An insulated container can work for ten years, and over that time the lid gasket, latch and castors change several times. The shell stays sound, but if a single part cannot be found the container stops, so the real life of the equipment is decided by supply of its smallest part. Ask four things when buying:
- Which parts are sold as spares and what their codes are
- For how many years they will be supplied
- What the lead time is
- Whether the parts are shared with other models
Work out stock from the fault log: divide annual replacements by 365 and multiply by the lead time in days. A fleet that replaces 24 castors a year with a 45-day lead time needs about 3 in stock, plus a safety margin.
Match the part to the container's model and serial number. A gasket that looks or measures right but is the wrong material breaks the seal and shortens the container's holding time.
