ColWear Plates (photo) are used in the manufacture and repair of industrial fans to avoid costly downtime and replacement. They protect fans against aggressive industrial environments where fans may encounter a combination of abrasion, particle erosion, pitting/dusting corrosion, surface oxidation and intergranular corrosion at high temperatures. Intense abrasion is a significant issue, because particles in the airstream cause the fan surface to wear away due to friction. This is particularly problematic in the fan blades and scroll housing. ColWear Plates are said to be lighter and more uniform than traditional wear-resistant construction materials. This can make the fan far more energy efficient and more balanced, which is particularly important for the impellers, as it reduces the amount of adjustment required. ColWear Plates can be manufactured with both mild and stainless-steel base materials, as well as higher-grade nickel alloys. — Wall Colmonoy, Pontardawe, Swansea, Wales
Introducing vacuum-fused wear plates for fans
| By Mary Page Bailey and Gerald Ondrey