Specialist Actuator Repair Helps Manufacturer Avoid Four Weeks of Downtime
Facing the costly consequences of a catastrophic fire at its production facility, a national toilet paper manufacturer needed to replace damaged linear actuators quickly to stay on track with its recovery plan.
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The linear actuator units were highly specialised, and the customer faced an extended lead time from the OEM. This would potentially delay production even further, causing costs to mount up fast. Branch Manager, Adrian Cutcliffe worked closely with the engineers to understand their exact requirements. He then teamed up with Linear & Automation Product Manager, Garry Haines to find a fast and practical solution.
The damaged actuator was collected and assessed to determine whether repair was possible. Once the extent of the damage had been identified, the unit was sent to an ACORN repair partner the same day.
The fire had caused significant internal contamination and damage. The repair involved thorough cleaning, replacement of all plastic parts and machining access channels into the actuator body to remove debris safely and restore function.
Using a combination of new and salvaged components, the actuator was returned to a usable condition. Once delivered back to the customer, an installation and re-commissioning of the production line was made in line with their disaster recovery plan.
By repairing the unit rather than waiting for a placement, ACORN helped the customer avoid four weeks of additional downtime and stay within its disaster recovery target. The customer said that recommissioning the line within the required timeframe would not have been possible without ACORN's support.
This project shows how Acorn combines technical expertise, responsive service and practical problem-solving to help customers recover quickly in critical situations. Get in touch with our experts and discover the range of services available.