{"id":15472,"date":"2022-09-22T08:26:20","date_gmt":"2022-09-22T13:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wika.com\/us\/\/?p=15472"},"modified":"2023-02-23T14:31:35","modified_gmt":"2023-02-23T19:31:35","slug":"drop-box-makes-diaphragm-seal-repairs-even-faster-and-easier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wika.com\/us\/products\/pressure-products\/drop-box-makes-diaphragm-seal-repairs-even-faster-and-easier\/","title":{"rendered":"Drop Box Makes Diaphragm Seal Repairs Even Faster and Easier"},"content":{"rendered":"

Diaphragm seal repairs have just gotten a lot more convenient with a drop box outside WIKA USA\u2019s Houston office, conveniently located near the Houston Ship Channel.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Diaphragm seals<\/a> are a must for protecting sensitive pressure instruments from high vibration, pulsation, corrosive and viscous media, and extreme temperatures. And by acting as a barrier between the medium and the pressure gauge, diaphragm seals (DS) and DS systems also prevent contamination in sanitary processes<\/a>, especially when a facility uses an integrated diaphragm monitoring system (DMS).<\/p>\n

But like all mechanical components, DS systems experience wear and tear with use, and over time do not work as well as when they were new. However, there is no need to buy a new assembly when this inevitably occurs. Repairing an aging or nonoperational unit is a smart move that saves companies significant time and money.<\/p>\n

Why repair a worn diaphragm seal?<\/h2>\n

There are many reasons for opting to repair a diaphragm seal rather than buying a new unit.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Supply chain disruptions<\/h3>\n

With worker shortages and other lingering effects of the pandemic, the supply chain for many products is struggling to return to pre-COVID norms. Manufacturing has been especially hard hit, leading to significant delays \u2013 as long as eight weeks \u2013 for new process transmitter assemblies. Individual replacement parts \u2013 diaphragm seals, capillary lines, flanges, lowers, flushing ports, etc. \u2013 are easier to source. WIKA USA has all these components on hand, even diaphragm seals made of exotic alloys and precious metals like gold.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lower cost<\/h3>\n

It is naturally less expensive to replace a worn or broken part rather than buying a new pressure transmitter system, especially when the other components still have years of life left in them. On average, a DS repair saves users at least 50% of the cost compared to buying a new unit.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Environmental sustainability<\/h3>\n

We have seen instances where customers have thrown away non-functioning DS units, not realizing how easily they are to repair. Reusing perfectly good process transmitters and other components save not only money, but helps reduce a company\u2019s carbon footprint.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Convenience<\/h3>\n

The Diaphragm Seal Division of WIKA USA is located near the Port of Houston. Rather than sending it out of state or to another country, a customer in the oil and gas<\/a>, chemical<\/a>, or petrochemical<\/a> industry could simply ship or drop off the DS assembly in northeast Pasadena, right off Highway 225, or call us for a pickup.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Short turnaround time<\/h3>\n

Depending on the scope of the job, WIKA USA can repair a DS unit in 24 hours to five days for an expedited request. Standard repairs are quoted at 10 business days.<\/p>\n

Drop Boxes: Making Diaphragm Seal Repairs Even Easier<\/h2>\n

We have recently added a drop box outside our Houston office, allowing for after-hours, no-contact dropoffs. The process is convenient and simple:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Put the defective unit in a box or bag.<\/li>\n
  2. At the drop box, located on the north end of the building, scan the QR code and fill out a short online decontamination form. After submitting the form, you\u2019ll receive an acknowledgment email from the field services team.<\/li>\n
  3. The next business day, we thoroughly evaluate the unit, then make the necessary repairs and replacements.<\/li>\n
  4. We recalibrate the repaired unit and check the process transmitter.<\/li>\n
  5. Once the repair is complete, the customer has several options, depending on how badly the unit is needed:\n