Retrofit - adapt older machines to today‘s requirements Author:
René Gerber AG, Werkstrasse 35, 3250 Lyss, Switzerland
Retrofit - Process reliability and maximum availability of your PP400 As René Gerber AG we place high demands on ourselves to construct the world's best flat polishing and honing machines for hard and ultra-hard material and have been implementing this successfully for more than six decades. However, we see the challenge not only in developing and building new machines, but also in maintaining the value of your investments. We adapt older systems that are still in good mechanical condition to today's market requirements. This modernization makes the machines reliable again and thus more profitable. Retrofit solves problems such as production interruptions. You regain reliability and production capacity.
From old to new In many companies, the procurement of new systems is the first issue to be discussed when an existing and proven machine is "End of Life". Retrofit is more than ever a popular possibility to avoid the procurement of a new equipment and to produce safely with the existing and proven equipment's. It is not always only financial aspects that lead to a retrofit business. Systems optimized over many years contain a lot of know-how and are indispensable in everyday life. The aim of retrofitting your existing equipment is to bring an old equipment close to a new one without investing in a new equipment. Safety defects or worn out components are further reasons for a renewal of the mechanical, electrical and pneumatic components. These are replaced not least in order to maintain high availability and productivity.
Retrofit and modernization thus come close together. In times of "efficiency and production reliability", continuous modernization of production facilities is more important than ever. Far-sighted retrofit measures help to avoid expensive production losses.
Illustration 1: Gerber-PP400 in new look&feel directly after the revision
Seven points in favour of a revision of your plant • Massively lower investment costs than with the purchase of a new equipment since previous and proven components can be taken over • After the revision, the existing machine is again reliable, production-safe and technically up-to-date. • Increased productivity at significantly lower costs in relation to new purchases • No time consuming approval procedure as with a new investment
• Less personnel training because the process and the machine are known and tested • The know-how of the employees can be fully utilised with a revised plan • Extension of the use in the life cycle of a machine