Are you tired of sourcing your rail parts and manufacturing needs through a variety of companies? Are you looking for a reputable railroad parts vendor that can help?

Kor-Pak can provide you with innovative manufacturing solutions for a variety of rail applications. From parts sourcing to engineering, to complete fabrication and servicing- we aim to create a one-stop source for the rail industry’s needs.

Read on to see why Kor-Pak is the answer for you.

Innovators with a Trusted Reputation

Since our inception in 1976, our core objective has been creating value for our customers. Our dedication to quality products and unwavering service has earned us an A+ from the Better Business Bureau. When you partner with Kor-Pak, you bring on a team designed to anticipate and help solve your problems.

More than a company that buys and sells parts, we focus on problem-solving through custom engineering and fabrication. We continuously work to stay on the cutting edge of the industry. That’s why trusted names like GE, Union Pacific, and many others choose Kor-Pak.

We’re always expanding and innovating in our field. You can find us leading the way at conferences like AISTechand the Crane Symposium where we work with our industry peers to improve manufacturing technology.

Special Order Experts

Think you’ll have to scour every resource to locate the specialized hardware you need? Think again. We pride ourselves in sourcing unusual, hard to find, or obsolete parts. No request is too complicated, no part too obscure.

If we can’t find it? We’re experts in custom machining, too. Our engineers work to fabricate custom parts and complete assemblies for clients to deliver what they’re looking for. Whatever your needs, chances are we have the resources to make it happen.

Diverse Partnerships

Here at Kor-Pak, we believe that building long-term relationships is the key to success. That’s why we’ve spent over 40 years working to partner with the best names in the industry. We represent and distribute parts from a dozen quality manufacturers.

Our extensive knowledge and distribution mean we have negotiating power. These relationships allow us to pass savings onto our clients. You aren’t just buying parts; you’re creating a network of resources and field experts who can help you implement, service, and maintain those parts for the life of your business.

Railroad Parts Manufacturing Excellence

Kor-Pak’s engineering capabilities mean we manufacture durable, quality railroad parts that are compatible with a wide variety of brands. Budd, Pullman, Nippon Sharyo, Power Parts Company, EMD, Amtrak, Wabco- we make and service them all.

Each of our products undergoes rigorous testing procedures. You can find our quality parts on passenger and freight cars all around the world. We provide industry-leading service for everything from old locomotives to high-speed rail.

Kor-Pak produces an extensive variety of rail friction parts from a large selection of available materials. We also create virtually all types of rubber products, designed to your specifications. You can customize your order to the last detail.

Look No Further

If you’re looking for a company that cares about your business like their own, you’ve come to the right place. With an eye for excellence, we’ve built a reputation as a one-stop-shop for railroad parts and fabrication.

The value of our combined services means we can work on the custom assembly from start to finish. We aim to provide convenient, knowledgeable resources for any size railroad application at an extraordinary value.

For more information, visit our website and let us get started on your project today.

A broken down machine is so much more than an inconvenience — it’s a disaster. It results in lost wages, output, and even a potential lawsuit.

Machinery is a necessity for many industries from farming, mining, and oil drilling. Therefore, you owe it to yourself, as well as your employees, to take care of your equipment.

Here are a few reasons why you should train your employees in the art of machine maintenance.

Regular Machine Maintenance Keeps Your Business Running Smoothly

Did you know that stress and missed productivity costs businesses between $200 and $300 billion per year?

Each lost second of productivity is a lost chance to make money that could go back into your business. Imagine what your business could do with a few extra thousand dollars per year.

Ensuring that your employees know how to clean and maintain workplace machinery adequately ensures that your business stays as smooth and well-oiled as a machine itself.

Maintenance Keeps Your Machines Running Longer

Whether you’re working with cranes, brakes, transmission products, or any other type of equipment, calling in repair services can get quite expensive, especially if done on a regular basis.

In short, maintaining your machines is an investment. Ill-maintained machine tends to have a shorter shelf life. This, in turn, could cost your business thousands of dollars.

Instead of constantly ordering replacement parts, invest those resources in your training program. It may be an upfront cost, but you’re saving your business money in the long run.

