Checking machine stops in the pressing station of beet sugar factories: Management and maintenance

Increasing demand for pressed pulp with high dry substance content can cause very high workloads, especially on old presses which were designed for lower performances. The type of operation of the press and of the station can further stress these machines. With the aim of improving performances, as well, Babbini has recently remarkably increased the reliability of the critical components of its presses (gearbox and spindles). However, in order to completely avoid failures and machine stops it is necessary for the end-user to take some protective actions on several levels. Indeed, it is possible to avoid serious machine stops by ensuring that maintenance schedule (including ordinary, extraordinary and preventive maintenance) for press and gearbox is thoroughly followed, by periodically analysing and checking certain press working parameters, by making use of some protection systems (monitoring and control instruments. It is apparent that improved performance in a sugar factory is fostered by less machine stops.