Pet Food Processing - March 2023 - 70

OPERATIONS
If an OEM does not have the
ability or track record of providing
good aftermarket support, this
should be a huge red flag. "
Jeff Arthur, Allpax
like CRB would then determine if the company was happy
with its current suppliers. If an evaluation of new suppliers
is recommended, are there any preferred vendors?
Lastly, are there any grievances on existing equipment
that the purchase of new equipment could alleviate?
" We work to understand the current grievances for the
existing equipment and then put our focus on upgrades, "
Gifford said. " We want to understand any aspect of the
equipment that causes any failures on a regular basis, downtime
and difficulties in cleaning. This could be something
the client notices while the equipment is running or something
noticed on a walk-through that can be improved. "
Lessons learned
When calculating the total cost of ownership, Arthur
suggested looking at the upfront capital cost for the machinery
along with the costs to install. This can include
startup/commissioning, floor space, operating efficiency,
the quantity and type of operating labor, the quantity
and type of maintenance costs including labor, utilities
and consumables (lubricants and chemicals), replacement
and rebuild parts, and OEM service support. Costs
to change over and/or convert to handling future needs
might also come into play.
" Be careful about selecting the most inexpensive solutions,
since often these systems do not provide the
best longer-term payback, " Arthur continued. " A wellplanned
and thorough factory acceptance test (FAT)
is essential for optimum ROI. A new automated batch
retort system should be 100% ready for installation and
commissioning in the field by the end of the FAT. This
level of completion results in a much faster and easier
startup at the plant. This leads to more products being
produced faster, which is what achieving ROI requires. "
The selection of the right partner, one known for a
commitment to continuously improving their products
and services, is also instrumental in getting the most out
of an investment. The right supplier or partner should
offer easy accessibility in terms of distance and language,
along with deep customer service capabilities. This includes
mechanical and controls flexibility, upgrade capabilities,
and the ability to proactively support such efforts
down the road, especially considering how rapidly
technology is changing. Rushing into construction with
too little detail on process equipment has a major effect
on the facility design and infrastructure, Gifford said.
" Invest as much as possible in early work, " he concluded.
" The more that can be invested in early testing,
design details, etc., the more real the ROI equation
can be. This can also save a large amount of money in
capital projects. The more information you have on
your equipment requirements, the easier it is to design
infrastructure and severely reduce scope gaps during
construction. "
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70 PET FOOD PROCESSING | March 2023 | www.petfoodprocessing.net
http://www.moisttech.com http://www.petfoodprocessing.net
Pet Food Processing - March 2023

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