5 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Coil Feed Line

Even the most rugged coil feed lines require attention to run at peak performance. The good news? Extending the life of your feed line doesn’t have to mean costly rebuilds or new machinery. With preventive maintenance and a few expert strategies, you can significantly boost reliability, reduce downtime, and avoid expensive surprises.

Here are five key areas to focus on:

1. Prioritize Preventative Maintenance Over Reactive Repairs

Unexpected breakdowns are more than inconvenient—they impact production and budget. The most cost-effective maintenance strategy is one that anticipates issues before they happen.

Best practices include:

  • Following OEM-recommended maintenance intervals (based on time or cycles)
  • Adjusting schedules for environmental conditions or actual usage
  • Scheduling service during planned downtime
  • Keeping operators trained to report unusual noises or performance issues immediately

👉 Tip: A well-maintained record—whether spreadsheet or software-based—makes pattern tracking and service planning easier.

2. Maintain Proper Lubrication for All Moving Parts

Lubrication is the lifeblood of any mechanical system. Whether it’s grease or oil, every component has its needs.

Critical components to monitor:

  • Bearings and bushings: Require visible, clean grease
  • Transmission chains: Manual or auto-lube, both need regular checks
  • Gearboxes and reducers: Oil levels and quality must be maintained
  • Hydraulic systems: Monitor fluid levels and replace filters regularly
  • Mandrel systems: Lubricate expansion wedges and check bearing load points

👉 Tip: Neglecting lubrication can lead to premature wear, component failure, or line shutdowns.

3. Keep the Power Transmission System Aligned and Tight

Feed lines rely on smooth power transfer—misalignment or wear in the drive system can lead to torque loss, component damage, or inconsistent feeding.

Inspect regularly:

  • Motor mounts and couplings (tightness, alignment)
  • Keyed shafts and compression couplings
  • Transmission belts and chains (tension, wear, and lubrication)

👉 Tip: Proactively addressing vibration and slippage keeps your equipment operating efficiently and reduces stress on motors and gearboxes.

4. Don’t Overlook the Frame and Mechanical Stability

Even the strongest equipment can shake itself loose over time. High-vibration zones, pilot releases, or poor handling during line changes can loosen fasteners and shift alignment.

What to check:

  • All frame and structural fasteners
  • Pilot-release areas on feeders
  • Roller jack alignment (to prevent poor straightening)
  • Catenary support hardware

👉 Tip: Tighten and realign as needed. A stable structure prevents micro-shifts that can cause feeding defects or increased wear.

5. Protect Surfaces and Manage Material Flow

Material slippage and surface wear reduce feed accuracy and create defects—especially with pre-lubed coils or abrasive environments.

Actionable steps:

  • Keep work surfaces clean and free of excess oil/grease
  • Avoid over-acceleration—adjust motion profiles to suit material
  • Check loop depths and loop control logic
  • Maintain reel brake pressure (not too high, not too low)
  • Monitor and replace reel brake pads below 1/8” thickness

👉 Tip: Every part of the feed path—from reel to rollers—should grip material effectively without damaging it.

Bonus Tip: Train Your Operators and Keep Detailed Logs

Well-trained operators are your first line of defense. Encourage them to:

  • Recognize and report early signs of failure
  • Log problems and irregularities
  • Differentiate between setup vs. equipment issues

👉 Tip: Detailed logs improve long-term maintenance planning and make troubleshooting faster.

 

COE Made in the USA Coil Feed Line Service with red service van COE Press Equipment Service. Coil Handling Experts 24/7 Service. Stamping, Cut-to-length, Rollforming. 586-979-4400 COEPRESS.COM
Technicians wearing safety helmets and work uniforms inspect and troubleshoot an industrial electrical control panel filled with wiring, circuit breakers, and programmable controllers.
Close-up view of industrial machine gears coated in red grease, with hydraulic and pneumatic tubing connected to the surrounding metal assembly. Safety warning labels indicate moving parts.
Close-up of a blue toothed timing belt installed on a black pulley within an industrial power transmission system, showing precise alignment and tension.

COE Press Equipment offers refurbishment programs, maintenance services, and parts support to help you avoid costly downtime. Whether it’s reconditioning worn components or scheduling a preventive check-up, we’re here to extend the performance of your investment.

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