Drives® 81XKD Chain And Wear Elongation Tracking App Improve Gypsum Board Production Case Study

A Solution for the Forest Products Industry
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Projects > Drives® 81XKD Chain And Wear Elongation Tracking App Improve Gypsum Board Production Case Study

The Challenge

A leading manufacturer of interior and exterior building material specializes in gypsum board production. A key component of their process is the board kiln dryer, which relies on durable chains for continuous operation. The company faced difficulties in extending the operational life of their kiln dryer chains and tracking chain elongation to enable proactive maintenance and timely replacement. Additionally, maintenance staff required better training to accurately measure and monitor chain elongation, which is critical for effective scheduling and minimizing downtime.

The Solution

To address these concerns, the manufacturer teamed with Timken professionals, installing 6,000 feet of Drives® 81XKD chain across their operation. Additionally, eight maintenance staff members received specialized training on proper chain measurement and elongation tracking, adhering to industry best practices and utilizing Diamond-Drives’ Chain Engineer™ (chain-engineer.com) wear tracking tool.

The Result

Adopting the Timken team’s solution led to significant operational improvements and resulted in significant future orders of the high- performance chain. The investment demonstrates the value of enhanced chain life and reliable maintenance scheduling, translating into improved plant efficiency and reduced unplanned downtime. The dual approach ensured both the right tools and knowledge were in place to optimize chain performance and ensure effective maintenance routines that would carry them well into the future.

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