Services Based in Kansas City
Unplanned downtime is extremely costly in high-demand industries like mining, aggregate, grain storage, and food and beverage processing. For example, a 2024 Siemens industry report found that unplanned downtime can cost ~11% of annual revenue for Fortune 500 manufacturers.
IBT’s predictive maintenance services are engineered to eliminate unplanned shutdowns. By combining advanced diagnostics with rapid field service, we help plant managers catch faults early, protect critical assets, and keep production running. Every service is designed to reduce downtime, improve equipment reliability, and save on operating costs.
Industrial Service Page Quicklinks
Main Industrial Equipment Services
Maintenance & Repair Services
Vibration Analysis
Motion Amplification
Infrared Electrical Inspections
Troubleshooting & Repair Services for Industrial Equipment
When equipment fails, IBT’s expert technicians provide fast, on-site troubleshooting and repair to get systems back online. We offer 24/7 emergency industrial repair services, utilizing state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, including vibration data collectors, motion amplification cameras, and precision shaft lasers to help pinpoint the root cause.
Our crews can service everything from bearings, couplings, sheaves, shafts, and gearboxes to pumps, fans, and conveyors. We prevent extended outages by diagnosing problems immediately and fixing them before they result in equipment downtime.
Addressing mechanical issues proactively prevents the “cascade” of failures that leads to unscheduled downtime, production losses, and even safety hazards. We aim to rapidly restore operations and prevent a minor malfunction from becoming a major breakdown.
Get a quote for industrial troubleshooting and repair services today. Emergency services are limited to within a few hours’ drive from our headquarters near Kansas City. We also offer emergency repair services for conveyor belt splicing at several of our branches.
Predictive Vibration Analysis & Diagnostics
IBT’s vibration analysis service uses portable sensors and data collectors to monitor machine vibration and diagnose issues in rotating equipment. By measuring vibration levels and trends, we can detect imbalances, misalignments, bearing wear, gear defects, and other faults long before they cause failure. Early detection lets us schedule maintenance on your terms, not in the middle of production.
Regular vibration monitoring minimizes unplanned downtime and maximizes uptime by pinpointing developing problems, such as loose bolts, soft-foot, and worn bearings, for correction. This approach cuts repair costs and extends equipment life: predictive vibration monitoring typically yields around a tenfold return on investment and 30–40% lower maintenance costs compared to reactive repairs.
In practical terms, detecting a deteriorating bearing through vibration analysis means replacing it on schedule, rather than replacing an entire asset due to catastrophic failure, which can cause hours of delay.
Learn More about Our Vibration Analysis Services →
Dynamic Balancing Services
Unbalance in rotors, fans, or shafts creates excessive vibration, noise, and heat that rapidly wear bearings and mounts. IBT’s dynamic balancing service corrects these conditions by adjusting the mass of the rotating parts. Proper balancing ensures smoother and more efficient operation, as well as longer equipment life.
Unbalanced equipment is a leading cause of premature equipment failure and increased energy consumption. By balancing on-site, we reduce vibration levels so machinery runs reliably. The result is longer component life and fewer breakdowns—in short, fewer bearing and seal replacements, as well as lower maintenance expenses. A well-balanced machine draws less power and generates less heat, improving both efficiency and safety.
Shaft & Sheave Alignment Services (Rotating Equipment Alignment)
Proper alignment of shafts, couplings, pulleys, and sheaves is critical. IBT’s precision laser-alignment service corrects misalignment down to thousandths of an inch. Misaligned drives waste power and stress bearings; studies show that misalignment can increase energy usage by 9–20% (depending on the coupling type) and sharply raise vibration levels.
More importantly, eliminating misalignment prevents unexpected failures. Misaligned shafts are a primary cause of excessive vibration and rapid wear on bearings, couplings, and seals.
In short, our laser-alignment programs keep drives running smoothly, reduce power consumption, and prevent alignment-related downtime before it occurs.
Lubrication Services (Routes & Automatic Systems)
Consistent, proper lubrication is essential to machine reliability. IBT designs lubrication routes and installs automatic-lube systems to ensure that each bearing, chain, or gear receives the correct grease or oil at the optimal interval.
Proper lubrication dramatically prolongs equipment life and reduces wear. Just over 50% of bearing failure is due to improper lubrication. Under-lubrication causes higher friction, heat, and energy consumption, leading to premature failures, while over-lubrication wastes grease and can also create excess heat and stress.
Lubrication routes or “rounds” (routine greasing) by trained technicians ensure that machinery isn’t forgotten or missed.
