Condition Monitoring/Predictive Maintenance

It is common knowledge that a range of Condition Monitoring (CM) techniques are available such as Vibration Analysis, Oil & Wear Debris Analysis, Thermography and Acoustic Emission. Each of these techniques has its own particular areas of strength and in this regard the Acoustic Emission (AE) technique has the noted advantage of giving real time information with early sensitivity to faults and applicability to a wide range of rotational speeds including slowly rotating (source : ISO 22096).

It follows that on-line monitoring systems should be capable of integrating the required mix of CM technologies for each particular spread of machine types in an installation. However the use of AE for machinery condition monitoring has historically been viewed as a separate specialist field and it has not been easy to integrate it into third party or industry standard monitoring and control systems.

Sonatest are proud to launch the new Corrosion Wheelprobe, which has been specifically designed for Pipeline Corrosion Mapping applications.  Continuing the proven success of Sonatest’s WheelProbe range, this new model is proving to be unrivalled in the field of corrosion mapping in terms of speed and ease of use, in addition to achieving excellent results.

Ergonomically designed, the Corrosion Wheel Probe offers smooth handling, good control and comfortable grip positions for scanning around pipes and for easy overhead work.  Circumferential and Longitudinal scanning are both completed rapidly and can be performed on pipes with diameters between 3 and 32 inches.

Problem: Wind turbines by their nature are located in remote locations. Daily monitoring of systems is often an impractical solution.

The October edition of EMS magazine is now available to read online in page turning digital format or PDF format. This edition contains articles on achieving best practice in condition monitoring and plant maintenance as well as the latest products, news and case studies.

SPM Instrument, now presents a new portable instrument for on-site vibration measurement and assessment. VibChecker is a cost-effective and user friendly addition to the SPM line of entry-level instruments for condition monitoring, where BearingChecker for bearing measurement is already a successful member.

Vibration monitoring is the most widely used preventive maintenance technique in industry. Regular vibration measurements give early warning of developing machine problems and help prevent premature replacement of machine parts.

Send for your free pocket guide to TPM and see how you can greatly improve the condition and performance of your company assets and operational processes using shop floor based teams. The guide has been produced by Roy Davis, probably the most experienced TPM implementer in the UK.  

MPI  have specialised in the implementation of TPM for over 14 years and provide a range of top quality training and support services to meet your specific requirements. Attend  our ‘An Introduction to TPM’ training workshop on 15th September 2009 and find out how we can help to make sure that your TPM programme is practical, achievable and successful.  

Artesis, a leading supplier of intelligent predictive maintenance solutions, has recently partnered with marine specialists James Fisher Mimic to integrate its Motor Condition Monitor (MCM) solution with the marine company’s industry leading Mimic condition monitoring system. The powerful combination of technologies has resulted in a highly efficient and unparalleled maintenance solution that is specifically targeted at inaccessible, high cost, critical assets in the marine sector.

James Fisher Mimic (JFM), providers of reliability engineering and condition monitoring solutions to the International Shipping Industry, has fully integrated the Artesis MCM solution to analyse motor current performance within their Mimic predictive maintenance product. This detailed information, in conjunction with other maintenance data, then provides an in depth analysis and overall picture of machine health and performance.

Maintenance Has Changed

The world of equipment maintenance changed dramatically during the second half of the 20th century and it continues to do so today.

Several major influences have been responsible for driving these changes:

• An enormous increase in the number of physical assets (such as buildings, factories, public and personal transport) that require maintenance
• Equipment has become extremely complex - for example, it is now rare to find anything that does not contain a computer or some electronics
• Industries (such as manufacturing and mass transport) now put a much greater emphasis on safety and on operating without damaging the environment
• We now have a much better understanding of how equipment behaves, from installation to the point at which it fails.

Our new eBrochure comprehensively describes all of our products and services in a single slick page-turn document. The brochure can be viewed directly on our web site, downloaded for off-line viewing or ordered on CD-ROM. A PDF version is also available to download.

Mutual Consultants are one of the UK’s leading specialists in the application of Reliability-Centred Maintenance (RCM). We assist clients to apply RCM through world-class training, consulting, facilitation and the supply of dedicated RCM software.

Artesis, leading supplier of intelligent predictive maintenance solutions, has secured a significant agreement to supply and install its market-leading Motor Condition Monitor (MCM) systems to all of the most critical escalators across 4 terminal buildings at Heathrow Airport. Reliability and minimum breakdown of passenger moving equipment is crucial to the successful operations at Heathrow and this deal secures Artesis as BAA’s leading supplier of condition monitoring solutions.

Following successful testing and evaluation trials at Heathrow’s Terminal 1, the MCM devices have been installed on the most critical escalators and passenger conveyors in the first phase of the project, providing predictive maintenance and crucially preventing downtime of the equipment.