How Acorn Helped a Gloucestershire Paper Mill Avoid Up to Eight Weeks of Costly Downtime
During a planned three-day maintenance shutdown, a Gloucestershire paper mill needed to replace a large screw drive on a critical piece of processing equipment. With no technical drawings or documented specification available, identifying the correct components and machining requirements would only be possible once the machine had been dismantled.
Ordinarily, this would have meant sourcing specialist components after the strip-down had begun, resulting in lead times of six to eight weeks and significant production downtime.
The Challenge
The ball screw assembly was integral to the operation of the machine, making accurate replacement essential. However, without detailed specifications, there was no opportunity to confirm the exact dimensions or machining requirements until the original assembly has been removed.
With just three days allocated for the shutdown, waiting until then to begin sourcing components carried a high risk of extending the outage well beyond the planned maintenance window.
The Solution
Drawing on the experience of ACORN’s Gloucestershire branch and Linear & Automation Manager, Garry Haines, the team recognised that a different approach was needed.
Rather than waiting for the strip-down before beginning procurement, ACORN identified the core components that were likely to be required and sourced them in advance. This proactive strategy ensured the parts would be available for machining as soon as the original ball screw was removed.
Time remained critical. Several specialist ball screw components typically carry lead times of six to eight weeks. By combining ACORN’s extensive stockholding with the strength of the wider AxInter network, the team was able to source every required component in a matter of days.
Working with the Swedish AxInter group company NOMO, a two-metre ball screw spindle was cut to length and delivered to the UK within just three days of ordering, while the remaining components were supplied from ACORN stock and other group companies across Europe.
By the time the machine had been dismantled, every critical component was already on site and ready for machining and assembly.
The Outcome
Components that would normally have taken six to eight weeks to source were delivered within one week, allowing the customer to complete the replacement during the planned maintenance shutdown.
The paper mill avoided weeks of unplanned production downtime while benefiting from OEM-grade replacement components, ensuring the continued reliability and performance of the equipment.
When critical machinery is offline, every hour matters. By combining technical knowledge, responsive service and the support of the wider AxInter network, ACORN helps customers keep production moving with reliable engineering solutions when they matter most.