The Importance of Taking Field Repairs Seriously: Vibrating Screen Cloth Failure Analysis

Field repairs are often a necessity in industries where extended periods of downtime have severe productivity and thereby cost consequences. This presentation will present a case study of a vibrating screen cloth that was weld repaired in the field with several field related constraints with the goal of minimizing process downtime and thereby maintaining productivity. Following weld repair and overlay reinstatement, the screen cloth failed in service after less than half the anticipated service life. The resultant failure mode was a first for the client and caused greater operational downtime than would have been caused by completing the repair in a more detailed manner in the first place. The audience will be exposed not only to the consequences of placing productivity above quality, but also to the thought process of a failure analysis and the recommendations made to the client at the end of the project to avoid reoccurrence.

About the presenter

Nairn Barnes, Welding and Materials Engineer, IRIS NDT

CanWeld Conference 2024