In the fast-paced world of materials handling, efficiency and reliability are essential. 

We recently achieved a milestone by successfully installing critical bearing assemblies on a customer’s stacker reclaimer, a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence.

The Challenge: Vital Component

Our customer, a leading player in materials handling, operates seven stacker reclaimers. Stacker reclaimers are crucial for stacking and reclaiming material. At their core is the bucket wheel, with nine buckets, each holding 2 tons of material. These wheels spin at 20-25 RPM, transferring material to conveyors.

Our customer is well-versed in the intricacies of maintaining their equipment to ensure seamless operations and perform a month-long maintenance shutdown on each stacker reclaimer every eight years. It is during these critical maintenance periods that the need for a meticulous bearing replacement arises ensuring that the critical components are in optimal condition to withstand the rigors of another operational cycle.

Installation Precision

The installation of these bearings and housings is a complex and intricate process. Working at heights on scaffolding adds an element of risk, making precision and expertise even more crucial. Additionally, the sheer weight of the housings, with the largest one weighing around 500kg, made the installation a formidable task.

Precision was key to this operation. Correctly aligning the bearing centers was paramount to ensure that the housings would fit perfectly. Any deviation from the precise alignment could have led to operational issues down the line.

The Solution: B2K field services expertise 

With the stakes high and the need for precision paramount, our customers turned to us, their trusted partner and supplier. The brand of choice for the bearing assemblies was SKF, renowned for its quality and reliability.

The method chosen for installation involved the use of a hydraulic nut and feeler gauge, a testament to our commitment to using cutting-edge tools and techniques to achieve precision and accuracy.

Our field service team accomplished the complex installation in two and a half days, demonstrating their skill, experience, and unwavering dedication to ensuring that every component was in perfect alignment. The result? A satisfied customer and a reclaimer ready for its next eight-year operational cycle.

Conclusion: Commitment to Excellence

The heart of B2K lies in our ability to add ‘real’ value to our customers. As we move forward, our commitment to delivering value, efficiency, and uninterrupted operations remains unwavering. This triumph underscores our dedication to this commitment.