Refurbishment of a reclaimer screw for the pulp and paper industry

Welding Alloys collaborates with clients across many industries, delivering advanced wear solutions and services for critical components. Our goal is to optimise operational uptime and reduce the total cost of ownership.

A client operating in the pulp and paper sector in Thailand reached out to Welding Alloys Thailand’s Integra^™services team for the restoration of a screw.

Screw reclaimers are pivotal components for transporting the wood chips used as part of the biomass process in pulp and paper mills. Given the harsh operating environment, the screw used in this equipment is prone to abrasive wear, significantly impacting the service life of the part.

The pre-existing screw had undergone considerable wear, yet the Welding Alloys Thailand team were confident not only in refurbishing the component but also in extending the service life.

The refurbishment was carried out at the Welding Alloys Integra^™ services workshop, leveraging Welding Alloys’ premium wear products and specialised welding methodologies to enhance the wear resistance of the component.

The shaft of the screw was protected with Hardlite^™ 2+2 lining, our lightweight wear plate that offers extremely high resistance to abrasion. The screw flights underwent hardfacing using our advanced flux-cored wire, HARDFACE HC-O – specifically designed to increase resistance to abrasion.

Fast forward to September 2023, two years’ post-refurbishment, a comprehensive inspection revealed the wear rate on the refurbished component was low and the screw continues to remain in active service.