Pacific Trail Manufacturing, Inc. (PTMI) does not just build and sell crosscut unit saws. Based in Portland, Ore., PTMI also provides aftermarket parts and services with a focus on personal service.
Much of its aftermarket service is servicing wear parts on unit saws. PTMI’s team frequently reconditions saw bars to ensure they continue to hold a cutting tolerance and provide its customers with optimal cutting results.
“We are very involved in the correct reconditioning of the saw bars because the crosscut unit saws that we build are asked to hold very tight tolerances,” said Tom Langton, president of PTMI.
In order to keep them in the field for as long as possible, PTMI’s team reconditions saw bars by straightening, shaping and re-inlaying them with stellite – a high wear cobalt product that PTMI hand welds to the perimeter of its saw bars. As the chain chassis rides on the rails of the 450 bhn saw bars, the stellite helps keep the integrity of the rails at 100% so the saw can hold cutting tolerance for a longer period of time before repeated reconditioning.
“A unit saw can make a cut in a minute,” said Langton. “But if the saw is not cutting square or the positioning of the saw is incorrect, what you have created in a matter of moments has no value.”
During the reconditioning process PTMI ensures the saw bars are perfectly square and flat so they continue to provide cutting tolerance to make the straight cuts that are needed.
“It’s very, very important for us to make sure that all of our wear items go out the door as perfect as possible,” said Langton. “These gradual wear items really need to be taken care of meticulously. If they are, they operate just like the day they were brand new.”
Crosscut unit saws, regardless of make, are not continuous-duty pieces of machinery. They have a rather small group of wear items that, if properly taken care of, can result in the saws lasting for years. With its aftermarket maintenance services, PTMI provides its customers a valuable service that does just that.
PTMI has many longtime customers that it has helped maintain wear parts for over the years. As a result, Langton has
seen machines last for decades. And since these products are manufactured in-house, PTMI understands them inside and out.
“The bottom line benefit is making sure that our customers hold a cutting tolerance for the longest period of time for the least amount of repeat service and money,” said Langton.
Its aftermarket services is not just for owners of PTMI crosscut saws. PTMI also offers cost-effective conversion packages to other makes of crosscut unit saws. This includes a saw bar, saw chain, saw chain idler wheel and a saw chain drive sprocket. Once installed, PTMI can provide the same reconditioning services that it does on its own machines.
PTMI’s aftermarket services are not limited to wear parts. It also offers repair services for more extensive damage of machinery and parts. Langton said that PTMI is capable of repairing just about anything a customer can do to a piece of equipment. PTMI once even repaired a yard saw that had been run over by a forklift.
For more information on PTMI and its aftermarket services, visit http://www.ptmi.net or call 888-910-7297.
