Case Study
A local waste management facility contacted J&M Welding Inc. after discovering a significant crack in one of their compactors. This piece of equipment is critical to daily operations—when it’s down, trash can’t be processed efficiently and the entire site backs up.
Because pulling the compactor out of service and transporting it to a shop would mean extended downtime and added cost, the facility needed a reliable on-site repair. J&M Welding Inc. mobilized our field service truck and crew to perform a structural welding repair right at the job site.
This project is a great example of how our mobile welding services keep essential equipment working without the disruption of removal and transport.
Client
Regional Waste Management Facility
City
Central Coast, CA (field service)
Process
-
Initial Assessment
Our technicians began with a thorough visual and structural inspection of the cracked compactor frame. We identified the full extent of the damage and confirmed that the repair could be safely completed on site with proper hot-work precautions in place. -
Surface Preparation
To ensure a strong, long-lasting repair, we:-
Ground out the crack to its full depth, eliminating hidden fractures.
-
Removed rust, paint, and contamination from the surrounding area.
-
Shaped the damaged section into a weld-ready groove profile that would allow full weld penetration and multiple passes.
-
-
Welding Repair
With clean base metal exposed, our welder:-
Selected the appropriate welding process and filler metal for the compactor’s steel.
-
Applied multiple passes of weld, rebuilding the area that had been ground out.
-
Inspected each pass for fusion and integrity to avoid defects like porosity or undercut.
-
-
Finishing & Quality Check
After the welds were complete, we:-
Ground and blended the repaired area as needed for proper clearance and a clean profile.
-
Performed a final visual inspection of the repair.
-
Had the client’s team cycle the compactor to verify smooth, normal operation and confirm the repair was performing as intended.
-
Challenges
The biggest challenge on this project was the condition and location of the damage. The crack had spread through a high-stress area of the compactor where years of heavy use, vibration, and corrosion had weakened the steel. Because the machine couldn’t be easily transported without disrupting operations, all work had to be completed in the field, on uneven ground and in an active facility.
Access to the cracked area was tight, which made grinding, prepping, and welding more demanding than in a shop environment. Our crew had to carefully position tools and shielding to protect nearby components and keep debris away from moving parts. Despite these constraints, we were able to create a clean welding surface, achieve full penetration, and deliver a repair that restored the compactor’s structural strength—all without pulling the machine out of service.
Outcome
The compactor was returned to service quickly with a reinforced, crack-free structure. By eliminating corroded material and rebuilding the area with proper weld procedures, we helped extend the life of the equipment and reduce the risk of future failures. The facility gained a safe, dependable repair without interrupting operations any longer than necessary.
This photo shows the J&M Welding mobile service truck set up at the waste management facility, parked next to the large steel bucket used in daily compaction and material handling. You can see the expansive work area and steep dirt slope in the background, highlighting the rugged conditions our crew works in. All of the welding machines, leads, torches, and tools are loaded on the truck, allowing us to perform heavy equipment repairs right where the machine operates instead of hauling it off-site.
Here, you get a close look at the compactor component after the structural repair has been completed. The formerly cracked area has been reinforced with fresh weld metal and hardware, tying the connection back into the surrounding steel. The surface has been cleaned up and blended so the part can return to full service without interference, while still clearly showing the robust, heavy-duty nature of the repair. This is the final result of our mobile welding work before the machine goes back into daily operation.
This in-process photo focuses on the damaged area after our team has ground out the crack and removed corrosion. The steel has been opened up into a clean groove profile, exposing bright, bare metal ready for proper weld penetration. You can see how much material was removed to chase the crack and eliminate weakened steel. This preparation step is essential to ensure that the weld repair is not just cosmetic, but restores real structural strength to the compactor.