AW Laser, a distributor of Thordon Bearings, is pleased to announce the successful refurbishment of the spider bushes for a Sulzer fire pump located on a gas platform off the coast of South Africa.
AW Laser is a leading distributor of Thordon Bearings, specializing in providing maintenance, repair, and refurbishment services for critical industrial equipment. With a commitment to excellence and a focus on precision engineering, AW Laser ensures the longevity and reliability of equipment in various industries, including offshore oil and gas platforms.
This project demonstrates the long-lasting performance and reliability of Thordon Bearings products, as well as AW Laser’s commitment to providing top-notch maintenance services for critical industrial equipment.
In 2014, AW Laser embarked on the initial refurbishment of the Sulzer fire pump when they replaced the original cutless rubber bearings with Thordon SXL. The decision to switch to Thordon bearings was prompted by the wear and tear on the pump’s housing, making it impractical to revert to the original cutless bearings without purchasing new spiders. Thordon’s expertise allowed them to precision-machine the bearings to fit the new housing sizes, ensuring the pump’s continued operation.
Since then, the Sulzer fire pump has run flawlessly for nine years without any incidents. The recent decision to replace the bearings was part of a proactive preventive maintenance strategy. During the inspection, AW Laser found minimal wear on the existing bearings. However, since the spiders were already out of the pump, it was deemed prudent to replace all 14 spider bearings.
AW Laser’s dedicated team meticulously removed the old bearings from their housings and conducted precise measurements of the housing sizes. In addition, slight wear on the shaft liners was identified, prompting the team to calculate the dimensions for each bearing to accommodate these differences. This meticulous approach was undertaken to ensure the pump could run at its peak efficiency.
Today, AW Laser is pleased to report that the refurbished spiders have been successfully delivered back to the customer. The Sulzer fire pump is now operating at optimal performance levels, thanks to the expertise and commitment of AW Laser and the reliability of Thordon Bearings.
This project exemplifies AW Laser’s dedication to providing high-quality maintenance and refurbishment services for critical industrial equipment, contributing to the long-term success and safety of their clients’ operations.
For more information about AW Laser and their services, please visit www.awlaser.co.za.