Osborn Streamlines and expands
Service and Repairs capability

August 2008

With rising interest rates putting mines and quarries under increasing pressure to keep costs contained and productivity up, suppliers are having to find ways to add value to their service and product offerings in order to retain their customers.

Bulk materials handling and minerals processing equipment specialist Osborn is adding value to its range of robust machines with a recently streamlined and expanded service and repairs department.

The Elandsfontein-based firm has brought its previously separate service and repairs operations together under one roof, with manager Ian Van Zyl at the helm. “In order to make our after sales service and repairs departments even more efficient, it was decided to join the repairs department and the field service department, with one manager looking after both,” he explains.

In addition, the size of the department has doubled in the past two years. “The new structure is running very smoothly and proving a most efficient way to handle customers’ repairs and service needs as efficiently as possible,” Ian adds. “Merging the departments has enabled us to have one manager looking after both areas, with a newly appointed service administration assistant to focus on doing the administration work. This means we can assist our customers on the paperwork side much quicker than before.  With the merge, we are also enjoying the benefits of these operations being able to lean on each other when needed; if repairs is under pressure, the service technicians can assist, and, similarly, if service is stretched, the repairs technicians can help out.”

Osborn has also upgraded the tools and equipment in the department, to ensure that customers have access to the most up-to-date repair and service options for their machines.

“One challenging repair recently undertaken was on a Hadfields 42 x 32 double toggle jaw crusher,” Ian reports. “The jaw crusher mainframe arrived at Osborn broken in two pieces.” While many may have considered the machine beyond repair, Osborn rose to the challenge, repairing the jaw crusher and returning it to the customer.

“The advantage of using Osborn’s service and repairs department is that customers can be assured of quality complying with the original machine specifications,” Ian notes. Osborn’s service technicians are also specially trained to work on Osborn’s machines.

The service and repair department’s manager and servicemen are on standby 24 hours a day. “We’re committed to helping our customers in these tough times, and ensuring that their equipment downtime is kept to a minimum,” Ian concludes.