08 February 2011
Rio Tinto Alcan encountered a problem when the main 920kW 3.3kV motor used for unloading powdered alumina at its ship unloading facility failed; leaving the company unable to re-stock its UK smelting sites.Due to the size of the motor and its long normal operating life expectancy, the company did not hold a spare. The unit in question was a special frame size and a replacement was only available from the USA – obviously, with an unacceptable lead time for delivery. ERIKS was able to collect the motor and strip it down at its engineering facility in.Following the strip down and subsequent inspection, the company implemented a plan to remanufacture a full set of coils, rewind and overhaul the motor on emergency-service basis.The ERIKS Killingworth workshop incorporates an on-site copper mill, coil manufacturing facility and repair facility which allowed the engineers to start manufacturing a new set of coils within 24 hours of receiving the motor, using materials from stock.The motor was returned to Rio Tinto Alcan's site six days earlier that the original agreed date. Phil Wrigely, Rio Tinto Alcan's Lynemouth Smelter Works Director, was effusive in his praise for ERIKS' efforts. He said:"Their efforts helped us in continuing our operations without major interruption to our customers."
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