Reinforced Paddle Screw Design Reduces Downtime for Cargill in Fort Worth, Texas
Introduction
Cargill’s Fort Worth, Texas facility processes large volumes of blended beef for food production. During peak operating hours, any mechanical issue can cause costly downtime and product loss. When repeated failures began occurring in the plant’s paddle mixers, Cargill contacted KWS for immediate assistance. On a Saturday morning, KWS personnel provided onsite support to assess the issue firsthand and ensure that production could continue without a full shutdown.
Twin Paddle Mixer is Used to Blend Ground Beef with Ingredients
Challenge
The existing paddle screws experienced severe damage as the round bar stems began to wrap around the center pipe during operation. This deformation caused major failures to the screw shafts, paddles, and product consistency, leading to repeated breakdowns and lost production time during critical processing hours.
KWS Advantage
While on site, KWS field specialists quickly developed a new reinforced design featuring welded gussets every 180 degrees along the stem of each paddle. The gussets provided added structural integrity, preventing bending or twisting under load and ensuring stable operation even in the demanding environment of beef processing. The redesigned paddle screws were manufactured and delivered with minimal delay, allowing the Cargill team to resume full production without disruption.
Cost Savings
With the KWS reinforced paddle screw design, Cargill eliminated approximately eight hours of unplanned downtime each month translating to major maintenance and production savings while ensuring consistent product quality. The new paddle screw configuration eliminated downtime, improved overall performance, and maintained reliable output during peak operating periods — proving once again that KWS delivers durable, Made-to-Order solutions that keep America’s food industry moving.
New Paddle Screw Configuration Eliminated Downtime and Improved Overall Performance
Gussets Provide Added Structural Integrity, Preventing Bending Under Load