Maintenance Keeps Your Employees Safe

Of course, machine maintenance isn’t just about keeping your equipment up and running. It’s about making sure workers are skilled and knowledgeable enough to handle preventative measures and avoid potentially fatal injuries.

Your employees deserve a safe, welcoming work environment. 2.9 million workplace injuries occurred within the past several years alone. Something needs to change.

Each of these injuries can cost your business quite a bit in Workers’ Compensation costs. You can expect to pay anywhere from $.75 to $2.74 per $100 in employee wages in the event of an injury.

Keep Your Employees And Equipment Safe. Invest in Training

The average workplace loses extraordinary amounts of money each year, either through Workers’ Comp claims, repair costs, or even something as simple as lost productivity.

If you’re not taking care of your machinery, you’re far more likely to lose money.

Furthermore, investing in your employees’ training is a great way to make sure both worker and machine are safe.

Investing in a machine maintenance training program is important for any industry dealing with large machinery, so don’t wait. Contact Kor-Pak today to ask about machine maintenance and see how you can keep your workplace optimized and well-maintained.

Inefficient oil flow isn’t just slowing down your hydraulic system; it may be costing you thousands of dollars.

A hydraulic system with improper oil flow works harder, takes longer, consumes more, pollutes more and costs more.

Fortunately, preventing oil flow problems is as simple as proper maintenance and oil choice. Apply these three tips to improve oil flow and start saving money (and the environment) right away

Pick the Right Oil For Your Operating Climate

The biggest factor linked to oil flow is viscosity. And the biggest factor in choosing your oil viscosity is the range of temperatures your system will be operating in.

If the oil viscosity is too high, oil flow and lubrication are hindered when operating in cold temperatures. This could result in wear or malfunction of your hydraulic system.

If the viscosity is too low when operating at high temperatures, your system will lose oil flow to internal leaking. This can also hinder lubrication and cause wear.

Since most hydraulic systems will have to operate in the extreme temperatures of winter and summer, your best bet is to use a multigrade oil as it is designed to operate efficiently in both extremes.

Because multigrade oil is more expensive than monograde, some people use a different oil for different seasons. But multigrade oil has been tested and proven to provide average savings of 4.8% in the summer and 20.1% in the winter, despite it’s higher purchase cost. Another study found that multigrade oil can save you $10,000 for every 1,000-hour drain interval.

Proper Maintenance of Your Hydraulic System

This may seem obvious, but don’t be passive. Neglecting maintenance is the second easiest way to lower flow rates and, therefore, operating efficiency.

Check your system for kinked or dented oil lines, leaks, cracks, clogged parts or any parts that need replacing or cleaning. When was the last time you checked?

Change your filters regularly. A dirty or clogged filter will restrict oil flow.

If you want to be extra efficient, don’t change filters according to a schedule. If you do, you may be replacing them too often (costing you more for filters) or not often enough (reducing the life of your system’s parts with dirty oil).

Instead, use a clogging indicator to monitor pressure drops across the filter to find out exactly when it needs changing.

This principle applies to changing oil, too. Never dump that oh, so expensive oil according to a timetable unless you enjoy throwing money away. Only change the oil when you’ve analyzed it and confirmed that the base oil is degraded or the additive package is depleted.

Reduce Air Entrainment

Lastly, air bubbles trapped in your oil can hinder oil flow because aerated oil is harder for your system to pump.

Air entrainment can be caused by system leaks, splashing or improper bleeding when adding oil, and contamination. Mostly, air entrainment can be prevented with proper maintenance. But it can also occur on its own when dissolved air inherent in hydraulic fluids is released during operation.

If entrained air is affecting your oil flow, a bubble removal device can be used to deaerate the oil.

Conclusion

Improving oil flow isn’t difficult. Practice proper maintenance, use multigrade oil and start saving money.

Need more help? See what our team of experts can do for you. Or, better yet, let us know exactly how we can help.

According to Dr. Ernest Rabinowicz of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 70% of moving machine failure is the result of wear and corrosion. Both of these factors are due to ineffective lubrication. He goes on to state that 6% of GDP is lost through mechanical wear.

Who would have thought that over $1 trillion could be the size of the prize if we, as a nation, could combat this problem? If you worry about machine failure, read on to learn about the benefits of lubrication.

