Product category:
Drives, motors and power transmission, couplings, clutches
News Release from: ABB Automation Tech (Drives and Motors) | Subject: 1MW variable speed drive
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 25 June 2001
Weekend fan parts search saved chipboard
output
Tens of thousands of pounds worth of lost production at chipboard manufacturer Sonae Industria, Merseyside, has been saved by ABB Drives Alliance Partner Central Electrical.
Tens of thousands of pounds worth of lost production at chipboard manufacturer Sonae Industria, Merseyside, has been saved by ABB Drives Alliance Partner Central Electrical When Sonae's main 1MW variable speed drive, used for the main dryer in the wood preparation area, went out of action due to a short circuit, Central quickly traced the fault
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 14 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
ABB drives range extended
ABB has extended the range of one of the key elements in its ACS 600 drives range, by introducing new IGBT Supply Unit frame sizes.
ABB launches tour of Technology Days
A series of Technology Days has been launched by ABB, held in conjunction with its Channel Partners at venues across the UK.
However, as there was no service agreement between Central Electrical and Sonae Industria at the time, parts were not available locally for this unusually large drive.
Central found replacement parts, on a Saturday, in Finland, helped fly them into Speke airport and organised engineers to fit the parts on arrival.
"The fault was due to condensation in the drive; it was raining heavily and our air conditioning wasn't working at the time," recalls Electrical Manager John McNerlin.
"We are a 24h/365day operation and downtime costs us GBP10,000 per hour.
This means, that the 48-hour period that the drive was out of action cost us GBP480,000 in lost production.
Central's swift action saved us at least a day, avoiding the loss of a further GBP240,000.
In that perspective, the fact that we had to charter a plane for GBP17,000 wasn't that big a deal." Sonae's service agreement with Central Electrical now ensures that an engineer will be on site within four hours in the case of emergency callouts, and that spares are stocked locally.
Central also supplies all new drives and motors and helps with the planned maintenance of existing plant.
• ABB Automation Tech (Drives and Motors): contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
