Wheelabrator Offers Training at Snap-on Tools, Reduces Costs by 40 percent with EZEFIT Wheels

Wheelabrator recently held Operations & Maintenance (O&M) classes at Snap-on Tools in Elizabethtown, Tenn. Through the training, Snap-on Tools received detailed instruction in the fundamentals of wheel blast systems, operator training and proactive maintenance solutions.

[USPRwire, Thu Apr 26 2007] Wheelabrator recently held Operations & Maintenance (O&M) classes at Snap-on Tools in Elizabethtown, Tenn. Through the training, Snap-on Tools received detailed instruction in the fundamentals of wheel blast systems, operator training and proactive maintenance solutions. The in-plant training was specifically tailored to meet the company’s operation and maintenance requirements at the facility, which forges ratchets and wrenches.
Snap-on Tools, which is internationally known in the maintenance world for longevity and quality, utilizes a Wheelabrator® Swing Table and 7 Cubic Foot Super Tumblast® machine, in addition to a competitor’s tumble blast machine at the Elizabethtown facility. After the tools are forged, the machines profile the ratchets and wrenches with abrasive grit prior to the polishing stage.
Because of Snap-on Tools’ commitment to constant improvement of the facility and employee education, it invited Wheelabrator to hold a one-day O&M in-plant training at the Elizabethtown foundry. Bob Schoen, Wheelabrator technical services specialist, evaluated the blasting and process criteria required at the plant through open discussion with the attendees prior to the technical portion of the session. During discussions with the plant maintenance crew, production managers and operators, Schoen learned that the highly abrasive grit caused irregular blast patterns on the tools. Additionally, he assessed that this facility needed further help with scheduling preventive maintenance. After the O&M evaluation, the Snap-on Tools employees learned how to set blast patterns, check tension and tracking of the elevator belts and judge abrasive flow.
To reinforce classroom training, Schoen and the class attendees conducted a hands-on assessment of the Wheelabrator machines using the improved operator and maintenance recommendations made during the classroom training. The O&M training helped improve operating efficiency and gave employees an opportunity to perform hands-on maintenance with trained Wheelabrator professionals
“We addressed issues that Wheelabrator sees on a daily basis but that an individual maintenance manager will only see once or twice a month,” Schoen said. “We adapted and formulated this O&M in-plant training to specifically meet the company’s needs, both with Wheelabrator machines as well as the competitors’ machines.”
In addition to the O&M training, Snap-on Tools has been extremely pleased the commitment by Wheelabrator to update technology. Five EZEFIT™ wheels recently replaced older wheel technology on the Wheelabrator Swing Table, Tumblast machine and the competitor’s tumble blast machines, all which were about 20 years old. Prior to the EZEFIT upgrade, Snap-on Tools ordered parts from multiple vendors and were constantly changing the old wheels.
The EZEFIT upgrade allows Snap-on Tools to order all replacement parts and upgraded technology from Wheelabrator, which saves the company money. Because the EZEFIT wheels are easy to maintain, downtime is minimal as well.
“Because we run 18-hours daily, seven days a week down time in production kills us at Snap-on Tools. The easier a wheel is to take apart and maintain, the better it helps us keep production going,” said Mike White, maintenance supervisor at the Elizabethtown facility. “The EZEFIT wheel cut our replacement parts costs by 40 percent and greatly reduced our downtime and time spent on maintenance.”
EZEFIT wheels offer the inherent advantage of bi-directional rotation and can lower replacement parts inventory through the ability to serve clockwise or counterclockwise wheel applications with a single style wheel. Wheelabrator has capitalized on this advantage with a direct-drive design that offers standard or custom base mounting for increased versatility. EZEFIT wheels are available in 3-1/2” or 2-1/2” blade widths. 3600 RPM and 1800 RPM versions are offered in a variety of wheel diameters.
Wheelabrator offers O&M training at any customer’s plant site. Special process and component training sessions are available by special request. For more information about O&M training, call 1-800-544-4144.
Wheelabrator Group is a global provider of surface preparation and finishing solutions. Committed to offering the broadest array of technologies, products, services and technical know-how, Wheelabrator Group works closely with customers to deliver the best solutions for their specific requirements. The company's strategically located and electronically linked offices allow Wheelabrator Group to provide unrivalled customer service and support worldwide. For more information on Wheelabrator visit the web site at www.wheelabratorgroup.com or e-mail info@wheelabratorgroup.com.

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