Nine Key Factors in Evaluating Vacuum Pump Service Companies
1) Is the work guaranteed to be equal to or better than the standards of the OPM (Original Product Manufacturer)? Keep looking if not.
2) Will your warranty start when you start up your rebuilt pump? Warranties can vary from 30 days to 12 months; but many start the date of shipment. The best service company warranties begin when you start up the pump.
3) Will you be charged for a quote? Look elsewhere if so.
4) Is the quoted price firm, or might it change if additional problems are found? Frequently companies will quote a “basic” repair price that changes once a thorough inspection is performed, or, worse, once the shop discovers something missed at initial inspection. You should get a fixed, firm price that does not change.
5) Is the service facility within a 1-2 day truck transit time? If you are on the east coast and send your pump to the west coast or out of the U.S., it often takes 5-7 days each way for transit.
6) Will you get a detailed list of what was wrong with your pump and what was needed to repair it? The service facility should have nothing to hide.
7) Can the service facility configure your pump to your specifications? For instance, you may need accessories added or deleted, or you may wish your pump to be painted a specific color.
8) Does the service facility use computerized testing? This is important for service consistency and repeatability.
9) Will the service facility provide proactive suggestions for how to extend the life of your pump? If not, they either have little experience or do not understand your application.
The answers to all the above questions should be yes. The more “no” answers, the more you should shop around for a better alternative.
IES Technical Sales is a value added technical sales, distribution, and solutions provider serving the high technology vacuum, plasma/thin film, temperature, fluid handling and metrology markets.