In material handling, equipment downtime isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a drain on productivity, a drain on your bottom line, and a potential safety risk. That’s why preventive maintenance should never be an afterthought. At Papé Material Handling, we believe that proactive care for your fleet is essential, and it’s at the heart of our service offerings via factory-certified technicians and maintenance packages.
Let’s walk through why preventive maintenance is so important and how Papé Material Handling delivers it as a crucial service advantage.
Minimize Downtime, Because Time Is Money
Unexpected breakdowns stop operations in their tracks, and unplanned failures cause lost hours, disrupted workflows, and potential overtime or rush repair costs. Preventive maintenance shifts the equation so you can schedule downtime instead of reacting to unexpected failures. According to industry best practices, identifying small issues prevents them from snowballing into major breakdowns.
At Papé Material Handling, we offer service packages that ensure recurring inspections and maintenance so your equipment stays running when you need it most.
Extend Equipment Life and Protect Your Investment
Your material handling fleet is a major capital investment. The smarter you care for it, the longer it lasts. Preventive maintenance keeps parts from wearing prematurely, avoids cascading damage, and preserves structural integrity. Studies show that well-maintained systems can last well beyond their expected lifespans, delivering better return on investment.
With Papé Material Handling’s service network across the West and our parts inventory, we help customers maintain OEM standards.
Improve Safety and Compliance
Equipment failures don’t just slow you down; they pose a significant risk. Imagine a forklift mast chain snapping or a lift platform control falling under load. Preventive maintenance helps catch safety hazards before they result in injury or property damage. Safety inspections, checks of brakes, hydraulics, wiring, structural components, sensors, and operator controls are all part of proactive care and maintenance.
Further, many industries require periodic inspections or certifications. Preventive maintenance helps ensure your fleet stays in compliance with safety and regulatory requirements.
Optimize Performance, Efficiency, and Energy Use
Well-maintained equipment runs more smoothly. That means less strain on motors, fewer fluctuations, better battery life on electric units, and more consistent throughput. Tires in good condition reduce rolling resistance, hydraulic systems in turn reduce energy losses, and clean filters and lubrication systems prevent drag.
When your equipment is tuning out small inefficiencies before they grow, your operation gets better performance with less waste.
Lower Long-Term Costs
Paying for a scheduled inspection or replacing a gasket is almost always cheaper than shelling out the cash for a full drivetrain rebuild or emergency service call. Preventive maintenance turns large, unpredictable expenses into manageable, foreseeable costs.
Plus, by partnering with Papé Material Handling, you gain access to a broad parts inventory and expert technicians, reducing lead times and repair markup.
How Papé Material Handling Does Maintenance Differently
Papé Material Handling is more than a parts or sales dealer: we’re a service partner. Our preventive maintenance approach includes:
- Factory-certified technicians trained across Hyster, Yale, and other OEM equipment.
- Service packages tailored to fleet needs and usage cycles.
- Extensive parts inventory across our locations so replacements are fast and reliable.
- Field service capacity, so we can bring the service to your jobsite.
- Customer portal and fleet tools to track maintenance schedules, service history, and proactive alerts.
- Broad geographic coverage, with over 40 locations across Oregon, Washington, California, Montana, and Nevada.
This integrated service model means your preventive maintenance isn’t just a checkbox, but becomes a strategic asset.
Best Practices to Make Preventive Maintenance Effective
To maximize your returns from preventive maintenance, consider these best practices:
- Schedule Regularly: Follow OEM guidelines and adjust intervals based on usage, environment, and condition.
- Use Checklists and Documentation: Record findings, parts changed, hours, and anomalies.
- Train Your Operators: Your team can often spot early signs during daily checks and operations.
- Prioritize Critical Machines: Focus more frequently on equipment with high usage or mission-critical roles.
- Review Data Trends: Over time, patterns emerge. Certain parts fail more often, and some units require earlier intervention.
- Leverage Your Service Provider: Partner with a maintenance provider like Papé Material Handling to set up a program and adjust it as your operation evolves.
Maximize Uptime with Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance is a strategic investment. It maximizes uptime, extends your fleet’s life, improves safety, and optimizes performance. With Papé Material Handling’s disciplined service offerings, factory-trained technicians, parts infrastructure, and technology support, you get a partner that makes preventative maintenance practical, efficient, and truly valuable.
Don’t wait for failure to force your hand. Connect with your local Papé Material Handling location today to talk about preventative service plans tailored to your operation. Because staying ahead is always better than reacting.
