en.Wedoany.com Reported - UK clay preparation machinery manufacturer Craven Fawcett has recently completed a gearbox replacement, installation, and maintenance contract for a global mineral company.

The company manufactured a new gearbox at its Wakefield facility, including producing new gears and gearbox components, most of which were precision-machined in-house. This was followed by assembly and delivery to the customer's plant in Europe.

The company also manufactured a new, upgraded Centaur 510 extruder (hybrid model) to replace a refurbished unit previously supplied by Craven Fawcett. The original gearbox required a major upgrade due to high-load usage and associated wear.

The extruder is located directly beneath the filter press, presenting significant logistical challenges for the on-site team. It is part of a kaolin production line, where kaolin is processed into a fine powder used as a raw material in the manufacture of ceramics, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

The Craven Fawcett service team spent a week on site, providing full logistical support and completing the installation, including removing the clutch and pulley from the original gearbox and integrating them into the new unit. The gearbox was then lifted into position, and the service team performed alignment checks and a full commissioning, followed by a dry test of the machine to ensure efficiency.

Gavin Richardson, Service Manager at Craven Fawcett, noted that the project required close collaboration between the production and service teams to ensure the gearbox fully met the customer's requirements and could be installed quickly and efficiently. The company has extensive experience in managing machine refurbishment, installation projects, maintenance, and service programs, whether the equipment is from Craven Fawcett or another manufacturer. The project was completed on time, and the extruder was fully operational after a brief commissioning period.

Craven Fawcett has partnered with this leading mineral processor for many years. The collaboration includes manufacturing capital equipment—from clay preparation machinery to extruders—as well as providing comprehensive support, service, refurbishment, and repairs. Craven Fawcett is the UK's largest manufacturer of clay preparation and brick-making machinery, part of the Rhodes Group (Group Rhodes), dedicated to producing design-driven engineering solutions and supplying machinery directly to the heavy clay industry.