23 Years in Operation – Still Reliable!
Tool-Temp Deutschland GmbH, Meinerzhagen/Germany | A 23-year-old oil temperature control unit arrived at the workshop in poor condition. For the service team at the Northern Germany branch, it quickly became clear that without comprehensive maintenance and repair, a failure was imminent. Although, after more than two decades of operation, investing in a modern new unit would have been justified, the customer deliberately chose to refurbish the existing system, not least due to the positive experience gained over many years of operation.
Contaminated interior the temperature control unit What is particularly noteworthy is that the unit continued to operate reliably despite extended periods without proper maintenance. This highlights the robust design and long service life of Tool-Temp units, which remain dependable even under demanding conditions over many years.
In this case, contamination was clearly visible both externally and inside the unit. Particularly critical were heavily clogged supply and return lines. Such deposits build up over many years when maintenance is irregular or neglected and significantly impair performance.
Deposits are not merely a cosmetic issue. If not removed, functionality is affected and serious damage may occur:
• reduced flow rate
• longer heating times
• overheating of heating elements
• damage to the pump
In this case, thorough cleaning and refurbishment were required. The unit was first chemically cleaned to remove coarse contamination from the piping system. However, due to heavy, tar-like deposits, this was not sufficient. Parts of the piping and the tank had to be dismantled and cleaned manually.
The heating elements were also removed and cleaned to prevent overheating. In addition, the service team inspected all relevant components and replaced, among others, contactors, heating and cooling relays, switches, and pump seals.
Tar-like contamination inside the temperature control unit After completion of the work, the unit successfully passed a full test run up to +360 °C. The piping is now clear, the pump has been resealed, and all functions are fully restored. The temperature control unit is once again fully operational and can continue to be used for many more years.
This case clearly demonstrates the importance of regular maintenance. Even simple measures can help ensure full performance and prevent major damage:
• annual maintenance
• regular visual inspections
• timely oil changes
“As this case shows, a unit can still operate reliably even after more than 20 years and despite a lack of regular maintenance, which speaks for the robustness of these systems. At the same time, we frequently see that maintenance is postponed in day-to-day operations, which impacts the condition of the unit and increases the effort required for refurbishment. With regular maintenance, such interventions can be significantly reduced and the service life sustainably extended,” explains Matthias Würth, General Manager of Tool-Temp Germany.
How often maintenance is required depends largely on operating conditions. Units running 24/7 in multi-shift operations are subject to significantly higher loads than those used in single-shift environments and should therefore be inspected more frequently. It is also essential to follow the operating manual to prevent wear and deposits at an early stage.
Temperature control unit after internal cleaning and repair 
Exterior view of a temperature control unit after cleaning and repair