Presslink Media

Trusted Partner for Rotary Processing Equipment

Posted on by John

Pennsylvania, US – November 1, 2024 Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC established in 1855, is a leading provider of Rotary Kilns, Dryers, and other Rotary Processing Equipment (RPE). Finch Manufacturing stands apart as the only ISO 9001:2015 certified company in our industry, delivering precision-crafted parts and tailored solutions to optimize your operations.

“6 Most Common Mistakes that Cost Our Customers” – Part B

Bob Zinnen, CEO of Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC says “Our engineers routinely notice common mistakes during our site visits and customer interactions. We thought we should outline the 6 Most Common Mistakes to help prevent RPE companies from making these costly mistakes that lower efficiency, throughput, and can create longer downtimes.”

This list of common mistakes is not meant to disparage, but to shed some light upon these routine mistakes so they may be prevented! The whole Finch Manufacturing Team works with our customers to mitigate or prevent these mistakes and minimize their associated costs.  We addressed the last three of the six common mistakes in this discussion.  Please see Part A to learn about the first three.

  1. Cutting Corners – COSTS

This sounds familiar and old school, but you get what you pay for.  A cheaper or lower quality product eventually costs more in the end.  The Finch Manufacturing team knows that foreign steel and lower grades of US steel cost less at acquisition time, but they wear out sooner or fail leading to unexpected downtime. Because of this, Finch Manufacturing uses only the best materials as outlined in our RFP’s.

Skipping maintenance because the kiln seems to be running well may save time and money in the short-term.  This common practice can result in many future and expensive issues. Properly planned and regularly performed maintenance represents a very limited impact on your production schedule and can prevent costly and extended maintenance and unplanned shutdowns.  For example, Finch Manufacturing’s experience demonstrates that a properly aligned kiln’s efficiency is enhanced leading to longer life of the components.

  1. Apples to Apples Purchase Reviews

Finch Manufacturing constantly notices that some companies look at just the bottom-line cost when comparing quotes and do not compare the details or know that these details are critical in maximizing the component’s and/or the kiln’s life expectancy. There is more to a part’s value than its dollar cost!

Finch Manufacturing’s quotes provide more than dimensions and costs. We list the recommended type of steel, hardness, bearings, and even the grease. We design parts based upon our long history and experience making the highest quality parts. There may be a need for a lower-cost option, but Finch quotes a lesser-quality product only if specifically requested to make an apples-to-apples comparison to our competitors. We found some customers do not realize they should get certified steel to include specific hardness for each component or know that 4140 steel is significantly stronger than 1040 or off-the-shelf steel.

Finch Manufacturing ensures you get the right steel for each component at the proper hardness, in the proper form, fit, and function that optimizes its lifecycle and efficiency.  For example, a customer asked us to “fix” a competitors base frame. Our engineers were shocked that it needed two additional large steel frames and gussets to ensure it could support the weight and torque of the kiln.

  1. It’s Too Good to be True

Finch Manufacturing has had a few customers say they went with another option since it seemed too good to be true. History taught Finch if it sounds too good to be true, its usually bringing hidden issues such as lower quality steel or unachievable delivery dates.   If a quote states that they can provide a major forged component in four weeks because that fits your scheduled maintenance, be sure to question it since it will likely result in a delayed schedule.  Always ask “How will this outcome be achieved?”  Know in detail of the who, what, and how this ‘amazing service or purchase’ is going to be achieved. Finch will provide honest answers and details!

Mike Brown, COO of Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC says” These three mistakes are very frustrating for us to deal with as an organization.  Customers buy a lower cost product based upon price and then come back to us to fix or find solutions for these parts. We ask our customers to review their proposals carefully with a Finch engineer and understand the Finch quality difference so they can make an informed decision! This is not to say Finch Manufacturing parts cost more.  We provide the highest quality parts at very competitive prices.”

At Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC, our integrity prevents us from telling you what you want to hear to win your order. We have lost projects by being honest. We use transparent and solid communication and outline precisely how we will complete your project on time and within budget.

Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC would like the opportunity to discuss these common mistakes with your organization and how the Finch team will work with you to prevent your team from making these costly mistakes!

Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC serves a wide range of industries, including cement, metal recycling, asphalt, aggregate etc., offering unparalleled customer service and technical expertise across the United States.  See our website at www.Finchmt.com for more information on Finch’s capabilities and services.

Contact:

Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC
An ISO 9001:2015 Certified Company
Office: (570) 655-2277
540 Montgomery Ave.
West Pittston, PA 18643
rzinnen@finchmt.com
www.finchmt.com

Legal Disclaimer:

PressLink distributes this news content on an “as-is” basis, without any express or implied warranties of any kind. PressLink expressly disclaims all responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented in this article. Any complaints, copyright issues, or concerns regarding this article should be directed to the author.

