CASE STUDY: Helping a Food Manufacturer Avoid 8 Weeks of Downtime, Overnight

When you’re producing for the wholesale food industry, downtime isn’t just inconvenient, it’s costly. That’s why, when a major UK-based food manufacturer experienced a critical production line failure at 9pm, they turned straight to ACORN.
They knew exactly who to call. ACORN’s Business Development Manager, Jack Burge, picked up, and got to work straight away.
The fault was traced to a Bonfiglioli motor with a unique, non-standard flange. It had failed after being exposed to water during cleaning; a simple mistake that could have caused serious consequences. Replacing it wasn’t going to be straightforward, as the manufacturer confirmed that, because of the motor’s specialist specification, lead times were going to be around 8 weeks.
For a business operating in a high-demand industry like food supply, 8 weeks of downtime simply wasn’t an option. Without missing a beat, Jack started reaching out to other suppliers via their out-of-hours services. Conversations were direct, focused, and aimed at getting the customer what they needed before morning.
This is when Jack connected with TEC Motors. After discussing the technical details, they determined they could supply a compatible motor; one that would match the customer’s application despite the original’s specialist design. It was a 0.5543TECAB34 electric motor, and it would do the job.
Knowing the customer’s deadline was tight, Jack didn’t wait for couriers or next-day delivery. He picked up the motor himself at 1am and personally arranged for it to be delivered straight to the customer’s site. By 7am, the new motor was on-site, ready to be installed. Production resumed without delay.
No 8-week wait. No lost output. No disruption to supply. Just one focused response and a solution delivered in record time.
This is what ACORN is all about: fast thinking, technical know-how, and a commitment to doing what it takes to keep our customers running. As an authorised distributor, we have the connections, the expertise, and the attitude to solve problems quickly – even outside of normal hours.
Jack’s response isn’t the exception. It’s the standard you can expect from ACORN. Friendly, knowledgeable support from people who understand your business and act when it matters most.