Replacing a spindle or motor spindle whose manufacturer has disappeared or been taken over
When the original manufacturer of a spindle or motor spindle has closed, gone bankrupt, or been bought by a group that no longer sells the exact reference, Brochexpress designs and manufactures a replacement part compatible with your existing machine.
A frequent situation on machine fleets more than fifteen years old
TLDR: The machine tool industry goes through frequent cycles of takeovers, mergers and closures. A spindle or motor spindle installed fifteen or twenty years ago may today belong to a manufacturer that no longer exists under its original name, or that has stopped producing the exact reference installed on your machine.
The history of machine tools is marked by many takeovers, mergers and disappearing brands — examples abound, from historic manufacturers absorbed by large international groups to small family businesses that have ceased trading. When the spindle or motor spindle of a machine fails years after installation, it is not unusual to discover that the original component manufacturer no longer exists under that name, has been folded into a group that no longer sells that precise reference, or has simply ceased operating. In that situation the company faces a choice: replace the whole machine (an investment often out of proportion with the failure of a single component), or have a compatible replacement part designed and manufactured.
How Brochexpress designs a compatible replacement part
TLDR: Our design office analyses the existing spindle or motor spindle (or what remains of it if it is beyond use) to reconstruct its technical specifications and its mechanical and electrical interfaces, then designs a replacement part guaranteeing compatibility with the rest of the machine — with no structural modification required.
Faced with a spindle or motor spindle whose original manufacturer no longer exists, our design office carries out a complete technical analysis of the existing component: interface dimensions with the machine (mounting, shaft, electrical connections for a motor spindle), functional specifications (speed, torque, power), and the space constraints imposed by the rest of the machine architecture. The aim of this analysis is to design a replacement part guaranteeing full compatibility with the rest of the machine, without requiring structural modification of the frame, the axes or the CNC. This approach allows the company to keep operating its existing machine without a disproportionate investment, while benefiting if desired from discreet technical improvements (more recent generation bearings, better thermal management) over the original part.
The typical stages of a replacement project
- Diagnosis of the existing spindle or motor spindle, working or beyond use
- Survey of the mechanical and electrical interfaces with the rest of the machine
- Design of a compatible replacement part, with no modification to the host machine
- Manufacturing and quality inspection before delivery
- Support during installation, with on-site intervention if required
Why not simply replace the whole machine?
Replacing a complete machine tool represents an investment often out of all proportion to the cost of a custom replacement part, particularly when the rest of the machine (frame, axes, CNC) is still perfectly functional and suited to the production process in place. Designing a replacement spindle or motor spindle extends the useful life of the machine at a controlled cost, while avoiding the risks and hidden costs of changing equipment entirely (process requalification, operator training, extended production downtime).
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether my spindle can be replaced like for like or whether adaptation is needed?
It depends on each case — our design office carries out a technical feasibility study before any manufacturing commitment.
Does the replacement require modifying the machine (frame, CNC)?
Our aim is precisely to avoid any structural modification. The replacement part is designed to fit without adapting the rest of the machine.
What if I no longer have any documentation on the original spindle?
That is a frequent situation, which we handle through reverse engineering: direct analysis of the existing component, with or without original documentation.
How long does designing and manufacturing a replacement part take?
The lead time depends on the technical complexity of the project. Contact us with the characteristics of your machine for an initial estimate.
Can I have a second identical replacement part made later, for another machine in the same fleet?
Yes, the technical file created during the first project allows the part to be faithfully reproduced for other identical machines.
Brochexpress, the solution when your original supplier no longer exists
Our design office and manufacturing workshop, based in Beaurepaire (France) and Lussery-Villars (Switzerland), design replacement spindles and motor spindles compatible with machines of any brand, including those whose manufacturer no longer exists.
Request a quote