Nobody calls a contractor to talk about equipment that is working fine. They call when a folding partition won’t retract before a board meeting, or a fume hood’s airflow drops in an active lab. That is usually the moment a facility manager realizes that equipment that moves needs regular maintenance, much like a car.
Those moments are why we built a standalone service division at Ravensberg, and why I think it has become one of the most important differentiators of our business. This post covers why we made service its own discipline, what preventative maintenance catches, and what facility managers can expect when they call us.
Why Ravensberg Built a Standalone Service Division
We sell products that move, from wall systems to fume hoods to gym equipment. Anything that moves needs regular attention and upkeep. In our early years, with a smaller footprint in a smaller market, we handled service as needed, but it was not a business in its own right. That changed as customers increasingly asked for service from the same team that had installed their equipment.
Today we have people whose full-time job is service. They promote it, sell it, schedule it, and run the projects. Rather than handing service to carpenters between installs, we have built it into its own discipline, with its own standards and a dedicated team. Customers have responded. As of 2026, our service division revenue is up roughly 32% over the past three years.
Scheduled Maintenance, With Emergency Repair When It Can’t Wait
Most of what we do is scheduled. Our team coordinates preventative maintenance visits around each facility’s calendar so the work does not interfere with daily operations. Equipment does not fail on a schedule, though, so we also provide 24/7 emergency repair for the calls that can’t wait.
Why Equipment That Moves Needs Regular Maintenance
Movable walls, fume hoods, and gym equipment wear through years of regular use. That wear is normal and does not point to a flaw in how the product was built. It calls for the same approach as routine car maintenance: scheduled upkeep instead of waiting for a repair call.
Preventative maintenance exists to catch small issues before they become expensive or dangerous. People sometimes forget that an operable wall panel can weigh thousands of pounds. When something in that system isn’t right, it is rarely just cosmetic. It can be a safety issue that disrupts a facility’s daily operations.
Staff Turnover Shortens Equipment Life
Many maintenance issues trace back to high turnover on the facility side. Without training on daily operation and basic maintenance, new staff can unintentionally shorten a product’s functional life. Regular service visits give facilities a chance to catch operating habits that cause wear, and to get newer staff comfortable with how the equipment should be used.
What Preventative Maintenance Caught
One story illustrates the point better than anything I could say. We had a client on our preventative maintenance program, with regular inspections built in. During one of those visits, our team caught early warning signs that had built up after years of daily use and could have progressed into a wall panel shifting out of place. Left unaddressed, that is a safety and liability issue for a facility, not a minor fix. Catching it early is the entire point of the program.
To me, preventative maintenance is risk management, not an upsell.
What Our Service Division Covers
Ravensberg services the full range of products we install:
- Operable partitions and movable walls: our factory-trained field service technicians repair and maintain systems regardless of the manufacturer, including Modernfold, Panelfold, Hufcor, and Kwik Wall. Maintenance agreements include scheduled inspections, lubrication, track cleaning, seal assessment, hardware tightening, and performance testing. See our movable wall repair and maintenance services.
- AIRWALL® vertical folding walls: these systems include electrical and mechanical components that benefit from annual inspection. AIRWALL® systems carry a two-year warranty against defects in material and workmanship, which can be extended through a Planned Maintenance Agreement. Learn more about vertical folding walls.
- Fume hoods: annual certification and testing in accordance with ANSI Z9.5, troubleshooting, and repair and maintenance programs that range from a single hood to a bi-annual preventative maintenance agreement for multiple hoods. See fume hood inspections and repairs.
- Laboratory casework: lab casework service and maintenance for the labs we outfit.
- Gym and athletic equipment: gym equipment repair and maintenance for schools, recreation centers, and athletic facilities.
One Company for Installation and Upkeep
There is a real advantage to having one company handle both the install and the upkeep. We know the details of what we built, from the track, parts, and panels to where problems are likely to show up first. We also know the conditions that affect how a product performs over time.
That expertise comes with a responsibility. When we installed the equipment, we can’t tell a client it isn’t ours to fix. We did, and we can. That kind of accountability is part of how a family business has served its market since 1958, and it is what I want the next generation of Ravensberg to be known for.
What to Expect When You Call Our Service Team
If a facility manager asked what our service team does, here is how I would put it. We assess the problem quickly, respond with a fair price, and schedule the work around your facility’s operations rather than the other way around. Then we try to get you on a preventative maintenance program, so you are not calling us with an emergency that could affect your facility’s day-to-day operations.
Service after the sale is how we keep clients for years. Ravensberg provides movable wall, fume hood, lab casework, and gym equipment service from our St. Louis headquarters and our Bloomington, Illinois office.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a movable wall be maintained?
Ravensberg recommends an annual maintenance agreement for movable wall systems. Annual inspections extend system life and catch problems before they cause failures during important events.
Does Ravensberg service movable walls it did not install?
Yes. Our factory-trained technicians repair and maintain operable partitions and movable walls regardless of the manufacturer or original installer, including Modernfold, Panelfold, Hufcor, and Kwik Wall systems.
How often should a fume hood be tested?
A fume hood should be professionally inspected and tested annually. Ravensberg provides fume hood certification in accordance with ANSI Z9.5.
Does Ravensberg offer emergency repair?
Yes. Along with scheduled preventative maintenance, Ravensberg provides 24/7 emergency repair for movable walls and other equipment that can’t wait.
Why does staff turnover affect equipment life?
Staff who have not been trained on daily operation and basic maintenance can unintentionally shorten a product’s functional life. Regular service visits help catch those habits early.
Schedule Service or a Maintenance Program
If you manage a facility with equipment that moves and you are dealing with problems in its operation, maintenance, or reliability, let Ravensberg give you peace of mind. Contact our service team to schedule a repair or set up a preventative maintenance program.
Adapted from Bill Ravensberg's post on LinkedIn.