RPM Industrial Sales teams up with Benshaw to support a heavy industrial application within a steel mill furnace. Steel mills are some of the most demanding industrial environments in the world. Many facilities operate 24/7, with production lines running around the clock to meet customer demand and avoid costly shutdowns. Due to operating in such a demanding environment, it’s common to encounter intense heat from furnaces, heavy dust and scale generated throughout the production process, and nonstop noise of industrial machinery. Despite these conditions, critical motors, drives, gearboxes, and process equipment must perform reliably day after day to keep production moving and prevent expensive downtime.
This furnace system is just one example of a critical part of the process that needs to remain dependable, as it serves as a dust collection system that continuously removes dirty air from the building while recirculating fresh air throughout the facility. Because the system operates around the clock to maintain air quality, it requires a significant amount of energy to perform its job. These soft starters control 500 hp, with 4160V AC motors that are responsible for moving large volumes of air through the system.
The customer had existing Benshaw units that were installed in 2000 and had accumulated over 150,000 hours of operation, making them over twenty-five years old. The customer knew they wanted to upgrade because the aging units could eventually fail due their years of service. Although this isn’t a direct part of the steel production line, the customer noted this furnace was still an important part of the steel mill’s processing systems, and without it removing the dirty and dusty air, they would likely experience issues elsewhere in the facility. In the words of our sales representative, ” they had reliability and dependability in mind “, meaning they wanted a more current and dependable system for their steel mill.
RPM Industrial Sales ultimately upgraded the customer to a brand-new system to provide a more dependable and modern solution for their furnace and facility. Working closely with Benshaw, our team helped evaluate the application, identify the best upgrade path, and ensure the customer received a solution that fits the demands of their operation. Although the previous system was over twenty-five years old, Benshaw supports the life of its products whether they are 1-year, 20-year, or 50-years old. That long-term commitment to product support, combined with RPM Industrial Sales’ local technical expertise and application knowledge, helps customers keep critical equipment operating with confidence.
This application is one example of how RPM Industrial Sales and Benshaw work together to provide dependable solutions, technical support, and long-term value for customers across demanding industrial environments. By partnering with leading manufacturers and maintaining strong customer relationships, we help facilities improve uptime and keep their operations running efficiently.
