Look around your shop, and you’ll probably see a variety of cutting tools for different jobs and materials. In fact, you probably go through a lot of them, especially drill bits. Have you ever thought about all the functions cutting tools perform? They cut, of course, but they also expand, shape, grind and smooth.
Cutting tools are a vital part of many maintenance, repair and operations outfits. Just a quick glance at Kimball Midwest’s cutting tools main page gives you a clear view of the wide variety in our cutting tools product line.
Think about your current vendor(s) that supply you with Maintenance, Repair and Operations products. Seriously, pause for a minute and think. Their products and services are vital to your business operations.
Have too many vendors? Sometimes having one is the right call. In today's world, that might be even more important than ever to keep your employees and their families safe.
The breakdowns in the supply chain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have renewed interest in Made in the USA products. Most American consumers surveyed in 2017 responded that buying American-made products was at least somewhat, if not very, important, but they also indicated an unwillingness to spend more on domestic products.
There are some situations, such as open flames and running engines, that obviously require the right ventilation in your shop. But those circumstances are just the tip of the iceberg.
In March 2020, Americans learned a valuable lesson.
You may look at water and wonder how it is one of the strongest forces in the world. You drink it. You swim in it, and it moves around you. And if you stomp hard in a rain puddle, you can displace nearly all of it. But in those scenarios, water has infinite space (except for drinking).
If you are interested in a mobile hydraulics station, there’s a better-than-average chance you already have a hydraulics station in your main hub, and it probably works pretty well for you.
But mobile hydraulics stations are nothing new. Most people go about their day and never notice the trucks on the road that pass them with crimpers attached to the back.
But it’s not just the crimper that matters. You need the proper fittings and the hose at your fingertips. So just having a pickup truck isn’t enough. Making sure to have proper storage for those items if you are going from job to job, instead of stopping back at the office, is important because it not only saves you time, it saves you money.
One customer in the oil industry that is serviced by Kimball Midwest has a full trailer setup that the customer hauls from rig to rig so he can make repairs whenever and wherever he needs to on some of the biggest, most powerful and dirtiest hoses in the world.
The customer saw the value in creating a portable hydraulics workstation, saying “the drilling sites are sometimes hours away from the shop. To have the ability to fix hoses onsite is a huge financial savings.
“I do not have the luxury of downtime when a hose breaks, I need to replace it now.”
But it isn’t just big operations that need mobile units. Even a single mobile mechanic who knows their way around making a hose or fixing brake lines might see the benefit in owning a mobile hydraulics unit.
There’s a lot to know about hydraulics, and you aren’t alone when it comes to getting that information.
Here are several blog posts that can teach you how to maintain your equipment – mobile or stationary – and operate it safely when you are ready to go:
Stationary Hydraulic Systems: Maintenance and Safety
Do It Yourself: In-House Hydraulic Assemblies
The Importance of Using the Same Manufacturer for All Hydraulic Parts
Are You Maintaining Your Hydraulic System?
Preventative Maintenance Can Save You Time and Money
The Key Elements of a Hydraulic Hose Assembly
If you need someone who can keep you going, keep your machines running or keep other people in business with little to no downtime, we can help you 
.
