When speed matters: Large ball screw saves automotive manufacturer from costly downtime

When a large ball screw, which formed part of a well-known motor manufacturer’s wheel and tyre assembly machine on Line 2, began to make ominous noises, its engineers were quick to inspect it. It was clear that the ball screw had become too damaged to repair, as the bearings were popping out of the nut.

04/03/2025 12:30:22

A fundamentally important part of the production line, the wheel and tyre assembly machine is used to assemble tyres onto wheel rims. If the ball screw were to fail, the machine could not operate and production would either have to halt – at a cost of approximately £300k per hour – or all tyres would have to be fitted from Line 1 machines, thereby impacting production on both lines.

The decision to replace it was therefore made swiftly. Unfortunately, the ball screw, which measured 1,165mm in length, was a non-stock item and therefore either had to be ordered and imported from overseas, or be made bespoke. The former would take too long and the latter, the company expected, would be expensive.

Read the full article in DPA's March 2025 issue