Machine Failure

When machine failures occur, investigations reveal causes such as contamination, misalignment, installation error or overheating. There is often a lubrication cause to these explanations.

The four features of good lubrication practice are:

• Correct lubricant
• Stable lubricant
• Contamination control
• Sufficient and sustained lubrication

Maintaining these good lubrication practices reduces the causes of a breakdown.

How Does Lubrication Reduce Wear?

When two objects are in contact, the force that resists relative motion is friction. Friction is useful in many ways, but there are times when it is not. Friction generates heat in bearings, heat results in expansion and expansion can result in bearings seizing.

Lubricating machinery minimizes the friction and the resultant heat. Any heat produced is then transferred to the lubricant and removed by a lube cooler. Friction and heat are not the only things lubrication reduces.

When two materials rub against each other, tiny imperfections in their surfaces rub and fragments break off. These fragments act as an abrasive resulting in more surface damage. A lubricant protects both surfaces.

Some lubricants contain additives. They attract contaminants such as particles worn from the surfaces in contact. These can then be filtered and the contaminants removed before they can do any damage.

How Does Lubrication Reduce Corrosion?

Many machines operate in situations where there is some level of humidity. When metal and air come into contact with water, the result is corrosion. Corrosion is one cause of machine failure.

Specific lubricants have additives which prevent rust. They do this by protecting the metal from coming into contact with moisture. Without rust, the metal surfaces remain sound, and the machine is less likely to fail.

Lubricating For Machine Longevity

Lubrication extends the life of machinery by reducing heat, friction, wear, and corrosion but this is only successful if the lubrication regime is fit for purpose. The right lubricant has to be in good condition and uncontaminated. It must be applied in sufficient quantity and at the right level of frequency.

Failing to adopt this standard means optimum machine life will not be achieved. Machinery manufacturers often guide the lubrication needs of their machinery. These should be followed.

The International Council for Machine Lubrication is an independent organization established to develop machine lubrication as a technical field. It provides certification for skills in machine monitoring, lubrication, as well as oil analysis. The proper application of standards in lubrication must pay dividends in reducing equipment downtime and machine failure.

To talk to someone about your machinery needs, contact us.

Often overlooked, a cylinder clamp performs a vital role in all types of industrial-based machinery.

Let’s take a moment to explore how they work and why their performance can be directly tied to the effectiveness and safety of a machine.

What is a Cylinder Clamp

It’s always good to start with the basics. Cylinder clamps provide a precision force to hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical systems.

In short, their function is to maintain the power that keeps a system in motion. When they malfunction, it can cause an erratic system behavior or even a stoppage. This holds not just production issues but also safety concerns, both of which are good reasons to perform preventative maintenance on each cylinder clamp within a system.

These clamps also work to maintain the stability of a system. When placed correctly, they can keep the extra movement in a system down and guard against quick shifts in the positioning of a pipe due to inevitable pressure surges.

System Check

Some preventative maintenance measures can be performed while a system is running. For instance, have you noticed a change in the machine output? Is there anything to indicate that it’s not running at capacity?

A visual inspection is also important, both of the cylinder clamp itself and the surrounding area. Do you notice any blemishes, rust, cracks, or other marks that might indicate the start of an issue?

Do you also see any displacement of oil, feel the excess air, or detect any pooling of hydraulic fluid that might indicate the equipment is not performing as needed.

Repair vs. Replacement

If you notice any areas of concern that a repair may not overcome, it might be time to look at a replacement. There are some variations of cylinder clamps that you could consider changing to.

Before making a decision though, make sure to do your research to ensure that changing clamps will not void the warranty of the machine or cause potential compatibility (and safety) issues.

Rod Locking Cylinders

One replacement option can be found in rod locking cylinders. These have been specifically designed to lock into place should the system fail.

So, if there is an issue that causes a loss of hydraulic pressure, the machine will not continue to operate or stop hard but essentially freeze in place. This can help prevent damage to the machine overall and, more importantly, could head off serious injury caused by a misfiring machine.

While a rod locking cylinder can add a safety component to your equipment, it’s important to note that it is not intended to be a replacement device for your entire safety system.

Next Steps

We just took a brief look at what a cylinder clamp does. If you have one machine or hundreds working for you, you’re bound to rely on this part to keep your operation running smoothly, efficiently, and safely.

