The fastest way to stop small faults becoming total shutdowns – A machine MOT

Downtime to your production starts as a slow drift. You may notice slower cut rates, your operators use more abrasive on each job, you see inconsistent profile, or ‘nuisance’ stoppages. Then “suddenly” you lose the shift.

A Machine MOT from a SurfacePrep engineer exists to catch that drift early, while the fix is still simple, parts are available, and you are not paying for emergency downtime.

Our Machine MOTs are an alternative to TotalCare, our full service package for sites where equipment use is less frequent or not deemed fully mission-critical, but where you still want a clear view of machine condition and risk.

A Machine MOT is a strip-down inspection and condition report that gives you an honest picture of:

• What is worn, out of tolerance, or unsafe
• What will fail next if you keep running
• What to replace now vs what can wait
• What changes will improve reliability and performance

It is not a box-tick “looks fine” visit. The whole point is to identify hidden issues before they become expensive failures.

This service makes the most sense when:

1. Downtime would hurt, but you do not need a full annual service package, yet
2. Your machine has become “temperamental”, or settings keep drifting
3. You have inherited older kit, or you are unsure of service history
4. Operators are compensating, e.g. turning pressure up to get the cut back
5. You see early warning signs: reduced flow, inconsistent pattern, more rework

If your blasting is genuinely business-critical, you may be better served by an ongoing TotalCare service package (Gold/Silver/Bronze) rather than ad hoc inspections. SurfacePrep offers those tiers alongside MOT checks and breakdown support.

A Machine MOT and inspection typically delivers:

• A machine inspection detailing current condition
• A detailed report showing what was found, what was completed (if anything), and what remedial work is required
• Practical guidance on the right maintenance approach, taking into account equipment type, abrasive selection, application and duty cycle

Based on our report you can choose to carry out the repairs yourself, or SurfacePrep can do the repairs and offer full servicing, fitting parts and adjustments, with a reactive breakdown response. This provides absolute peace of mind for your business.

A good MOT produces three critical outcomes:

1. Fewer stoppages and less firefighting
   SurfacePrep’s service positioning is clear that blasting “takes a heavy toll” on equipment, compromising reliability, efficiency, safety, quality and profitability, and the role of planned maintenance is to protect those outcomes.
2. More stable process performance
   When wear parts and controls drift, operators compensate. That usually means higher abrasive consumption, higher air demand, inconsistent finish, and knock-on rework.
3. Better compliance confidence
   This is where many sites are exposed without realising it. SurfacePrep’s compliance support references key obligations such as:
   • LEV thorough examination and test at least every 14 months, with records kept at least 5 years, aligned to HSG258 and P601.
   • Pressure systems requirements under Pressure Systems Safety Regulations, and a good-practice recommendation of annual pressure testing (your insurer may specify frequency).
   • Breathing air quality aligned to EN12021, with filter testing at least every 3 months and records kept for at least 5 years.

Even if you treat these as separate activities, a Machine MOT is a sensible moment to identify where compliance checks are due, missing, or undocumented.

SurfacePrep’s engineers and servicing offer is built around depth, not just call-outs:

• Over 60 years’ experience manufacturing blast equipment, and the capability to advise on the right maintenance programme for the real duty cycle.
• 12,000+ parts held in stock plus engineer van stock, with an explicit aim of first-time fix.
• In-house servicing support, including a dedicated spray pump specialist with 25+ years in coatings.

That matters because an MOT is only useful if the findings can be acted on quickly.

If you want a Machine MOT to reduce downtime risk (without committing to a full service package), the next step is simple:

Book a Machine MOT and get a condition report you can plan around.

Call 0114 254 1520 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.