Most people in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries already understand the value of preventive maintenance. The concept is simple: care for your equipment regularly to avoid costly downtime, extend its life, and keep operations running safely.
But when it comes to more specialized chemical process equipment—such as glass-lined steel reactors, filter-dryers, centrifuges, and borosilicate glass systems—preventive maintenance is not always straightforward. Unlike pumps, compressors, or piping systems with well-documented service schedules, this equipment is highly engineered, less common, and requires specialized expertise.
That’s where the right partner makes all the difference.
The Challenge of Maintaining Specialty Equipment
Routine preventive maintenance for utilities and standard machinery is typically handled by in-house teams with general mechanical knowledge. But specialty equipment introduces unique challenges:
- Glass-lined vessels require spark testing and visual inspections that must be performed with care to avoid damaging the lining.
- Filter-dryers combine multiple process functions (filtration, washing, drying) in one vessel, which makes their agitators, seals, and discharge systems more complex to maintain.
- Centrifuges are highly dynamic systems—imbalances, vibration, or bearing failures can lead to catastrophic downtime if not addressed proactively.
- Borosilicate glass equipment is resistant to corrosion but highly sensitive to thermal and mechanical stress, requiring careful handling during inspections and cleaning.
Without training and specific knowledge, maintenance activities risk causing more harm than good. That’s why preventive care for these types of systems requires more than a checklist—it requires expertise.
Preventive Maintenance Activities for Specialized Equipment
While exact activities vary by process and equipment design, here are some of the core preventive tasks for different equipment types:
Glass-Lined Equipment
- Spark Testing: Identify defects in glass linings before they compromise integrity.
- Agitator and Seal Inspections: Check alignment, condition, and tightness to prevent leaks.
- Nozzle and Manway Maintenance: Inspect gaskets and hardware for wear. Replace any and all gaskets on a regular basis.
- Approved Cleaning Practices: Ensure procedures protect the lining from scratches or chemical attack.
Filter-Dryers
- Agitator Checks: Inspect for wear and ensure smooth operation of agitation and discharge.
- Seal and Bearing Inspections: Replace or lubricate critical components before they fail.
- Filter Media Maintenance: Review and replace filter elements or cloth as needed.
- Vacuum and Pressure Integrity: Test to ensure the vessel maintains proper operating conditions.
Centrifuges
- Bearing and Lubrication Maintenance: Prevent vibration and mechanical failures.
- Seal and Filter Cloth Replacement: Keep performance consistent and prevent leaks.
- Discharge System Checks: Inspect scrapers, pushers, or inversion mechanisms.
- Balance and Vibration Monitoring: Ensure smooth, safe operation at high speeds.
Borosilicate Glass Equipment
- Visual Inspections: Identify scratches, cracks, or cloudiness in glass surfaces.
- Seal and Joint Checks: Inspect O-rings and connections for leaks.
- Non-Abrasive Cleaning: Use approved methods to avoid damaging glass surfaces.
- Thermal Stress Prevention: Manage heating and cooling rates to reduce fracture risks.
(Note: Each of these activities requires detailed procedures—something our team at De Dietrich can provide or train your personnel to perform safely.)
How Preventive Care Reduces Risk
Preventive maintenance is especially critical for this type of equipment because failures are more than just inconvenient—they can be costly, dangerous, and time-consuming to repair. Proactive care ensures:
- Reduced risk of catastrophic failure (e.g., cracked linings or centrifuge imbalance).
- Regulatory compliance through documented inspections and traceability.
- Operator safety by addressing issues before they escalate.
- Optimized ROI by maximizing uptime and reducing total cost of ownership.
How De Dietrich Supports Your Preventive Maintenance
At De Dietrich, we understand the intricacies of maintaining specialty process equipment. That’s why we offer multiple ways to support our customers:
- Preventive Maintenance Services – Annual, semi-annual, or customized service plans performed by our experts to keep your equipment running reliably.
- On-site audits - Comprehensive inspections of gasketed joints with expert recommendations on replacement intervals to ensure long-term performance.
- Training Programs – On-site or remote training for your maintenance teams, focused on the unique requirements of glass-lined, alloy, filter-dryer, centrifuge, and borosilicate equipment.
- Spare Parts & Repairs – OEM-certified replacement parts and repair services to keep downtime to a minimum.
- Global Expertise – With centuries of combined experience and service centers worldwide, we provide consistent, reliable support wherever your facility is located.
Preventive maintenance is widely recognized as essential—but for specialty process equipment, it’s not enough to simply “check the box.” These systems demand specialized care and expertise to ensure their longevity, reliability, and safe operation.
By partnering with De Dietrich, you gain access to trained experts who can perform preventive maintenance directly or equip your in-house team with the skills to do it themselves. Either way, you can be confident that your most valuable equipment will deliver reliable performance for years to come.
Contact us today to schedule a preventive maintenance service or learn more about training programs for your team.
