Bill Peloquin, owner and service manager of STAT Bio-Medical Sales & Service, says that the important things to look for when refurbishing a stress treadmill are the working components and gear assembly.

"We bring it in and evaluate it and see how operational it is and then we physically dismantle it," Peloquin says. "Take a Q-55 treadmill for example. We will take the belt off, remove the motor assembly-we refurbish all motors that come through because the motor is the heart of the system and has to be serviced on a regular basis and a lot of people neglect that. Then we overhaul the belts and inspect the gear assembly and check each one of those. A lot of times they develop stress cracks because the amount of use and we want them to be completely operational. We replace all the belts and the tread belt and use beeswax to laminate the deck that the belt rides on. Then we assemble and clean as needed."


Service Time

For 30 years Medical Integrated Services has been providing stress test service with technicians in the Midwest who can disperse as needed around the country.

According to Jim Gray, several challenges currently face the service industry including challenges with reimbursements and bill collecting.

"When you look at all the reimbursement issues that people are dealing with, it has a trickle down effect and a direct impact on us in that we become one of those vendors that people put-off paying," Gray says. "With everyone so focused on money, people wait a little longer to make those calls for repairs."

Another problem that companies are dealing with involves customers dealing directly with the OEMs for their service needs.

"A lot of times what we see are people going back to the manufacturer because they feel it's simple and they are names the public is familiar with," Gray says. "But the downside is that you are paying a premium that you might not need to pay. It's an ongoing challenge that we have always dealt with. In many cases, they don't get as high a level of service from the OEMs."

Alda Clemmey, vp sales/marketing for STAT Bio-Medical Sales & Service, still believes that cost is the number one factor and they have seen an increase in customers over the past year.

"We work with clinics and physicians who call us when things break, usually the belt or the motor on the treadmill," she says. "More people are inclined to have things fixed rather than buy new. And if they do need to replace something, we will let them trade it in towards a refurbished model. This way you can get equipment for at least less than half and get as good a warranty as the manufacturer."

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