The Maintenance Geek is speaking at EASTEC on May 16th at 3:50 – 4:25pm

Posted on March 29, 2017 by rusty

Please mark you calendars: Tuesday May 16th at 3:50 pm.

Register today and get ready for the EASTEC experience, including:

Hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest technologies,
equipment and products
Keynotes and technical presentations with industry leaders and experts
Networking opportunities to meet new contacts and develop relationships
Resources that can solve your company’s biggest challenges

You already know how valuable a trip to EASTEC can be for your business. Register now and mark your calendar to attend in May 2017.

Visit easteconline.com to view the exhibitor list, floor plan, featured technologies and much more.

SHOW LOCATION:
Eastern States Exposition
1305 Memorial Ave
West Springfield, MA 01089

SHOW HOURS:
Tuesday, May 16
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 17
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

3:50 – 4:25 come and hear the Maintenance Geek speak on the 5 steps to get out of the BREAKDOWN mode.

Thursday, May 18
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Hope to see you there.

5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization is available

Posted on September 9, 2016 by rusty

5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization for the Small Manufacturer

Are your best maintenance professionals ready to retire?

Do your younger people need to work smarter not harder?

In General, breakdowns are 5 to 10 times more expensive that preventing it in the first place.

My new book 5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization is out and available on Amazon.com http://amzn.to/2c78hia

If you want a signed copy send me an e mail at: robert@maintenancegeek.com

I will get it out to you quickly. Let me know who and where.

Here are some highlights of what to expect.

Step 1: Rank your Equipment and collect some simple data.

Step 2: Control your critical spare parts.

Step 3 Stop Wasted PMs

Step 4 Focused Improvement Events

Step 5 Formal Training

Can a compressed air leak survey save your shop $10,000 to $50,000?

Posted on March 28, 2016 by rusty

Yes it can…

Try spending the money you save from a good air leak survey on some tools to keep you out of the breakdown mode.

Scenario #1 200 HP of compressed air, 100 HP full time and 100 HP as backup. house pressure is 107 to maintain 100 PSI throughout the system. 150 gallons of accumulation, typically we like to see 4 gallons per HP. This is a 3 shift operation 300 days per year. Operations include machining centers, screw machines and plating.

Over $50,000.00 of wasted air leaks were found, nearly 17% of their total energy bill.

Scenario #2 40 HP plus 25 HP 90% loaded at 110 PSI. 200 gallons of accumulation was available. This operation ran 3 shifts per day and 360 days per year. This anodizing operation was greatly automated, lots of air controls.

Over $18,000.00 were found in wasted compressed air.

Typically we find between $80 – $160 dollars per Horsepower per shift in waste. How many Horsepower does you shop run. Leaks are cheap to find with the right equipment and cheap to fix.

How could you use an extra $10,000 to $50,000 per year to grow your business or improve your maintenance department?

Give me a call at the Maintenance Geek LLC to find out more.

Thanks, Robert “The Maintenance Geek”

(203) 510 – 8575

What is EUA? And why should I care?

Posted on March 21, 2016 by rusty

Energize CT’s EUA has been created as an economic development initiative for the manufacturing sector.

Sponsored by Eversource the assessment helps manufacturers qualify and identify specific energy reduction opportunities and the efficient measures needed to reduce kWh and CCF consumption. This study that looks at how much, where, and when you use energy.

This assessment will include an overview of the following areas:

 Motor Systems,

 Air Compressors

 HVAC Systems

 Process Equipment

 Lighting

 Other significant energy-consuming areas.

Once the study is complete, an Energy Usage Assessment (EUA) analysis with recommendations is provided. A fixed price for work for each project is reviewed by the utility and customer for approval. The proposal will include all the Energize Connecticut incentives such as; a 50/50 cost sharing for the EUA program and potential reimbursement for implemented Energy Opportunities.

10 – 20 % in potential energy cost reductions

Detailed analysis of your energy use and costs

Identification of “Idle Load” energy waste

Efficiency analysis of facility systems.

Equipment upgrade recommendations

ECM financial impact and ROI analysis

Access to programs,resources, and funding.

Each event will consists of: Training Assessment Analysis

Click in the upper right corner to get each blog episode sent to you when it becomes available.

Or contact me for more info on any of the Energize CT programs.

Robert Kravontka

The Maintenance Geek

robert@maintenancegeek.com

What are the 6 steps to optimize your compressed air system?

Posted on February 29, 2016 by rusty

Compressed air leaks, and inefficient blow offs can waste thousands of dollars of electricity each year. This affects your companies production costs and bottom line.

What are the 6 steps to optimize your compressed air system?

Determine the main compressed air users in your facility
Find and fix the air leaks with Ultrasonic Leak Detection
Upgrade your blow off and cooling operations with engineered products for less air use and lower decibel levels.

High efficiency nozzles High efficiency air knives High efficiency blow offs

Turn off compressed air when not in use, or put it on a timer to only run when required
Use intermediate storage next to the point of use
Control the air pressure near the point of use.

The Maintenance Geek LLC is proud to be a stocking distributor for Exair the home of intelligent compressed air products

E Mail me for a catalog and to get 10% off of current pricing. robert@maintenancegeek.com

Click in the upper right hand corner to get this blog sent to you as soon as it is published.→

Robert Kravontka “The Maintenance Geek ”

Does your business have a good plan to Grow? How the Business Sustainability Challenge can help!

