Weetabix reduces its motor failures

Weetabix has saved thousands of pounds in maintenance costs by eliminating motor failures at its factory in Corby, following the installation of Marlin stainless steel AC motors from Lafert. These replaced conventional motors on its breakfast cereal extruders.

Two motor sizes (2.2kW and 3kW) were fitted to extruders on production lines as part of a programme to reduce engineering costs. They replaced modified normal-style finned motors.

The application is particularly demanding. The motors, which drive a rotating knife, have to operate in a hot and steamy environment where they can gather cereal, which calls for high pressure hose wash-down.

The original, standard motors used had a survival expectation of between 30 to 40 days before failure. The two Marlin stainless motors have been working continuously without failure for 230 days and 364 respectively. They have saved £4,250 on the original motors and against the modified motors they have saved £1,750.

Contact: Lafert Electric Motors