Contact your local Barloworld Equipment representative or dealer now to book your machinery or equipment for a service, or to discuss service, financial, or repair options beforehand.
Seasonal and year-end shutdowns require a lot of planning and preparation to ensure you return to fully functional machinery and equipment. We’ve broken down the main things to consider when planning a shutdown period.
The year is beginning to wind down, and while job sites are not ready to close just yet, now is an ideal time to start planning for when the shutdown period does come around.
The majority of businesses operating within the agricultural, mining, and other earthmoving industries will have a mandatory shutdown period across the Christmas and New Year period. This gives the business and its workers the chance to rest, regroup, and recharge before the next year begins. This is also a great opportunity to do both routine and preventative maintenance on your machinery, and book your machinery in for any major services or repairs they may need.
However, maintenance and repairs aren't the only thing to consider when it comes to your machinery. Even simply not using your machinery for an extended or unusually long period of time (relative to your normal operations) takes some planning.
As with any business, planning and preparation are critical when considering end of year shutdown procedures and beginning of year re-open procedures; particularly for those using heavy machinery or operating on potentially dangerous sites.
Before making any decisions, there are a few things you need to do:
Once you’ve taken care of the above points, you’ll be ready to begin the shutdown process.
Checking your machinery and equipment health
While you should be monitoring your machine health on a regular basis, it’s important to be thorough when checking machine health before a shutdown period. This is firstly, because machinery will be standing idle while not in use and could be problematic on start-up, but secondly, because knowing exactly where your machines are health-wise before a planned shutdown period gives you the opportunity to address any health concerns without incurring the cost of machine downtime.
Check the current health of all your machinery and equipment and make a note of any machines/equipment that will need to go in for service or repairs.
Purchasing service supplies and maintenance kits
Look at the machines and equipment that need some attention but don’t need to be professionally serviced. Make sure you have all the supplies you may need. It’s helpful to have things like Cat® Preventative Maintenance Kits, new Cat® Batteries, and/or Cat® Hydraulics Care Systems to carry out maintenance yourself. You can find the above items, and much more when you shop online at parts.cat.com.
Cleaning your machinery and equipment
Coming back to clean and pristine equipment is a great way to begin the New Year, from a health & safety point of view, as well as a mental health and employee morale point of view. Consider having your machinery deep cleaned, particularly inside the operator cab. You can, of course, do this yourself, but if you have some particularly stubborn areas or hard-to-clean machinery, employing a professional cleaning service can save you time, and will be worth the money.
Don’t neglect the outside of your machines, though; ensure they’re properly cleaned as well, especially if you operate within a dirty or pollution-heavy industry such as mining or construction.
You can read more about How to Clean Heavy Equipment here.
Booking your machines in for services/repairs
If any of your machines do need professional services, consider booking them in now, or as early as possible, to ensure the service dates align with your planned shutdown period.
Barloworld Equipment is home to the Barloworld Rebuild Centre (BRC). The BRC is a world-class, Cat® certified repair and rebuild facility and is the largest of its kind. It was built specifically for the repair and rebuild of Cat® engines, hydraulics, and drive trains. You’re also able to buy a wide variety of remanufactured parts. Should you send your machinery to the BRC, you can rest assured that you’re leaving it in the best hands.
You can speak to one of our customer service representatives, or your local Barloworld Equipment dealer, for more information about booking your machinery/equipment for service.
Finding a suitable equipment storage space
The final consideration before beginning the shutdown process is making sure you have a safe, secure, and shielded area/site/space where you can store your machinery over the shutdown period. Make sure your machinery and equipment won't be left out and exposed to the elements and isn't easily accessible to anyone passing by. Bear in mind that summer months are approaching and temperatures usually spike across the Christmas and New Year break. Try to shield your machinery and equipment from direct sunlight to avoid unnecessary heat exposure. Coastal areas usually experience a more moderate and dry summer, but areas inland will face thunderstorms with some areas experiencing significant rainfall; ensure none of your equipment is left vulnerable to water damage or be a conductor of lightning during storms.
If you have a site to secure, make sure you follow proper safety procedures and protocols to prevent accidents while you’re away.
Preparation makes all the difference when gearing up for something like a company-wide shutdown period, plus it’s harder to forget or overlook the smaller details when you have a thorough plan to work with.
Doing the extra work and preparation now will ultimately save you time, money, and hassle when the New Year begins and your site starts up again.
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About Barloworld Equipment
As the sole distributor for Cat®️ earthmoving machines and related mining and construction equipment in Southern Africa, we supply equipment that delivers the lowest total owning and operating cost over its lifetime. Equipment that is backed by a highly experienced team of experts with the knowledge you need to get the most out of your machines. As a company, we’re committed to upholding the highest safety standards and minimising our impact on the environment across our operational footprint. And with our successful track record that spans over 100 years, you can expect outstanding service and an effortless experience, every time.
