Hardening partnership
The correct hardness in terms of both depth and surface on the sprockets is extremely important as the life of the sprocket directly affects the conveyor chain that runs on it
For the past eight years Pennine Industrial Equipment has relied on surface heat treatment specialist Flame Hardeners for the hardening of its conveyor drive sprockets.
Established over 40 years ago, Pennine Industrial Equipment is one of only five major manufacturers in the world that produces steel inverted tooth conveyor chains, together with drive and driven sprockets, for hot-end handling of container glass and glass tableware. Pennine Industrial exports to over 50 countries world-wide.
The glass industry accounts for around 90 percent of the company’s business for inverted tooth conveyor chains explains Sales Director, Graham Womersley. “The components we manufacture have to work in a very harsh environment and the downtime of bottle making machinery is extremely costly. The quality of the sprocket and, therefore, the consistency of hardening is very important.
“Flame Hardeners have been handling all our sprockets for the past eight years. No other supplier is as consistently good and with the technical knowledge and experience of Roger Haw in particular and Flame Hardeners in general. With the value of the materials, process and product concerned it critical that hardening is accurate and consistent. It’s a small but vital component that must be hardened correctly.”
The sprockets vary in size and shape, with the smallest being 75mm dia. and the largest at 400mm dia. They are manufactured from C45 Carbon Steels and SG600 Grey Cast Iron, with required hardness varying between 45-62 Rockwell C.
“The correct hardness in terms of both depth and surface on the sprockets is extremely important as the life of the sprocket directly affects the conveyor chain that runs on it, which in turn affects bottle stability – and, consequently, how customers perceive our chain.”
Mr. Womersley concludes: “We can always rely on Flame Hardeners to give good technical advice, ‘trouble-shooting’ when required, and we regularly discuss our requirements with them in terms of materials etc. They also provide an excellent and very prompt delivery service. We have found them to be very flexible and accommodating, to enable us to meet our customer requirements. We have great confidence in Flame Hardeners’ abilities and can always trust them to do a good job. I would recommend them without question.”
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