Editorial

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.

Why Monitor?
The concept of Predictive Maintenance has now become accepted practice, world wide.

Locating, defining and acting on potential problems before they become catastrophic is the main objective of a predictive maintenance programme. Techniques include thermography, vibration analysis and motor monitoring. Routine monitoring is not only the most effective method of determining an early diagnosis, but has many other positive aspects.

Leonova™ Infinity marks a decisive advance in machine condition monitoring

• unique machine diagnostic functions
• precision line laser alignment and balancing
• select what you need approach
• optimal ergonomic design
• revolutionary economic terms

SPM has the organisation and the know-how to increase the availability and profitability of your production equipment. Knowing that your situation is special, we gave Leonova Infinity a comprehensive range of functions and developed a new system of financing condition monitoring.

Remove moisture and particles before entry to the system.Moisture and particle accumulation are major factors of oil contamination in industrial equipment. Neglected, these detriments restrict equipment efficiency, causing machine downtime and significant expense in replacement oil, parts and repair labour. Des-Case hygroscopic breathers incorporate a proven, field tested design.

They prevent water and contaminates from entering fluid reservoirs as differential pressures occur through thermal expansion and contraction of the fluid, or during the filling or emptying process. Manufactured with a hygroscopic agent, they have the capability to extract water vapour from the air as it is drawn through the unit. Accompanying solid particles are then removed by a patented polyester fabric filter, allowing only clean, dry air to enter the system.

Dorchester based, Tritex NDT have developed a new range of triple echo ultrasonic thickness gauges for measuring metal thickness to check for corrosion on pipelines, storage tanks and other industrial applications where corrosion occurs. The new Tritex Multigauges have been designed for robustness, simplicity of use and most importantly, accuracy.

The range includes the Multigauge 5500, designed for hands free use when climbing on staging, scaffolding or when accessing large storage tanks by rope.The Multigauge 5600 has been developed for most common thickness gauging applications on pipelines. The easy to use keypad allows operator interface whilst the bright graphical LCD display gives detailed information such as echo strength, probe type and measurement units.

Artesis, a leading supplier of intelligent predictive maintenance solutions, is pushing the boundaries of machine monitoring technology with its next generation solution. Delivering a range of powerful new functionality the Artesis MCM (Motor Condition Monitor) system now includes wireless technology for deployment in remote and inaccessible locations; fully automated condition assessment reports for even faster diagnostics; and the ability for engineers to easily and quickly customise the application for wider enterprise use.

Building on the success of the MCM system that has revolutionised automated fault diagnostics, Artesis has now integrated robust wireless technology, using intelligent GPRS modems, to allow the use of remote communications in condition monitoring. This allows cost-effective, easy installation of wireless monitoring stations at any site in remote, hazardous or inaccessible locations, while maintaining reliable and transparent access with centralised users via the Artesis communications server.

In about 50% of organizations spare parts and materials stores reports to the maintenance organization. In about 50 % of organizations spare parts and materials stores is part of the purchasing function.

One of the areas that are first attacked when an organization wants to become lean is the materials and spare parts areas. Through reducing the value of spare parts and material kept in storage you can of course reduce costs. It is true that there are often big opportunities to lower the value in many stores, but it can also become very expensive if it is not done correctly.

Hansford Sensors Ltd. now offer a range of submersible vibration sensors, which has been specifically designed for operation in partial or complete immersion in water, making them ideal for the monitoring of pumps in a maintenance role.

Pumps perform important tasks across many industries, some operating continuously and others triggered into action to move liquids at specific times or as a result of leakage.