Poor design with inflated weight: The most important characteristic of a ductile iron or cast iron manhole cover and frame is its load bearing capacity. Chamber Cover manufacturers often purposefully design heavier covers so that more material is used, and as a result the price is higher. This lack of efficient design can result in losses to the tune of Rs. 1,40,000 per truck.
Rocking frame and cover leading to replacement: Improper grinding and machining of the manhole cover and frame seating area leads to a rocking tendency of the inspection. Every time a vehicle passes over it, a loud clanking sound is heard. Neighbourhood residents and authorities often force suppliers to replace these faulty products. Along with the monetary loss, an irreparable hit is taken by your reputation.
Brittle Covers Leading to Breakage: Manhole covers that have passed the load test in the factory end up breaking under the load of vehicles on the streets. This is because of poor metal chemistry that makes them very brittle leading to sudden breakage under repeated load. The replacement of each cover can cost anywhere between Rs. 10,000 to 70,000, apart from the lawsuits and legal trouble you might face.
Poor Paint Quality & Rust: While the manufacturer may show great finish in the photos, often times when the castings reach the final destination after a long truck journey, large sections are found rusted. This significantly reduces the life of the castings leading to early failure and need for replacement.
