A Day in the Life of a Field Service Engineer: The Baler Guru
Monday.
My favourite day of the week. Back to work assisting businesses all around the UK with repairing and maintaining their waste compactors and balers. I start my day like most others… Tea 🫖 Fuel of the Gods. With a full flask on board, its time to hit the road
First stop: A Bale Full Issue
My day begins in Tamworth, the challenge at hand - a horizontal baler saying full even when it’s empty! A limit switch issue, perhaps? Armed with diagnostic tools and a wealth of experience, I dive into the wiring, tracing the fault that disrupted the operation of the equipment. Fault found, a missing striker plate on the front limit. This site employs a welder and are happy to repair themselves, advice given and away to the next job.
Journey to Redditch: A Leaking Hydraulic Ram
The road to Redditch unfolds, and with it comes the next chapter of our day — leaking hydraulic ram seals on a bin hoist. Prior to this visit, I had already been to site, assessed the machine and ordered a new ram from our supplier to carry out this repair. The fault? A compromised ram seal caused by a damaged chrome rod. I set to work, replacing the faulty ram with new. Ram pins drifted out nice and easily thanks to the connections getting plenty of grease from our previous service visits. New ram in, topped up oil and away we go.
Midday in Birmingham: Damaged Hydraulic Hose
As the clock ticks towards lunch, our journey takes us to Birmingham. It’s here, in the inner cities where waste compactors and balers are so incredibly important for the space saving they provide. A damaged hydraulic hose demands my attention. Luckily, we carry some common hydraulic hoses as stock in the van. Having our own hydraulic hose machines at our workshop in Stafford means we can be adaptable and enables to make up whatever we want, whenever we want it. Quickly swapped out the damaged hose, topped up the oil and tested the machine. No further faults. On to the next one…
Final Stop in Derby: Service Inspection
As the sun begins to set, we make our way to Derby, our final destination for the day. Here, a planned preventative maintenance inspection awaits— a proactive measure to ensure the longevity of the equipment we look after. With meticulous attention to detail, I navigate through the components, tightening loose bolts, lubricating moving parts, and conducting a comprehensive check of the electrics and hydraulics, all backed up by our thorough and comprehensive engineers report. Photos taken, recommendations made and feedback given to our client.
Preventive maintenance is the unsung hero in the life of a field service engineer, ensuring that potential issues are stopped in their tracks before they cause problems.
Conclusion:
As the sun sets on the diverse landscape of the days jobs, I find myself reflecting on the unique challenges and triumphs of the day. It's more than just a job to me; it's a journey through the industry. I passionately believe in helping businesses around the UK to save money on their waste and recycling costs
One notable strength that surfaced during today's odyssey is our ability to manufacture our own hydraulic hoses. In the heart of Birmingham, this capability proved to be a game-changer. Swift access to custom hoses ensured not only efficiency in repairs but also a tailored solution that seamlessly integrated into the machinery. It's a testament to the power of self-reliance in such a dynamic field.
Equally crucial is the symbiotic relationship we share with our suppliers and partners. From sourcing quality components to receiving timely deliveries, the collaboration is the backbone of our success. In the intricate world of waste and recycling equipment, the seamless coordination between us, the manufacturers, and our partners ensures that every repair is not just a fix but a lasting, permanent solution.
Today's journey reaffirms the strength of these relationships – a reminder that in the world of field service engineering, a web of support is as essential as the tools in our toolkit. As the day concludes, I take pride not only in the successful repairs but in the collaborative spirit that underpins our ability to keep the wheels turning smoothly. It's a reminder that in this intricate dance of repairs, partnerships and self-reliance are the rhythm and melody that compose the symphony of success.
info@byrkley.com
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