GEARBOX IS CHEAPER TO REPLACE THAN REPAIR

This was the case recently when a large gearbox manufactured in 1967 broke down at Wienerberger, the world’s largest producer of bricks. SEW Eurodrive’s quotation to supply and install a new unit was 40% less than Wienerberger had been quoted for a repair. The old Karl Handle gearbox was fitted to an eight tonne hopper feeding raw material into the brickworks. Engineers at Wienerberger contacted SEW Eurodrive to compare the cost of a repair with a complete turnkey project to replace the old gearbox with a new unit. This would involve the removal of panels from the side of the building to facilitate installation, engineering the machine to accept the new drive, the design of a new plumber block bearing and support steelwork. Even the walkways had to be modified. Despite the extent of the work required, SEW Eurodrive was able to supply, install and commission the new drive in just four weeks, considerably less time than Wienerberger had been quoted for a repair – a process which would have involved making spare parts for the old gearbox from scratch, probably reverse engineering some of the gearbox’s components. After successful installation and testing, with the new bevel helical gearbox energy consumption has dropped from 9.5 to 1.6Amps. This means the new drive is using 3.28Kw less energy than the original unit, equating to a saving of over £1300 a year.