Accidents, downtime in production, increased costs, and more are all results of poorly maintained industrial brake pads.
But with such important technology often located remotely, it can be challenging to keep your brake pads in good condition.
Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to extend the life of your industrial brake pads. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Start With Quality Brakes
First things first, as in anything, the adage, “you get what you pay for” applies to your industrial brakes as well. If you’re purchasing second-rate brakes, they are not going to perform as well. They’ll also wear out much quicker.
The last few decades have seen significant improvements in disc brake technology. This has resulted in increased brake torque, lower costs, and longer life.
Still, industrial brakes are often subject to very rough conditions. They are also often remotely operated, making their maintenance tricky.
In marine, oil, and gas sectors, this can be overcome by selecting a newer disc brake design and making sure to maintain those right brakes from the start. Luckily, remote maintenance with these newer disc brakes is simpler.
So, if longevity is valuable to you, it’s worth the investment to begin with quality brakes.
Choose the Right Friction Materials
If your industrial brake pads are located somewhere with a high risk of explosion, you can maintain the life and safety of your brake pads by avoiding sparks. This is usually done by installing multi-plate friction brakes in the gearbox.
Wet brakes like these may not be as effective as dry brakes, but for jobs where sparks may occur, they are a good compromise.
Choosing brake pads that circulate hydraulic oil behind them will also work to preserve your brake pad life. The oil will help keep the actuation mechanism from freezing over.
When choosing friction materials for your industrial brakes, testing should play a big role. Only select materials that have gone through 100% testing before being despatched.
While asbestos hasn’t been used as a friction material since around 1970, it’s still essential to ensure that the materials you purchase have been reviewed and tested in-house before applying them.
Use Remote Monitoring
Nowadays, some brakes (like those in cranes), provide real-time monitoring. This means fewer problems with your brake pads going unnoticed and untreated.
While not all brake pads come with remote monitoring, having some kind of system set up to check on them regularly is vital.
The more access you have to view your brake pads and how they’re functioning, the better you can maintain their functioning and arrange for repairs when needed.
Preserving Your Industrial Brake Pads
Industrial brake pads are vital to maintaining correctly for the safety, efficiency, and functionality of your projects. Assessing them regularly, checking fluids where applicable, and working with professional manufactures to get your questions answered will help you maintain the life of your brake pads.
If you think it may be time to have your brake pads checked or replaced, contact our professionals today.