We’d love to talk with you in more detail about how you can keep this key piece of machinery from causing you headaches and downtime.

If you’ve ever been guilty of not properly maintaining your equipment, you’re not alone. Many field experience industry-wide cultures that prevent regular preventative maintenance from taking place.

Unfortunately, this can lead to many problems with your machines and equipment.

Keep reading to learn why a preventative maintenance schedule is an absolute must for all of your company’s gear.

Extending the Life of Your Machinery

Setting up and following a preventative maintenance schedule can help to extend the life of your machinery.

Most types of heavy machinery require oiling and fine tuning to stay running.

Failing to perform regular maintenance could cause your machinery to stop operating correctly. It could slow down your equipment, or even cause it to stop working entirely.

But with regular maintenance, you can extend the life of your machines by keeping them running the way that they should for longer.

Preventing Costly Repairs

Without regular maintenance, your machines’ moving parts will eventually degrade. When this occurs, it is likely that your cranes and other machinery will need costly repairs or parts replacements to get back to running order.

Regular maintenance helps to reduce the need for these types of repairs. You will spend money on regular maintenance. But you are saving money compared to replacing parts or rebuilding broken machinery.

Knowing When an Issue Arises

Even with regular maintenance, normal wear and tear will occur on all heavy machinery.

But when you follow a preventative maintenance schedule, you’ll be more likely to know when these types of repairs will be needed.

An experienced repairman will be able to judge how quickly parts are wearing. With an estimate of when more extensive repairs or parts replacements will be needed, you can better plan ahead.

This could mean planning to get temporary equipment. Or otherwise preparing for the disruption to your normal workday. It also means having the ability to somewhat plan for the cost of repairs.

For small businesses, unexpected repair costs can put a serious dent in the flow of operations. The ability to plan and save money for those repairs can be a lifesaver.

Finding replacement parts can also slow operations. Being able to plan ahead can allow you to source difficult to find parts and to help reduce how much downtime your equipment has while it is undergoing repairs.

Meeting the Demands of a Warranty

If your equipment or machinery has a warranty, it usually requires that the machine or equipment undergoes regular maintenance.

Failing to do so could cause you to violate the warranty. When the time comes that you want to put the warranty to use, you might be denied your claim if you can’t prove that the equipment was maintained properly.

Setting a Preventative Maintenance Schedule

Setting up a schedule for regular preventative care can save you loads.

If you’ve recently bought a new piece of equipment and aren’t sure what kind of maintenance is needed, or if you need a replacement part to keep your gear running, contact us today.

The productivity of your business depends on the well-being of your equipment. Any downtime due to machine failure can be devastating. Business operations become out of whack disrupting service, staff comfort, and customer relations. Not to mention that the safety and health of your workers are put at risk.

Equipment breakdown is very costly. You only have two options: repair or replace, and both can be expensive. When the motor needs replacement, you’ll have to pay labor costs for removal, costs for installment, and freight costs.

Recognizing problems with the important parts, such as the brake pads and rotors, is key to preventing machine failure. What are the things to look out for? Read on to find out.

Rattling and Squeaking, Clanking and Squealing

When you’re driving your car, you love the purring sound the engine makes. But when you hear an unusual sound, you know that it’s time to open the hood and see if anything’s wrong.

Your employees are also familiar with the normal sounds of the machine they’re working on. When they hear an abnormal sound, that is usually one of the signs of imminent failure.

Just like your car, an unfamiliar noise warrants an immediate inspection.

Worn out Brake Pads and Rotors

Machine failure is usually caused by parts showing their age. Using our eyes to look for signs of wear is part of preventative maintenance.

Examine the belt, bolts, and other important parts of your machine. Does your belt have cracks, abrasions, or fraying? Are the brake pads and rotors starting to warp or showing gouges? Are the bolts out of shape or loose?

Replacing aging parts is cheaper than replacing the equipment itself. Before machine failure happens, change the worn parts with new ones.

Slumps in the Efficiency

A decrease in production speed affects your bottom line. But more importantly, it signals that the machine is starting to break down. And when it eventually fails because you neglected the warning signs, you’re going to lose a great deal more.

