Complete Drive System Overhaul — Sheffield Food Processing Plant
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The Challenge & Solution
The Challenge
Main conveyor drive system suffering repeated bearing failures every 6–8 weeks, causing unplanned downtime during peak production. The facility processes 80,000 units/day of perishable goods, making any stoppage extremely costly.
Primary conveyor drive — SKF 22215 spherical roller bearings (×12 units)
Every 6–8 weeks
£540,000
The Solution
Full drive system audit, upgrade to C3 clearance premium bearings with correct sealing for food-grade washdown environments, alignment rectification, and a scheduled PPM programme.
Key Solutions Implemented
Drive System Audit
Full vibration analysis and thermographic inspection across all 12 drive points identified misalignment as the primary root cause.
Bearing Specification Upgrade
Replaced standard bearings with SKF C3 clearance variants rated for the thermal cycling in food-grade washdown environments.
Auto-Lubrication System
Installed Lincoln auto-lube units on all critical bearings, eliminating human error and ensuring consistent greasing intervals.
Planned Preventive Maintenance
Implemented a structured PPM programme with quarterly Howcroft engineer visits and condition monitoring reports.
Before vs After — Key Metrics
Client Testimonial
"Howcroft didn't just fix the problem — they found the root cause we'd been missing for two years. The auto-lube system alone has transformed how we manage this line. We haven't had an unplanned stop in over a year."
James Thornton
Engineering Manager
Sheffield Food Processing Ltd
Facing a Similar Challenge?
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