Are You Testing Wear Plate?
Last Sunday, the NASCAR season started with their biggest race of the year, the Daytona 500. This race is often referred to as NASCAR’s Super Bowl, held on the first Sunday of the season.
Every team diligently tests, searching for another 0.003 of a second faster around the 2.5 mile superspeedway. All teams have to be ready to race at this initial event. Because the win there is worth millions of dollars to the race team and sponsors.
Every single component of the race car is scrutinized to see if the performance on a single small item can be improved. They test everything from aerodynamics to tire grip.
For example, they will change ONE single suspension setting at a time to see if it improves handling. A better handling race car will carry more speed through the corners and exit the corner faster. This single detail may be the difference between finishing in first place or seventeenth.
Changing one item at a time and testing each for a lap or two searching for a slight advantage, may take weeks.
What Does Racing Have To Do With Testing Wear Plate?
The problem with testing wear plate is you don’t see the results in days or weeks. The purpose of testing wear plates, is to determine which the steel will last the longest in your application.
Unless you track every single detail, and think like an engineer or accountant; you will quickly tackle the next challenge and the headache after that. Day after day.
When it is again time to replace the steel, do you recall when it was installed? What brand was installed? Or how much production was handled?
Often, you don’t have any documentation. Frequently when asked how their initial order held up, we hear; “About the same…”
In reality it may have performed either significantly better or somewhat worse. Without accurate data, you cannot be sure.
One of our customers requested an updated quote for a diverter plate, located at the top of their plant. It is in a difficult location and the standard AR500 had to be replaced yearly.
When asked how long ago they replaced it he said, “I think it was two or three years ago.” Looking into their file, it was replaced with QT-PLUS ® seven years ago! Because they no longer had to deal with it every year, time slipped by as they focused on other issues.
Combine keeping track of the test project with moving people from one position of responsibility to another and your memories blur together. While this method contributes to a well-rounded manager; it makes tracking actual wear plate test performance, even more challenging.
Then add in other things which hinder accurate data. Do a computer system upgrade and later you discover the old test data didn’t get transferred. All of this combines until you end up with little or no tracking continuity of any usable information.
A major Midwest papermill woodyard developed a test to determine which steel would last longest under the chain hauling the logs to the debarking drum. They had five strands of engineered chains, pulling hundreds of tons of logs 180’ uphill, 16 hours a day. They experience the majority of wear in the loading area. It is expensive to change out the worn steel.
Their idea was sound. Install one type of wear plate in the loading area under each chain and let them fight it out to see who would be the ‘King of the Hill’.
Their plan was to let each brand of steel compete and determine which one is more wear resistant. On paper it looked like a perfect test.
They hadn’t considered their verbal instructions given to the project manager, to the contractor, to the foreman who delivered the instructions to the iron workers installing the steel. The instructions were not precise.
The test steel plates arrived from 5 different vendors, each on their own pallet.
Unfortunately, the iron workers started at the bottom of the incline and installed the 5 strands ACROSS the deck until the first pallet was empty. They then started on the second pallet, etc. working their way across and up the deck.
The test should have been going up each strand with just one vendor’s material.
If everyone doesn’t know exactly how they are running the test, how valid are the results?
In this case, because all the materials were not in a single strand, their data was not very useful. Thankfully I was on hand to photo document the installation and discovered the error.
With the photos, they knew which plates had worn out in just 9 months. The QT-PLUS ® lasted until the entire deck was rebuilt four years later.
JADCO wins head to head tests nearly every time.
What Is The Important Message Here?
Even with the best intentions, unless you personally track the field testing; the data you receive can give you less than accurate results. You can plan to test every single option possible, yet testing could take decades.
Because JADCO wear resistant steel lasts so much longer than our competitors, you need to select your test location with the most dramatic wear in your equipment.
Depending on your application, a better idea is to install a couple of the JADCO family of wear resistant steel products and compare how they perform. Most of your wear challenges will have some percentage of abrasion and impact, but it is difficult to determine the percentages of each.
With twelve different wear resistant products available to take on your wear issues, JADCO is certain to have the right product for your needs.
Why Not Run A Test To See Which Will Work Best For You?
For more than 44 years, JADCO has focused exclusively on delivering consistent, longer life for our customers.
We pride ourselves to deliver “Walk Away Results” to you. This means after you install JADCO wear resistant steel products, we are both able to walk away knowing you will not lose sleep wondering if these wear products will fail in your equipment at the worst possible time. Not with JADCO.
Now you understand why we are able to deliver better results to our customers. We think differently by strictly focusing on improving your current results. This is why we deliver better performance results, earning us customers for life.
Allow us to help you today by emailing us at info@jadcomfg.com or calling (724) 452-5252.
We will schedule a meeting with one of our local wear plate specialists at a time that best fits your schedule.
Remember, the only thing you have to lose by not working with JADCO, are your profits.
Review our Case Studies…each illustrates how JADCO products will extend the lifespan of your equipment from 2 to 8 times, when compared to regular AR500 steel.