Note:

This content is not authored by, nor does it reflect the endorsement of, PressLink, its advertisers, or any affiliated entities. For inquiries or corrections related to press releases, please contact PressLink directly.

Presslink Media

Rotary Processing Equipment Solutions

Posted on by John

Pennsylvania, US – October 30, 2024 Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC established in 1855, is a leading provider of Rotary Kilns, Dryers, and other Rotary Processing Equipment (RPE) solutions. Finch Manufacturing stands apart as the only ISO 9001:2015 certified company in our industry, delivering precision-crafted parts and tailored solutions to optimize your operations with slogan “Real Solutions backed by the highest quality parts”.

“6 Most Common Mistakes that Cost Our Customers” – Part A

Bob Zinnen, CEO of Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC says “Our engineers routinely notice common mistakes during our site visits and customer interactions. We thought we should outline the 6 Most Common Mistakes to help prevent our customers from making these common and costly mistakes that lowers efficiency, throughput, and can create longer downtimes.”

This list of common mistakes is not meant to disparage, but to shed some light upon these common mistakes so they may be prevented!   The whole Finch Manufacturing Team works with our customers to mitigate these risks and minimize their associated costs.  This will be a two-part discussion due to the length of these comments.  We will address the first three of these common mistakes here as part A and part B will outline on four through six.

  1. Lack of Spares

Many kiln or dryer components can last over a decade. As a result, the Finch Manufacturing team commonly sees facilities with no spares due to their long-life cycle and high cost as well as customers with multiple sites without a consolidated inventory list.  It is common that spare motors, pinions, bearings, and even low-cost leaf seals and bolts are not stocked. For example a missing leaf seals can easily reduce efficiency resulting in heat and material loss.

If the worst happens, the lack of spares results in extended or unplanned downtime. A high-quality, forged trunnion requires 10 to 16 weeks, and a large thrust roller may require a casting and take over 20 weeks to fabricate. Consequently, lesser damaged components are installed, or customers pay much higher prices for lower quality parts made from off the shelf steel and expedited manufacturing times. This solution will get the kiln running, but low-quality parts possess a shorter life, pushing the problem down the line.

Finch Manufacturing works with customers to standardize their equipment solutions like trunnions, bearings, and other components to help address this issue. This reduces the variety and volume of components kept in stock, thus freeing up your capital. The proper spares will keep customers from settling on quickly available, low-quality options when disaster strikes. A common practice now for Finch’s customers is to order new trunnions and after these are installed send the older worn trunnions back to Finch Manufacturing for refurbishment to serve as spares which saves thousands of dollars.  The Finch Manufacturing engineering team standardized a trunnion for nearly 12 different kilns for one of our customers. They now need to only stock a few spares and ship between sites saving $100,000s.

  1. Poor Maintenance

Many companies believe they perform proper maintenance. Often, when the Finch Manufacturing team start their review or inspection of the kiln, it is readily apparent that they are not performing the correct or Best Practice maintenance procedures. We frequently find systems aligned incorrectly and notice excess wear and tear on the trunnions and tires that shortens their life. Missing or damaged leaf seals is another common problem. Since leaf seals are inexpensive, replacing the missing ones gives you an excellent ROI since it also saves energy.  Lack of or too much grease can take down the whole system by damaging the trunnions and tire.  Trying to align the kiln without a Finch specialist may appear to save money, but usually this practice results in excess wear patterns in the trunnion, thrust roller and more importantly the tire.

Finch Manufacturing’s inspection programs look at a system’s total operation and advises on maintenance best practices. Finch Manufacturing provides programs that teach our customer’s team the do’s and don’ts. Regular alignments, grinding, or testing kiln shell thickness may seem expensive. These actions are inexpensive compared to unscheduled and costly downtime and extend your kiln’s operational life.

  1. Incorrect Lubrication

Our Finch engineers constantly see incorrect or unlubricated drive sprockets and gears. This is also a common problem with trunnion bearings.  This may be hard to believe, but this critical maintenance issue increased greatly since COVID-19 and the constant turnover of maintenance personnel.  This mistake can be very expensive since not properly lubricating your equipment causes excessive wear on the drive sprocket and gear teeth taking your kiln out of action.  As mentioned, spare parts are critical and large sprockets are often missing from “the spares” due to their high cost. Most sprockets and gears are forged which is an expensive and long lead time component.  In some cases, we can rebuild the teeth through welding, but that is time consuming and considered a short-term option. Building up a tooth with weld will not be nearly as accurate as a newly ‘hobbed’ gear and can cause further issues.

To solve this major issue, Finch Manufacturing recommends auto lubrication systems designed specifically for your kiln or dryer.  These systems are relatively inexpensive compared to new sprockets and gears.   The Finch manufacturing team will design an auto lubrication system that ensures that the proper amount of grease is sprayed on the specified areas of the sprockets and gears and at regular intervals to ensure optimal performance.  You don’t have to deal with the ramifications of personnel spraying grease directly on to tire! Yes, we have seen this done!

