Improving Reliability of Oscillating Showers at Northwood Disley Mill
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PROBLEM
At Northwood’s Disley paper mill, oscillating showers play a critical role in cleaning wire and felt fabrics on the paper machine. Reliable operation of these showers is essential, as any failure can result in immediate production downtime with significant financial impact.
The existing oscillators installed at the Disley site were very old units supplied by a third party. Due to their
age, the risk of failure had increased, raising concerns about unplanned downtime and reduced operational reliability. Given that downtime on a paper machine can cost approximately £5,000 per hour, Northwood required a dependable replacement solution to safeguard production continuity.
In addition to reliability, the mill was looking for a modern system with improved control and long-term supportability.
SOLUTION
Following initial site visits to the Disley mill in early 2025 and detailed technical discussions, Spraying Systems Co.® proposed a complete replacement of the existing oscillators.
The solution consisted of three LEO6K Linear Electronic Oscillators, combined with LEO XK single-channel controls housed in a dedicated control cabinet. The oscillators were carefully sized to suit the customer’s fabric length and to integrate seamlessly with the existing shower systems.
This solution marked the first installation of LEO oscillators with Siemens control in the UK, providing Northwood with a modern, energy-efficient and higlhy reliable oscillation system designed specifically for critical paper mill applications.
RESULTS
Since installation, the new oscillator system has delivered reliable performance at the Disley mill:
- No downtime issues reported since commissioning.
- Improved reliability in a critical paper machine application.
- Reduced risk of costly production interruptions, protecting mill output.
- Energy)efficient operation, supporting sustainable mill performances.
- Modernized control system, improving long-term maintainability.
As of October 2025, the system has continued to operate as intended, demonstrating the value of upgrading critical shower components with robust, precision-engineered solutions. This project highlights how targeted equipment replacement can significantly reduce operational risk while supporting efficiency and sustainability goals in paper manufacturing.
Your process could be next! Reach out to see what precision spraying can do for you.