CASE STUDY: ACORN Solves Lubrication Woes for Medical Waste Recycling Plant
When a prominent recycling company that processes medical waste, approached ACORN due to persistent issues with bearing failure, they were determined to prevent persistent unplanned downtime. As a specialised medical recycling facility, the continuous breakdowns were compromising both productivity and safety.
The Challenge
The recycling plant’s engineering manager reported ongoing bearing failures due to insufficient lubrication. This issue was impacting productivity, leading to increased maintenance costs and extended downtime. Recognising the critical nature of their work, especially when dealing with medical waste, they needed a reliable and efficient solution to prevent these mechanical disruptions.
Upon receiving the call, Technical Support Manager, Jim Dourish and Bearing Product Manager, Andy Fletcher, arranged an on-site visit to the client’s facility in Leeds. During the initial meeting, discussions centred around identifying the exact lubrication needs, assessing bearing performance, and ensuring a consistent availability of replacement components. The team evaluated the specific requirements of the recycling plant and worked with the customer to implement preventative solutions.
During the conversation with the engineering team, it was found that the lubrication issue was not isolated to one location but affected similar sites across the country. As a result, Acorn designed a comprehensive strategy to address these challenges.
The Solution
To resolve the lubrication issue, ACORN proposed a tailored solution involving:
- SKF System 24 single-point lubrication system that delivers continuous lubrication to the bearings. This setup would help maintain optimal performance and prevent premature wear.
- For additional protection, ACORN supplied a sealed version of the 22222EJW33 spherical bearings, specifically designed to reduce contamination ingress and better keep lubricant in. These bearings were more suited to the harsh conditions of the recycling plant.
- Breakdown support and replacement supply, as shortly after the initial visit, the plant experienced another breakdown when a Dodge bearing collapsed in one their southern facilities. ACORN responded quickly and immediately dispatched the necessary replacement units. Jim also visited the Durham site, where the same bearing was installed, and promptly sorted sourcing and delivery to minimise downtime.
- Finally, the team also proposed caster upgrades on certain equipment, ensuring smoother movement and reducing stress on the bearings over time.
The Result
ACORN’s quick response and delivery of high-quality, customised lubrication and bearing solutions minimised their equipment downtime and addressed their primary issue. By providing on-demand, quick-response breakdown support, ACORN not only solved the immediate bearing collapse but also helped prevent future disruptions across other facilities.
Future Developments
ACORN continues to work closely with the engineering team to optimise the SKF lubrication system across all the customer sites. The partnership has given the customer confidence in the reliability of their equipment, reducing maintenance costs and allowing them to focus on their day-to-day operations.
In this case, ACORN’s combination of technical expertise, on-site support, and proactive approach enabled a significant improvement in the operational strength of the customer’s recycling plants.