Common Mistakes 4 through 6 will be addressed in Part B – Our next press release!

Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC would like the opportunity to discuss these common mistakes with your organization and how the Finch team will work with you to prevent your team from the impact of making these costly mistakes!

 

Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC serves a wide range of industries, including cement, metal recycling, asphalt, aggregate etc., offering unparalleled customer service and technical expertise across the United States.  See our website at www. Finchmt.com for more information on capabilities and services.

Contact:

Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC
An ISO 9001:2015 Certified Company
Office: (570) 655-2277
540 Montgomery Ave.
West Pittston, PA 18643
rzinnen@finchmt.com
www.finchmt.com

Legal Disclaimer:

PressLink distributes this news content on an “as-is” basis, without any express or implied warranties of any kind. PressLink expressly disclaims all responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented in this article. Any complaints, copyright issues, or concerns regarding this article should be directed to the author.

Note:

This content is not authored by, nor does it reflect the endorsement of, PressLink, its advertisers, or any affiliated entities. For inquiries or corrections related to press releases, please contact PressLink directly.

Presslink Media

Trusted Partner for Rotary Processing Equipment Solutions

Posted on by admin

Pennsylvania, US – October 24, 2024 – Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC (FinchMT), established in 1855, is a trusted partner of Rotary Kilns, Dryers, and other Rotary Processing Equipment (RPE). With over 165 years of excellence, we are the only ISO 9001:2015 certified company in our industry, delivering precision-crafted parts and tailored solutions to optimize your operations.

At Finch Manufacturing, we measure our success by producing the highest-quality kiln and dryer components made from the best materials, designed for optimum fit, form, and function that lasts! We achieve this by practicing our mission statement every day:

Provide our customers with high-quality parts, equipment, and engineering services in a cost-effective & customer-focused manner that exceeds their expectations.

“The highest quality parts designed for optimum fit, form, and function.” – Our philosophy reflects our commitment to quality and reliability. As an ISO 9001:2015 certified organization, quality at Finch Manufacturing & Technology is ingrained throughout the whole process from design to manufacture to install and beyond. All parts are reviewed at least twice in the design stage, inspected throughout the manufacturing process, and inspected by an engineer and plant supervisor prior to shipment.

Mike Brown, Finch Manufacturing’s COO, emphasizes, “All Parts are not EQUAL! At Finch Manufacturing & Technology, our quality parts start at the beginning with discussions with the customer. What is really needed? Were there any prior issues with the kiln or component? What improvements do our customers require? Our engineers ask these questions and actively listen.”

Often, our customers just send in the PO knowing Finch Manufacturing will provide the best part for their needs due to our earned trust. The Finch engineers use their experience and thousands of drawings to create the most effective design, including materials. If the Finch engineering team sees an opportunity for greater throughput or efficiency, they will discuss this with the customer.

The Finch Manufacturing design team of engineers specifies best practices and, based on years of experience, chooses the best and longest-lasting parts, such as using 4140 forged steel for trunnion heads, hardened to a specific Rockwell measurement. Finch uses only optimal materials and processes that are traceable or certified unless the customer asks for the lowest-cost option due to financial pressures, knowing these lower-cost materials do not last.

For one large customer, the Finch engineering team put the customer first by standardizing the trunnions at nine different plants, vastly reducing the quantity of spares required and saving the customer hundreds of thousands in capital. They know these interchangeable parts can be shipped to most of their sites, and they ship the replaced trunnions back to Finch for possible refurbishment, saving tens of thousands more!

A quality part for Partners

“At Finch Manufacturing, we believe in honesty first,” says Bob Zinnen, CEO. “A quality part is essential, but it must be completed as planned and delivered when needed or as agreed to by both parties. Finch will be honest about delivery dates and not overpromise to win an RFQ as some others do. We are committed to long-term partnerships, fair pricing, and providing only what you need, especially in these uncertain and challenging economic conditions.”

Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC serves a wide range of industries, including cement, metal recycling, asphalt, and aggregate, offering unparalleled customer service and technical expertise across the United States.

Contact:

Finch Manufacturing & Technology, LLC
An ISO 9001:2015 Certified Company
Office: (570) 655-2277
540 Montgomery Ave.
West Pittston, PA 18643
rzinnen@finchmt.com
www.finchmt.com

Legal Disclaimer:

PressLink distributes this news content on an “as-is” basis, without any express or implied warranties of any kind. PressLink expressly disclaims all responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented in this article. Any complaints, copyright issues, or concerns regarding this article should be directed to the author.

Note:

This content is not authored by, nor does it reflect the endorsement of, PressLink, its advertisers, or any affiliated entities. For inquiries or corrections related to press releases, please contact PressLink directly.