Automatic lubrication systems can deliver small doses of lubricant more frequently and precisely than manual methods. Automated systems solve both problems by metering the exact amount of lubricant, preventing both “dry” and “over-greased” scenarios. The result is reduced maintenance labor and costs, as well as lower downtime from lubrication-related failures.
Bearing & Component Installation/Replacement
When a bearing, shaft, or other mechanical component needs replacement, IBT’s team performs the teardown and installation to OEM standards. We handle bearings, couplings, sheaves, chains, and more, using precision tools and lubrication protocols.
Proper installation is crucial. Factors such as misalignment, contamination, or poor fit are among the leading causes of premature bearing failure. Our technicians eliminate these risk factors during service, ensuring correct alignment, preload, and cleanliness, so that new parts deliver the full expected lifespan. This attention to detail protects your capital investment.
Avoiding even one rebuilt gearbox or motor failure can save thousands, and a single bearing failure can bring an entire line to a halt. IBT helps keep your equipment running reliably and efficiently by replacing worn components correctly the first time.
Motion Amplification
Motion amplification is a cutting-edge diagnostic technique now offered by IBT. Using high-speed video and software, our motion-amplification cameras make subtle machinery movements visible on-screen. Technicians film equipment in operation and “amplify” tiny deflections into discernible video.
This lets us directly see looseness, misalignment, bent shafts, or structural resonances that would otherwise be hidden. By revealing the exact location and nature of motion faults, motion amplification greatly speeds troubleshooting and root-cause analysis.
In practice, this means fewer hours troubleshooting; the problem jumps right out on the screen. Motion amplification complements our other tools, helping to ensure that corrective actions fully address every source of vibration.
Learn More About Our Motion Amplification Diagnostic Services →
Predictive Maintenance Programs (Infrared, Vibration, Motion, Oil & Remote Monitoring)
IBT’s comprehensive predictive-maintenance programs integrate multiple technologies to spot issues before they cause downtime. For example, infrared (IR) thermography finds overheated electrical connections, motors, and electrical panels during scheduled audits, preventing shorts and fires.
Our vibration analysis (described above) detects mechanical faults at an early stage. We also conduct oil analysis (laboratory testing of lubricant samples) to detect wear metals or contamination. Oil analysis is considered “the cornerstone of predictive maintenance” because it ensures equipment reliability and catches problems that vibration alone might miss.
Our industrial equipment predictive maintenance services:
- Infrared (Thermographic) Inspections: Non-contact thermographic scans that reveal hot spots in gearboxes, motors, electrical panels, and heat exchangers. Early hotspot detection prevents latent electrical failures and supports safety and NFPA 70B 2023 compliance standards.
- Vibration Monitoring: (As above) In-depth trend analysis of rotating equipment vibration – ideal for spotting bearing failure or imbalance. Unusual vibration signatures trigger maintenance before a breakdown.
- Oil Analysis: Regular testing of oils/greases to identify contamination, particle debris, or viscosity loss. This preemptively signals internal wear (e.g. bearing or gearbox wear) and helps schedule oil changes on condition, extending machinery life.
- Remote Condition Monitoring: 24/7 sensor networks capture temperature, vibration, speed, and other data. Real-time alerts flag anomalies immediately, allowing maintenance teams to act even outside of regular working hours. Continual monitoring has been shown to cut unexpected downtime in half.
Deploying all these predictive technologies together yields significant savings. Industry studies report that a well-run predictive program can deliver roughly a 10× return on investment, cutting maintenance expenses by 30–40%. By catching faults early, IBT’s predictive maintenance enhances throughput, safeguards equipment, and keeps compliance risks in check (e.g. by preventing sanitary equipment failures in food plants).
If you’re interested in training in any of these modalities, contact us.
Additional Maintenance Services
In addition to the above, IBT provides a full suite of maintenance support services:
- Failure Analysis: In-depth investigation of equipment failures to determine the root cause and prevent reoccurrence.
- Component Repair & Overhaul: Rebuilding or refurbishing gearboxes, motors, pumps, and other components to restore like-new performance.
- Preventive Maintenance Rounds: Scheduled inspections and upkeep (greasing, filter changes, bolt checks, etc.) to catch wear before it causes problems.
Each service is designed to protect your capital equipment and help you meet your production goals. By reducing unplanned shutdowns and improving asset longevity, IBT’s maintenance solutions help plants meet demand reliably while keeping costs down.
📞 Leo Simbeck, Industrial Service Manager
📧 imt@ibtinc.com
📱 (816) 877-4455