breakages, leaks, coupling blow offs and other accidents can lead to serious injury and death to employees, as well as financial drain on employers.
In fact, just one small oversight could shut down your operation and cost you millions in lost production, downtime, or event someone’s life, warns Gates Australia.
But what you might not know is how easily risks in hydraulics systems can be mitigated. All it takes is regular preventive maintenance.
As a premier global manufacturer of fluid power products, Gates understands the value and importance of a safe hydraulic system. The company recognizes that when you’re in charge of safety, you’re in charge of protecting people’s lives – especially in highly volatile environments like oil drilling, mining, construction and manufacturing.
Gates actively builds safety into its products, it promises.
The Gates MegaSys Constant Pressure Hose range consists of spiral-wire and wire-braid hoses that can be bent up to one-third SAE specifications. Combined with innovative couplings specifically designed to crimp on these hoses, leak-free performance is guaranteed up to maximum working pressures as high as 8,000 psi.
Gates also offers the LifeGuard Sleeving System, the first true protection in line of sight hydraulic applications. It contains bursts up to 10,000psi and pinhole leaks up to 5000 psi at 100°C for up to five minutes, giving you vital time in an emergency or accident.
Gates’ hydraulic safety innovations go beyond the solutions built into our products with a range of preventive maintenance training materials and seminars that make it easier to identify component weaknesses before they turn into failures.
One of these is the Gates Safe Hydraulics Program, which ensures that the same consistent Safe Hydraulic message is delivered to all participants, providing the most thorough hydraulic preventative maintenance short course in the market, says the company.
The Safe Hydraulics Seminars are run by qualified Gates trainers with thorough knowledge of the field. Seminars include the most up-to-date information on safe hydraulic practices, delivered via video presentations and reviews of safety, health and environment procedures and fluid injection protocols, as well as safety tips and advice on hydraulic cleanliness. This is all followed by a questionnaire on the topics covered, so you can test your new knowledge or that of your employees. Certificates are delivered to participants upon successful completion of the course.
Gates technicians also provide instructions on installation and ongoing maintenance of hydraulic systems, including drawing up maintenance schedules and what to check for, as well as troubleshooting problems. Combining top quality Gates products with a regular preventive maintenance programme will keep equipment at maximum efficiency.
Find out more about the Safe Hydraulics program in New Zealand, or book a seminar, at http://www.gatesaustralia.com.au/safehydraulics.
Details, Gates Australia on 00 61 3 9797 9688; email southpacsales@gates.com.
