When production is critical and every minute of downtime costs thousands, you need a partner who can deliver fast. That’s exactly what happened when a South African automotive manufacturer experienced a sudden breakdown on a vital piece of equipment.
At Motion Tronic, we recently responded to an emergency involving a 183KW Baumüller servo motor, the powerhouse behind the main extrusion screw of a large plastic injection moulding machine used to produce car parts. This wasn’t just any component, it was at the heart of a high-throughput production line, and any delay would mean massive operational and financial setbacks.
When production is critical and every minute of downtime costs thousands, you need a partner who can deliver fast. That’s exactly what happened when a South African automotive manufacturer experienced a sudden breakdown on a vital piece of equipment.
At Motion Tronic, we recently responded to an emergency involving a 183KW Baumüller servo motor, the powerhouse behind the main extrusion screw of a large plastic injection moulding machine used to produce car parts. This wasn’t just any component, it was at the heart of a high-throughput production line, and any delay would mean massive operational and financial setbacks.
The Problem: A Rare Bearing Failure
Our team immediately stripped and assessed the motor. The fault? A failure in the non-drive end bearing. But not just any bearing, this one was fully insulated, designed specifically to protect against the flow of electrical currents through the bearing. This insulation prevents electrical erosion and extends the motor’s lifespan, especially in high-performance applications.
The challenge? This bearing isn’t stocked locally due to its specialised design. With time ticking and no alternative available in South Africa, we needed a solution fast.
The Solution: Global Sourcing + Local Expertise
Thanks to our extensive supplier network and close ties with European manufacturers, we arranged for the correct insulated bearing to be flown in directly from Germany without delay.
While we awaited its arrival, our technicians prepped the motor for reassembly. The bearing housing was re-sleeved, and the rest of the motor underwent a full service and inspection to ensure it would return to the customer in like-new condition. Fully aligned to manufacturer specifications.
Once the part arrived, our team worked quickly to complete the reassembly and reinstall the motor on-site, ensuring the machine was back up and running by the following Monday morning.
The Outcome: Downtime Minimised, Production Restored
Our client avoided what could have been a prolonged production stoppage thanks to Motion Tronic’s commitment to speed, precision, and reliability. This emergency repair is a perfect example of how we pull out all the stops when our customers need us most. Even sourcing rare components across continents to get the job done.
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If your operation can’t afford unplanned downtime, trust the team that goes the extra mile (or extra thousand kilometres) to keep you running.