EDITOR’S CHOICE
PROMOTING UPTIME
ROTAMEC
ROTAMEC REWIND SERVICE HELPS A
LEADING BREWERY TO KEEP ITS FIZZ
Compressors are utilised in the
production process to carbonate
beverages with this gas, performing
a vital role in the plant.
[Source: istock - Portra -
ID:641999556]
Ensuring redundancy in large scale
manufacturing operations is key to any
plant manager’s peace of mind. In the
beverage industry, where processing
speeds are high and profit margins per
unit low, securing redundancy is especially
important towards promoting uptime.
One world famous brewery has turned to
Rotamec, an electro-mechanical service
provider to industry, who secured its
production line by carrying out a specialist
motor rewind and refurbishment within
seven weeks.
CO2 is what makes drinks fizzy, and is all
important in providing a desirable ‘head’
on a glass of beer. Compressors are utilised
in the production process to carbonate
beverages with this gas, performing a
vital role in the plant. Without a running
back up compressor to step in seamlessly
during issues with the primary compressor,
production uptime is at greater risk.
So, when a leading brewery found that
the 500kW motor powering its on-site
compressor back up had failed, the
business required an urgent motor repair
and refurbishment to minimise the chances
of downtime. With reference to pre-existing
maintenance schedules, while balancing
adequate time for a quality repair with
ensuring manufacturing security, a
timeframe of seven weeks was settled on
by the brewery.
After contacting several motor specialists
that could not fulfil the project
requirements, Rotamec was selected. The
business was not only able to service the
motor within the seven week timeframe,
but also provide a cost advantage.
Rotamec has been providing high quality
motor rewinds and repairs to industry since
2000, operating state-of-the-art workshop
facilities in Cheddar, South Wales and
Exeter to ensure a responsive UK service. In
fact, the business operates 24/7, 365 days a
year to support the needs of its customers.
Engineers undertake in-house training
provided by leading motor manufacturers,
so can quickly familiarise with customers’
motors for a speedier repair.
Alan Brooks, Branch Manager for Cheddar
at Rotamec, remembers the project well:
34
PECM Issue 40
When a leading brewery found that the 500kW motor powering its on-site compressor back up had failed,
the business required an urgent motor repair and refurbishment to minimise the chances of downtime.
“In terms of this customer, we were required
to rewind the motor and carry out a general
overhaul. The challenge was that the motor
featured pre-formed coils, which are not the
most common type. We therefore had to
source these coils quickly before we could
begin the rewind. Luckily, we have a wide-
ranging capability with regards to specialist
motors, which meant we could solve the
issue. Ultimately, we were able to return the
now refurbished motor within the seven-
week deadline, which was a challenge that
our breadth of expertise ensured we could
meet.”
Once the motor was re-installed, the
beverage manufacturer again had access
to a compressor redundancy. As a result,
production uptime was effectively
safeguarded to ensure productivity
and profitability. Backed by the highly
responsive 24/7 Rotamec service, the
manufacturer also has access to the support
required for continued high speed, large
scale manufacturing in the long term.
Alan concludes: “I am very proud that the
team could conduct this specialist motor
rewind to schedule, despite the challenging
coils. Not every supplier can achieve this,
but thanks to our capability with regards to
motors of all types, it was a challenge we
could meet effectively and efficiently.”
www.rotamec.com