Project Remit
Craven Fawcett recently completed a major gearbox replacement and installation maintenance contract for a leading global mineral company.
A major part of the project involved manufacturing a new gearbox for a Centaur 510 Extruder (Hybrid model), which was previously supplied as a reconditioned machine by Craven Fawcett. Subsequent heavy use and the associated wear and tear have resulted in the gearbox now requiring a major upgrade.
The machine was located directly below a filter cake press, providing a major logistical challenge for the site team. The extruder was part of a production line for China clay, which the company processes into a fine powder and is used as a raw material in the manufacture of ceramics, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products.
The Craven Fawcett Solution
Craven Fawcett manufactured the new gearbox in its factory in Wakefield, which included producing new gears and gearbox components, the majority of which were precision engineered in-house. It was then assembled, before delivery to the customer’s premises in Europe.
The Craven Fawcett Service Team was on site for a week to provide full logistical support and undertake the installation, which included the removal of the clutch and pulley from the existing gearbox and integrating it into the new gearbox. The gearbox was then lifted into position, and the service team carried out alignment checks and full commissioning before dry testing the machine to ensure efficiency.
Gavin Richardson, Service Manager at Craven Fawcett explains: “This project involved close collaboration between our production and service teams to ensure the gearbox matched the customer’s exact requirements and could be installed quickly and efficiently. We have extensive experience in managing machine refurbishment, installation projects, maintenance, and service programmes, whether that be Craven Fawcett or other manufacturers’ equipment. The project was completed on time, and the Extruder was fully operational again within a very short time.”
Craven Fawcett has worked with this global mineral processor for many years. This partnership includes the manufacture of capital equipment, ranging from clay preparation machines to extruders and provides full support, servicing, refurbishment, and repairs.
Craven Fawcett is the UK’s largest manufacturer of clay preparation and brick manufacturing machinery, a division of Group Rhodes, and is committed to manufacturing first-class, design-led engineering solutions geared directly toward producing state-of-the-art machinery for the heavy clayworking industry.
A pioneer in the clayworking machinery industry
Established in 1843, Craven Fawcett Limited is a pioneer in the field of clayworking machinery, supporting many worldwide businesses in maintaining production efficiencies. Its clay preparation machinery is renowned for its robustness and high production efficiency, operating in some of the most challenging production environments worldwide.
Extensive product portfolio
Craven Fawcett designs and manufactures a full portfolio of clay preparation machinery, including:
- Box Feeders
- Crushers
- Grinding Mills (Dry and Wet)
- Roller Mills
- Mixers
- Extruders
- Mechanical Presses
To find out more about Craven Fawcett’s range of specialist clayworking machinery, please call us at +44 (0)1924 375444, or alternatively, follow the company on LinkedIn.