M-Real signs for bearing support

Wyko has just signed a two-year contract to supply bearings and power transmission equipment to two M-Real paper mills at Kemsley and Sittingbourne. M-Real is one of Europe's leading suppliers of paperboard and related services, coated and uncoated fine paper and coated magazine paper. Peter Burrows, Manager of Wyko's specialist Pulp and Paper Team comments: 'We are responsible for meeting key performance indicators (KPIs) at the M-Real sites, where our performance in terms of cost savings, agreed critical delivery times and other aspects of the service are all recorded and measured'. 'We believe it is our knowledge and ability to match and exceed these targets that has won the contract'. Wyko maintains an inventory of critical stock both on site and locally at the Maidstone Branch. There is an agreed time frame for delivery of these critical stock items which include, bearings, seals and motors, items are allocated and A, B or C rating, denoting the immediacy of availability required - this ranges from one hour to next day. The M-Real Maintenance Team also carries out condition monitoring on site; the data are then transferred to Wyko, providing crucial data on the health and status of key parts of the production process. Monthly satisfaction sheets are also filled in by different engineers to provide feedback for continuous improvement. Peter Burrows adds: 'The principles of Wyko's Pulp and Paper Team are built on service, reliability and added value programs, delivered locally by branch staff with many years collective experience within the paper industry sector'. 'Local support is underpinned by our team of Product and Technical Specialists who deliver a wide range of services designed to improve on machine efficiency and identifiable cost savings'. Wyko's Pulp and Paper Division services many household names, such as Kimberly Clark, M-Real Group, Smurfit, Arjo Wiggins and Aylesford Newsprint, operating from a bespoke warehouse in Maidstone, where an extensive inventory investment of over GBP 750,000 of mill specific bearings and related MRO products is housed. This is backed up by over GBP 15 million of stock at Wyko's main distribution centre at Halesowen in the West Midlands, where the latest stock management and logistical software is used to ensure product availability via local branch stock and customer held consigned products. Wyko also has close working relationships with the leading manufacturers of paper industry specific products such as large bearings, motors, power transmission chain and gearboxes. Combined with its 35 electromechanical repair facilities, Wyko has the ability to offer the paper industry an unbiased repair-or-replace option for standard and complex plant issues. Support services also range from predictive programs using sophisticated condition monitoring tools to engineering-backed training courses.