Specifically tailored for the hydraulic breaker industry—where equipment routinely encounters applications that cause significant stress and wear—ProCare, according to Atlas Copco, takes responsibility for periodic breaker maintenance out of the end user’s hands.

“Many [customers] themselves are aware that they aren’t following proper maintenance procedures,” said Matt Cadnum, Atlas Copco’s vice president of sales–aftermarket. “Worn components on hydraulic breakers can lead to expensive equipment failures if they aren’t addressed in a timely manner. ProCare is essentially an insurance policy to prevent those issues from ever arising.”

Under a ProCare contract, the Atlas Copco dealer or service center that sells a new breaker is responsible for coordinating service inspections with the customer. The agreement includes initial installation and setup of the breaker to ensure proper settings on the hydraulic carrier. From there, fixed service intervals are established based on routine, single-shift breaker use. The program requires annual workshop inspections at the one-, two- and three-year marks, and periodic field inspections at six months in the first year, at 16 and 20 months during year two, and at 27, 30 and 33 months in the final year. At each service interval, all major breaker components are inspected and, if necessary, replaced.

Cadnum said that by ensuring that breakers are being taken care of the way they should be, ProCare extends a breaker’s standard one-year limited warranty to three years of coverage. “It should be a huge boost to a customer’s peace of mind,” he noted.

ProCare will rely heavily on the documentation required of all services performed under the contract. “First and foremost, it will ensure that the breaker is being properly and consistently serviced over the course of the contract,” said Cadnum. “And by having a complete service record, it will help the customer to command a higher resale value for the unit. We’re also working to include a guaranteed buyback at the end of the term.”