A bustling Australian sugar mill was experiencing issues with its machinery related to a malfunction of the spherical roller bearings.
This occurred during peak season when downtime for maintenance was highly undesirable, prompting emergency support from the experts at Motion.
Paul King, area account manager at Motion, was entrusted with solving the issue through prompt decision-making and a reliable supply of roller bearings.
Investigation
After a quick assessment, it was found that the bearings were spinning in their housing which Paul recognised as a sign of deeper mechanical issues due to improper fit or wear and tear. This reduces the friction that normally keeps the bearings in place.
In a sugar mill, where machinery is under constant heavy load, this can quickly escalate into significant operational problems, especially in peak season when these machines are needed the most.
Solution
Timken solid-block spherical roller bearings were identified as the ideal solution for the sugar mill. These bearings are engineered for demanding conditions and can run efficiently on misaligned belts up to 1.5 degrees, while withstanding impacts from debris without losing any life expectancy.
Unlike many other Solid Block Housed Units available, the Timken unit housing is manufactured from cast steel, offering superior strength. The unit also has excellent primary sealing fitted into the housing. Additionally, auxiliary covers are available for an extra layer of protection; however, the sugar mill chose not to utilise them.
To read the full article in Motion’s new interactive magazine, please click here.
