A bakery experienced a conveyor breakdown where the belt had tracked to one side causing it to snag and jam, breaking the Mesh belt support rods. Arrow Engineering were called in on Friday at 5pm with the need to get the drive back up and running. As a quick fix a 295mm Acetal disc was turned and bolted to the existing hub, which stopped the belt riding up and over the conveyor wheel, 40 rods were turned and supplied over the weekend and the belt was back up and running for Monday.

We regularly make special sprockets for modular belts because they are on a long lead time from Germany or Italy. These sprockets were made to sample for a local Bakery.

A leading biscuit manufacturing company held their annual maintenance shutdown over the Christmas holiday period and whilst their production staff were off decided to strip and replace a large shaft mount gearbox.

Unfortunately, the new replacement gearbox did not have the same diameter shaft as the new gearbox, which meant that the existing shaft needed to be built up or new sleeves making. Upon inspection it was revealed that the shaft and keyway was badly worn. It was decided that new sleeves would be made and the worn shaft turned down to suit, re-keyed and new sleeves manufactured to suit.

Arrow’s Engineers needed to work through the Christmas period, including Bank Holidays, the job was eventually finished on Sunday 1st of January 2023, 10pm and delivered back at 7am on Monday 2nd January.

On top of this a large Rubber Coated Drive roller was also repaired same day and delivered (50 miles) and delivered back at 7pm.

Worn 2” pitch Duplex Sprockets replaced within 2 days, bored to suit 75mm and 110mm Expanding Locking bushes and a cut length of 2” Duplex (32B2 Chain) and supplied:

1 off each:
2″ Pitch Duplex Sprocket 19 tooth Bored to suit 75mm bore Expanding Locking Bush
2″ Pitch Duplex Sprocket 25 tooth
Bored to suit 110mm bore Expanding Locking Bush
Type 19 Exp Locking Bush 75×115
Type 19 Exp Locking Bush 110×155
32B2- Chain and Conn link x 75 pitches length

A Soup, Canning, Filling Machine had seized due to a bearing failure, which caused the Worm Wheel Gear to collapse. The machine was collected and taken back to our Workshop on Friday evening. It was stripped down; five imperial angular contact bearings were changed and a new Worm Wheel manufactured and fitted.

The Canning, Filling Machine was delivered back on Monday afternoon and by the evening was producing canned foods again.

A Gin manufacturer in Lancashire experienced a production shutdown because two spring loaded Platform assemblies had seized and jammed the filling machine. The internal shafts of the machine had also bent. The breakdown occurred at 8pm on Monday and was taken back to Arrow’s workshop. Luckily, Arrow had spares in stock from a previous repair. The assemblies consisted of a 3 ft compressed spring, locked in with an end plate. Great care needed to be taken because when these are taken apart the spring fly’s out with great force. New end plates were manufactured and assembled with shafts, bearings and seals from stock to make the broken platforms like new. The Filling machine was back up and running by 8pm on Tuesday, producing one of the company’s’ new Alcohol-Free Gin’s.

A fairground ride near Manchester airport was out of commission due to a broken gearbox. The gearbox had failed because it’s housing was cracked and the oil had leaked out and the Worm wheel had worn. This meant that there was no drive and the ride was out of action.

We were called out at 10pm on Saturday by a local Bakery where they were losing production because the Timing Pulley on their Check Weigher had failed. The pulley was Aluminium and driving a 32mm wide timing belt, the aluminium teeth had worn due to the torque and continuous use, causing the belt to slip and then not driving the Check weigher. After identifying the pulley, Arrow manufactured 2 new pulleys out of Stainless Steel and the Check Weigher was back up and running for 2pm on Sunday.

With an ageing workforce, and an eye to the future, Arrow Engineering was on the look-out for fresh talent and the next generation of leaders, when the Kickstart scheme was announced in autumn 2020.

Arrow Bearings was established in 1981 and was setup by Russ Arrowsmith as a Sole Trader organisation after he recognised the need for an around the clock, breakdown replacement part service to local industry.

In 1984 a double fronted shop was acquired, with offices and living accommodation, Russ and his family lived and devoted their time to serving local process companies, ensuring immediate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week cover.