INNOVATIONS

CASE STUDY 1

$265,000 Vs $24,300

Solid Pin Kit for 994 CAT Loader (Hard rock)

Customer demand resulted in Geographe exploring alternatives to the OEM Oil Filled Pin due to unsatisfactory performance and longevity.

Upon investigation, Geographe developed a Solid Pin Kit with a combination of:

• pressurised lubrication to ensure the bearings were continuously lubricated
  
• deep induction-hardened, chrome-moly high tensile steel
  
• molykoted pins and internal surfaces of bushes
  
• seals in bushes to stop corrosion

All elements come together to create a stronger and superior performing product under the severe working conditions of a CAT loader.

An assessment into the benefits of the Solid Pin Kit for a customer showed that its lifecycle exceeded the original pin design by 24,000hrs, not only creating more up time for the company but decreasing expenditure from $265,000 to $24,290.

Oil Filled Pin = 1 000hrs		Solid Pin Kit = 25 000hrs

CASE STUDY 2

9,000 hrs = Less Downtime

Truck - EP (Enhanced Performance) Ball Studs for CAT 777-785-789-793

Standard ball studs were showing a weakness in their design. The worn pitman arm internal taper allows the ball studs to flex and break as well as the single grease groove which minimises lubrication. These failings were causing increased downtime.

Geographe re-designed the product with modifications to enhance performance and longevity. A figure eight grease groove around the ball created greater lubrication and improved metallurgy resulted in high impact resistance. The improved grease and taper fit also extended the mean time between failures.

Customers in the field have reported that the average life achieved on the installed enhanced performance Geographe ball studs to suit Caterpillar 777 trucks has been increased to 9000hrs.

CASE STUDY 3

4,000 hrs Vs 17,000 hrs

A-frame Spherical Bearing

Geographe noticed continual problems with the A-frame Bearings. They were unable to sustain the impact of its severe working conditions causing increased downtime.

Through extensive research Geographe has enhanced the A-Frame bearing to enable it to better handle its working conditions and increasing its lifecycle and efficiency.

The Geographe enhanced A-Frame bearing has a reduced ball diameter for a thicker outer shell increasing the bearings resistance to fracturing. The grease groove has also been re-positioned in the thicker section of outer shell with runners to the centre for grease collection.

The first ‘A’ Frame Bearing Geographe put into service was finally replaced at 17,000 hrs, a big increase from the standard bearings average of 4000hrs! Another customer using the Geographe enhanced ‘A’ Frame Spherical Bearings has been running in excess of 6 years.

CASE STUDY 4

2 hrs Vs 8 hrs

Suspension Pin for 785 CAT

Customers came to Geographe with a re-occurring problem with the standard Suspension Pins on the 785 CAT, as they were difficult and time consuming to remove, resulting in less uptime.

Geographe assessed the problem and identified new enhancements to resolve through slight modifications. A larger hole was created through the suspension pin resulting in easier removal, thus saving maintenance time and overall machine downtime. Customers stated that the ‘through hole’ was successful in reducing the downtime dramatically on service from approximately 8 hours to 2 hours.

CASE STUDY 5

4,000hrs Vs 8,140+ hrs

Hitachi EX5500 Bushes

A customer came to Geographe with the problem of their boom to bucket bushes prematurely failing on their Hitachi machine.

Geographe developed enhanced bushes to extend their lifecycle and provide the company with increased up time.

The enhancements included:

1. Cross hatch to provide greater distribution of grease
   
2. Narrowed figure 8 grease groove to reclaim surface area
   
3. Specialised grease groove design to enhance lubrication
   
4. Anti-galling agent baked onto bearing surface

Previous customers have reported a getting 2500 to 4000hrs from the OEM bushes for this type of machinery, Geographe’s signature enhanced performance parts improved the Hitachi uptime to 8140 of working hours and still going!