Posted on February 15, 2016 by rusty

What is the “Business Sustainability Challenge” and why should I care?

New England Utilities offer the Business sustainability Challenge. With a small team your company can become more competitive by taking a strategic look at Energy, Workforce, Operations, and Waste Streams. Results from this planning include reducing risks and leveraging opportunities to shield your company from, changes in the economy, while improving operations and profitability. The utility will fund this effort 100% and offer incentives to grow along the way. You need to supply a small team, 3-5 people to develop a growth strategy with help from some of the great teachers in the industry.

Send me a note, and I will send you a form, to see if your company qualifies.

We have seen some great results. Let me know if you want to find out more.

Robert The Maintenance Geek

Click in the upper right to sign up for the blog series.

Introducing 5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization

Posted on February 8, 2016 by rusty

Planning a June 2016 release of my new E Book called “5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization” This is designed for the smaller manufacturer with a maintenance group of one or a few who do it all, including building and equipment maintenance.

Are your best Maintenance People getting ready to retire?

Do your younger newer maintenance professionals need to work smarter not harder?

How would an increase in productivity benefit your company?

Would reducing your maintenance Costs Help?

Are you getting tired of putting out fires all the time?

Does your equipment go down when you need it most?

Take a look at the 5 steps to help you get out of that breakdown mode.

We are going to have some fun with a method to help yourself and your company.

Step 1: Look at the building blocks of Maintenance

Step 2: Control your spare parts

Step 3: Stop Wasted PM’s

Step 4: Focused Improvements

Step 5: Formal Training

Then we will put it all together.

Click in the upper right to follow my blog…

Thanks,

Robert Kravontka The Maintenance Geek

The Energize CT Center. How to save energy.

Posted on February 1, 2016 by rusty

Greetings,

Attended a terrific meeting in North Haven at the Energize CT Center finding out how to better save energy in 2016. Kevin Vidmar from Loureiro Engineer Associates spoke. Terrific presentation on energy systems, including; Lighting, Motors, Compressed Air, Dust Collection, HVAC, and Office Equipment.

We started by understanding conservation vs efficiency. Basically shut it off whenever possible and then use the most efficient models when you must use a load.

Lighting, understand where you need light, and how much, then shut it off when you do not need it.LED’s have come down in price and are well subsidized by the utilities.

Motors typically cost around $0.10 per HP/ Hour to operate and save you that much when you can shut them off. Motors consume 50-70% of all electricity in the country. When you must run your motors reduce the load by insuring good alignment, proper belt tension , good lubrication practices and proper pipe sizing. Try to eliminate Air motors in your operation, they are cheaper to purchase but are huge wasters of energy.

Compressed Air often called the 4th Utility, can consume up to 25% of a typical manufacturers electric bill. Extra air storage can help, you should have approximately 4 gallon per HP. It generally costs $5 per gallon to install more but may be well worth it. Make sure your compressor air inlets are drawing cool well filtered air. If you use air to blow parts out of a process use low vortec nozzles, and cut your house pressure. A 2 PSI drop in pressure can save 1% of your electric bill.

Have a pro look at your system and enjoy some huge saving.

Next month we will talk about the 5 steps to get out of the breakdown mode, and save some energy to boot.

Click on the upper right to sign up for the series of training’s to get out of the breakdown mode. Talk with you next week.

Robert The Maintenance Geek

What is on tap for the Maintenance Geek?

Posted on January 18, 2016 by rusty

Are your Best Maintenance People retiring this year?

Do your younger maintenance professionals need to work smarter not harder?

The issue most companies with manufacturing equipment face is how to get out of the breakdown mode.

Over the next 6 months we will discuss the 5 steps to get out of the breakdown mode.

Over the next 6 months we will discuss the steps and what will work for you.

Expect a June 2016 release of my new E – Book “5 Steps to get out of the Breakdown Mode”.

We will talk about what the Utilities and Government can do to help fund our efforts to get out of the breakdown mode.

There are also steps you can take right away, to generate income to pay for your journey and get buy in from senior management.

Stay tuned.

Let me know what you think!

Just got approved by Eversource to fund my Air Leak Surveys

Posted on October 23, 2015 by rusty

The Maintenance Geek LLC has been approved…

Energy costs are quickly going up. Our no risk plan. We will come to your facility, conduct an Ultrasound audit of your compressed air system including reports and tagging. If we do not find issues there is no charge. If we do find air leak costs, we will charge 50% of the dollars saved up to your exposure of $1400.00 for a system of over 50 HP and under 100 HP. We will also offer a proposal to repair these leaks off hours when possible. I have been fortunate enough to get Eversource to fund 50% of your cost for this program. In a facility of this size we typically find $3,500.00 to $8,500.00 per year in air leaks.

For $700.00 we can come in and find and tag and report your air leaks. Eversource is also willing to pay 40% of the cost to repair all your leaks whether you fix then or I do.

Approved by Eversource to fund air leak surveys

The Maintenance Geek

Predicting and Preventing Breakdowns for Manufacturers

Tag Archives: energy saving