In many industries, but especially food and beverage manufacturing, cleanliness demands are extremely high. As a result, all equipment used in the food manufacturing process is subjected to not only high levels of water but in many cases some severe chemicals as well, as part of the wash down process.
In keeping things clean, many factories overlook the damage that can be done to power transmission equipment that is not suitably protected.
Power transmission manufacturers understand the requirements of the food and beverage sector, and have developed products to match. Baldor’s range of Dirty Duty, Washdown Duty and Stainless Steel electric motors are all designed to suit the rigours of wash down, and are available in the standard IEC frame sizes which make them interchangeable with standard motors. WEG’s W22 series of electric motors comes standard in IP66 and can also be used in many wash down situations.
Bonfiglioli have a range of wormboxes which have been given added corrosion protection for wash down. Known as the EP series and available in both VF and W sizing, the EP range (Enhanced Protection) increases gearbox life by using both a coating over the housing as well as a stainless steel output shaft. There is little point in running stainless steel chain and sprockets if the thing that is driving them doesn’t last.
When we had a Reeves Motodrive come in to our Preston office for a routine overhaul, our customer asked us to give it a thorough run through to make sure that it went back in perfect condition.
The variable speed pulleys had given many years of trouble-free service, but required replacing. The same goes for the variable speed belt; it was still running exceptionally well, but the demands of the application meant that it would also have to be replaced. Then we hit a hurdle…
The original tachometer was no longer working properly, and would require replacement. This presented something of a problem, as they were no longer available from the factory and had no readily-available alternative. Having our own fabrication facilities on hand has never been more opportune, as we were able to adapt a standard tachometer for retrofitting to our specific Reeves application. Not only that, the new tacho has more functionality.
All Torque Transmissions is never shy in trying to find solutions to the power transmission problems that present themselves all the time. If it is a gearbox that is no longer available, a superseded drive or even specialty items such as imperial electric motors, our product knowledge and workshop capability combine to ensure lead times (and downtime) are kept short.
McKay Dynamics was a large scale, industrial gearbox manufacturer that is no longer with us – although their legacy lives on. Renowned for having first-class quality of manufacture and boasting rugged design features, the McKay units could be found in every application from mixing paint to shearing metal – with everything in between.
The good news is McKay Dynamics gearboxes are still with us, for the most part, in the Barlow range of geared motors. All Torque Transmissions has full access to the entire Barlow range of geared motors, which in many cases are size-for-size replacements for the original gearboxes.
Barlow units are now manufactured in New Zealand and assembled to order in Australia, so turnaround times are relatively quick.
The entire business was a division of the industrial behemoth Ralph McKay Limited, founded by engineer and industrialist Ralph McKay. Some of the other parts added to the McKay Dynamics business included Makishinko (worm reducers) and Wesson (motor brakes). All Torque Transmissions knows all of the sizes and range of both Makishinko and Wesson and is able to assist in identification and supply.
The McKay Dynamics brand may no longer be with us, but at All Torque we will ensure that equipment utilising a McKay unit remains operational.
As Bonfiglioli’s Victorian distributor, we at All Torque Transmissions like to keep a keen eye on exactly how the Bonfiglioli gearbox range is utilised in industry. We have seen and supplied everything from gearboxes for heavy duty conveyors in mining right through to planetaries in wind energy, all using the best that Bonfiglioli has to offer.
When we came across this video (2 mins) we thought you might like to have a look as well.