A slowdown in production usually indicates resistance in the machine. This could be due to lubricant leakage or due to damaged parts causing friction.

Speaking of friction, another byproduct of inefficiency is unexplained heat. Of course, heat is normally created as the machine works. However, when heat is produced in areas that should be cool, that is a problem.

Another hint of impending machine doom is when the temperature shoots up higher than normal. You should also suspect electrical failures for unexplained heat.

Address these issues immediately, or the heat could lead to a fire.

Dirty Machine

A clean machine runs smoothly. Dust and debris clog up the important parts and can cause the machine to seize.

Filters keep the dirt off of your equipment but must be routinely changed. Seals, when damaged, can’t perform their protective duties. When seals are compromised, you’ll spot leaks and wetness in areas where you don’t find them under normal conditions.

You should schedule a regular inspection of the important parts. Repair or replace them when necessary.

An Ounce of Prevention

Your production equipment is critical to your business. Once you recognize these warning signs, preventing further problems from happening will save you money in the long run.

Request a quote for our equipment repair services right now.

Everything you look at only fills half your needs. You’ve got a tight budget and tighter timetable. Nothing quite fits.

Does this sound like you? While a stock piece is standardized and available almost immediately, a custom fabrication can meet 100% of your needs.

Custom fabrications have increased useful life since they can be customized to the environment and particular wear pattern. Backward compatible for machinery no longer in production, non-standard processes? No problem.

Are you sure that custom fabrication is what your business needs? Then you need to choose the right company to make what you need. Here’s the breakdown of what to look for in the right custom machine shop.

What’s Their Experience?

You want someone who can execute your ideas or reverse-engineer a worn piece. For that, you need someone with practical experience in your field, whether it is an oil-rig or hospital. There isn’t a field manual for pieces that don’t exist in catalogs.

Experienced metal fabricators know their materials and techniques. They can recommend solutions and handle customization with efficiency. More experience means fewer errors.

Check Their Work

Get to know the quality of a company’s work by checking out their portfolio. Talk to past customers and view past projects. You want to know about the durability and quality of their custom fabrication.

What is their safety record and how do they handle remanufacturing critical parts? It will also give you an idea of how they handle the specs of individual designs and their capacity for large or small size jobs.

Capacity for Work

Can your fabricator build in the material you need? What kind of machinery do they use? For high-quality steel welds that lives depend on, no one wants to see a 90 amp Home Depot special! The right tools and technique can mean lives.

Location is relevant. Consider fuel costs and control over your fabrication. Will you be able to communicate with your machine shop? How quickly can your shop turnaround? Will time and distance affect your costs?

Get to Know the People

You want a long-term relationship with your company. Each project is unique and your business is like no other. You want a metal fabricator who recognizes that!

Compare Quotes For Custom Fabrication

Of course, you have to follow procedures and get quotes from many shops. For the best possible outcome, you want a custom fabrication shop that can give you what you need, at a reasonable price, and on your timeline.

Take the time to get to know your vendor and their capabilities before deciding on price alone.

For more interesting and informative articles, keep reading our blog. If you want to know more about the most qualified and experienced metal machining and fabrication shop, contact your Kor-Pak representative today.

There’s a reason SEW Eurodrive products are some of the best in the biz. They’ve been in the game since 1931 and show no signs of slowing down.

They started with a bang, coming up with innovation after innovation.

They were the first to produce a variable speed gear motor. They also were the first to incorporate an energy-efficient copper rotor into their motor.

With a history full of so many firsts, you know their products are top notch. But which one is best for your industry?

We’ve got a list of their top five products that stand out from all the rest. Find the part you need to have in your industry – keep reading!

Helical Gearmotor R Series

The Helical Gearmotor R series comes in different stage sizes to meet anyone’s needs. There are six single-stage sizes and 14 two- and three-stage sizes available.

This produces the ideal ratio between power and area available. Because of this, SEW Eurodrive’s range of torque and reduction ratios are among the most varied in the industry.

Helical-Worm Servo Gearmotors

Need something quiet that saves space? This is the gear unit for you.

There’s a longitudinal application of force on the input shaft which helps to keep the torque impulses quiet. No matter what kind of force you throw at this, it remains silent.

How quiet is it? It’s so soft, you can use it for a stage elevator!

