Challenge A large tissue manufacturer in the Midwest uses special vacuum reel spools on their 200" trim twin wire Yankee paper machine. When one roll is almost complete, a new spool is swung into place on the backtender. A vacuum is created inside the new spool by inserting a hose into the vacuum flange. Once the sheet from the full roll is broken, this vacuum draws the tissue onto the new spool, which is already up to a full operating speed of one mile a minute.

Tissue manufacturer uses Loctite® 262 Threadlocker to retain the vacuum adaptor flange

The manufacturer had been experiencing frequent failures of the vacuum adaptor flange which is inserted with a slight interference fit into an outboard bearing on the reel spool. Air leakage from the flange prevented a vacuum from being obtained on the new spool, causing several hundred feet of wasted tissue, production downtime and needless labor costs.

Solution

A maintenance mechanic who had been attending the Loctite® Manufacturing Reliability Training Process being held at the plant, decided to try Loctite® 262 Threadlocker to retain the vacuum adaptor flange.

Loctite® 262 is a high strength threadlocker designed for extreme conditions, when fasteners are subjected to heavy shock, vibration and stress levels. The maintenance mechanic learned in one of the training sessions that Loctite® 262 can also be used as a light retaining compound.

Maintenance personnel cleaned the flange and the bearing I.D. with Loctite® 7070 ODC-Free Cleaner, primed both with Loctite® Locquic® Primer N and coated both with Loctite® 262 Threadlocker.

Results

Since treating several reel spools in this manner, the manufacturer has not experienced any failures of this nature. With downtime costs of $35,000/hr., the maintenance supervisor estimates significant savings for his facility, not including wasted paper that had to be re-wetted and processed.