The Challenge
During a visit to a customer’s shop, we discovered several yaw drives sitting unused in a corner and destined for scrap.
Instead of accepting that the components had reached the end of their useful life, we saw an opportunity to investigate.
Could these yaw drives be repaired and reconditioned? Was there a common failure mode? And could we develop a solution that would restore reliability, extend service life, and provide a cost-effective alternative to replacement?
The opportunity was clear: before scrapping valuable equipment, understand what went wrong and determine what can be recovered.
The Process
We brought together our engineering expertise, technical knowledge, field experience, and product understanding to conduct a detailed assessment of the yaw drives.
Our team focused on:
- Identifying common failure modes and underlying issues
- Assessing the condition and remaining value of the components
- Determining which elements could be repaired or reconditioned
- Identifying opportunities to improve reliability
- Developing a practical and economically viable reconditioning solution
By combining engineering analysis with real-world field experience, we moved beyond simply repairing the components. We looked for ways to improve their performance and extend their useful life.
The Result
What was originally headed for the scrap pile became a viable engineering solution.
Through reconditioning, we developed an approach to restore the yaw drives, address identified issues, and improve their reliability — giving existing equipment a new opportunity to deliver value in the field.
The result was a solution designed to:
Extend service life: Keep existing equipment operating longer and maximize the value of assets already in service.
Improve reliability: Address known issues and incorporate opportunities for improved component performance.
Reduce replacement requirements: Provide an alternative to replacing complete components with new equipment.
Deliver value: Create a practical solution at a reasonable cost while making better use of existing assets.
Key Outcomes
Yaw drives originally destined for scrap were given a path to continued service.
Common failure mechanisms and improvement opportunities were investigated.
A reconditioning approach was developed to support improved reliability.
Existing equipment was given the potential for extended service life.
The customer gained an alternative to full component replacement.
Valuable materials and equipment were kept in use rather than immediately discarded.
Engineering expertise was leveraged to create a more sustainable and cost-conscious solution.
Engineering That Goes Beyond Replacement
Sustainability does not always mean recycling something after it has reached the end of its life.
Sometimes, the better opportunity is to extend that life in the first place.
Reconditioning existing equipment can reduce waste, limit the demand for new materials, and maximize the value of components already in service. It also demonstrates how engineering innovation can support both operational and sustainability objectives.
This project started with several yaw drives sitting in a corner.
It ended with an opportunity to put them back to work.
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