M Series Industrial Gears

Here’s a high-performing gear that can take anything you throw at it. Plus, it’s available in both vertical and horizontal designs, making it extremely versatile.

Because of its high torque transfer capacity, it delivers power like no other. With its high thermal ratings, it can keep going longer and under harder conditions, too.

The best part about it? It can handle a torque range of 53,000 to 1,600,000 lb-in.

Screw Conveyor

This SEW Eurodrive product has a wide range of applications across many industries. That’s why it’s one of our top five essentials.

What makes SEW’s better than the competition? SEW ships the conveyor drive as a gear unit with a c-face motor adapter or in a gearmotor configuration.

Right out of the box, you’re saving on maintenance costs and keeping your company efficient.

DRS and DRN Motors

Here’s a modular motor and brake motor that is so efficient, it can replace a servo in some cases. It runs quietly, too, making it another perfect option for theater use.

With its high stability and high cycling capacity, you’ll want to use them everywhere.

Add SEW Eurodrive To Your Business Today

Whether you’re looking to keep a good supply of machine parts on hand or need custom options for a project, SEW has something for everyone. There are many reasons to trust them to deliver high quality and high performance.

If you’re ready to optimize your operation, we’re here to help you find the best SEW Eurodrive products to keep your business on track.

Have a rush order or a hard-to-find part? No problem! We can handle that too. Contact us today to kick your company into high gear with high-quality, high-performance parts!

With a variety of friction product manufacturers on the market, it can be tough to find out how to get the best materials at the best cost.

The quality of friction material in your equipment has a huge impact on safety, stability, and longevity.

Below is a quick overview of what you should know about Scan-Pac, an excellent friction products manufacturer.

1. History

The company was founded in 1973 in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Scan Pac was the original fabricator of Johns Manville calendared friction materials.

During its 44 years in business, the company has gone through multiple expansions in its facilities and product line.

2. Expansive American Manufacturing

Scan-Pac’s three manufacturing facilities, located in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin and Magnolia, Texas, make up a combined 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

The company uses the following equipment in its manufacturing labs:

• CMM
• Chase Machine
• Universal Testing Machine
• Impact Tester
• Gogan Hardness Tester
• Rockwell Hardness Tester
• Soxhlet Apparatus
• Furnace
• Specific Gravity Analyzer
• Particle Size Analyzer
• Moisture Analyzer
• Melting Point Analyzer
• Viscometer
• Cure Time & Gel Time Tester

Each manufacturing plant specializes in the production of certain materials, ensuring the efficient production time and expertise among staff.

3. Serving Various Industries

Scan-Pac provides a large number of industries with friction materials.

These markets include:

• Agricultural
• Oilfield
• PT Equipment
• Cranes
• Material Handling
• Paper Production
• Railroad and Rail Parts
• Wind Power
• Construction
• Winches
• Metal and Aluminium

Each of these markets has unique needs, and with a certification of quality management excellence, the company has a great reputation with satisfied customers around the globe.

4. Diverse Product Line

On the products page of Scan Pac’s website, there is an expansive list of materials produced by the company.

From Gatke materials to flexible products and Gemini woven, molded, or extruded materials, the materials produced will fit the needs of many projects.

There are even dedicated pages set aside for oilfield related materials, truck blocks, and sintered products.

5. Worldwide Distribution

Wherever you’re located, these products will likely be available.

The company has over 20 distributors worldwide, with 19 in North America alone!

6. Scan-Pac Helps You Pick The Right Materials

One of the most popular features on the company’s website is the material recommendations tool.

By browsing to this tool, you can select from a variety of categories such as caliper brakes, wear products, band brakes, and more.

From there, Scan Pac allows you to select from a list of uses from elevator brakes to oilfield products and windmills.

When you choose the equipment you need parts for; you’ll then be presented with a recommendation of one or more materials complete with part number, the coefficient of friction, and wear rate.

This tool is extremely helpful as it allows you to quickly find the exact part you’ll need and to contact a distributor with all necessary information!

Some of the Best Organic Friction Products!

As you can now see, Scan-Pac is a company that has a history of excellence offering a robust product line.

If you need assistance sourcing friction products, we can help!

Check out the industries we serve and let us know more about your specific needs.