Roll refurb slashes costs and lead times
Surface finish is a key performance factor for any roll and BEP claims it can replicate any surface
It can cost up to £30,000 to replace a large steel cooling roll and £60,000 for a new copper shelled chill roll but refurbishment can cut these costs by over 80%, says BEP Surface Technologies.
BEP’s expertise and technology enables it to refurbish rolls of all sizes up to 1500mm diameter and weighing 10 tonnes. Refurbishment charges can amount to less than 30% of the cost of purchasing a new roll from an OEM. On large copper shelled rolls refurbishment can save over 80% against new.
Precision rolls used in plastics manufacturing processes generally work in sets of three and because they can run with only microns separating them concentricity is absolutely critical. Coater rolls used in laminating processes require similarly fine tolerances. BEP’s techniques guarantee maintenance of the structural integrity of rolls and repeatability of the original chrome finish, Ra (Roughness average) and TIR (Total Indicator Reading) specifications and tolerances to ensure rolls work first time on reinstallation.
Another significant benefit is reduction in down time. Refurbishment is considerably quicker than buying new. BEP undertakes all the necessary processes in-house and can refurbish a roll in 15 working days compared with 90 days for the manufacture of a new roll. The extended lead time for new rolls being due in part to the availability of the special steels required for the manufacture of roll components.
Surface finish is a key performance factor for any roll and the company claims it can replicate any surface, having developed its skills creating ultra-high quality finishes for photographic papers.
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