Energy efficiency improved

WHEN WHITWORTH Bros wanted to set a high bar for their engineering standards, and brought SEW-EURODRIVE in to put best-in-class engineering in place throughout their Goole site. To ensure these high-performance standards were met, SEW-EURODRIVE needed to implement solutions which would increase the site's efficiency, whilst reducing potential downtime.

SEW-EURODRIVE solution

1. Drive management

SEW-EURODRIVE looks after all motors and drives at Whitworth Bros’ Goole site, having put a Complete Drive Management (CDM®) system in place. Through this service, SEW has recorded every single component of drive technology installed at the Whitworth Bros site.

The implementation of the SEW-EURODRIVE CDM® system ensures quick support and action should the drive technology components fail, as our team can remotely identify the technology installed, and supply new and spare components to Whitworth Bros within hours.

2. Predictive maintenance

SEW-EURODRIVE and Whitworth Bros have successfully trialled the comprehensive software solution APPredict® and are currently working to extend the software to encompass all areas of the mill both internal, external, safe and Atex rated zones.

APPredict is designed to monitor the health of gearmotors through vibration data, via wireless sensors. Vibrations above the ISO threshold of alert create notifications, recommending repair months in advance.

A form of predictive maintenance software, APPredict reduces operating costs and unexpected downtime, allowing Whitworth Bros to efficiently schedule maintenance operations.

3. Energy efficiency

SEW-EURODRIVE is working to improve the energy consumption and operational efficiency of motors across the plant, moving from IE1 and IE2, to IE3 and IE4, IE5 gearboxes.

IE4 and IE5 motors offer premium and super premium efficiency and are ideal for applications where motors run almost continuously, with high energy costs necessitating the highest possible efficiency.

Across the next year, SEW-EURODRIVE will sequentially upgrade all of the older drives at Whitworth Bros.

Business Impact

Through implementing a CDM® system, predictive maintenance software, and enhancing energy efficiency, the SEW-EURODRIVE team has been pivotal in helping to raise the bar of engineering performance, so that Whitworth Bros could meet the high standards that needed to be set.

APPredict has helped Whitworth Bros to reduce and prevent downtime, while the drive upgrades are enabling Whitworth Bros to greatly improve their energy efficiency, reducing costs in the long run. Overall, over the past three years that SEW has been working with Whitworth Bros, the software has created a saving of circa £85k per year.

“The team at SEW-EURODRIVE UK has been essential in helping us to achieve the best-in-class engineering we set out to attain. Our standards have been raised, and our operations have increased in efficiency as a result. With quick, easy-to-reach support, should anything go wrong, we’re always safe in the knowledge that we can keep our systems up and running as long as possible," comments Benjamin Howell, engineering supervisor at Whitworth Bros.

www.sew-eurodrive.co.uk