Editorial

Hosokawa Micron Ltd are now able to offer HEPA Filter Integrity Tests either as a specific task or as part of a planned maintenance programme.

Industry recommends that HEPA filters be checked at 14 month intervals or less or immediately after filter change. This is because where high efficiency filters are fitted, it is important that the filter housing/sealing device does not allow particulate material to pass and therefore compromise the classification of the controlled environment installation that is being served.
The Filter Integrity Test is commonly referred to as a DOP test  because the original smoke used in the test was generated using Di-Octyl Phthalate. This chemical was found to have carcinogenic properties and was subsequently substituted by a mineral oil, Shell Ondina EL. The smoke generated from this has identical characteristics and the term DOP testing remains, although it is now understood to mean

Introduction
The traditional approach to maintaining mobile equipment - based on fixed interval component replacements and overhauls - is rapidly dying. In its place is a new framework for maintaining this equipment using Condition Based Maintenance approaches, and which focuses strongly on the consequences of failure.
At the heart of this new approach lies a strategic tool for determining the most appropriate Maintenance strategy for key items of Mobile Equipment, and their major components - Reliability Centred Maintenance.

What is Reliability Centred Maintenance?
Reliability Centred Maintenance originated in the Airline industry in the 1960's. By the late 1950's, the cost of Maintenance activities in this industry had become high enough to warrant a special investigation into the effectiveness of those activities. At the same time, the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) in the US was becoming increasingly frustrated by its experiences showing that it was not possible to control the failure rate of certain types of engines by changing either the frequency or content of scheduled fixed-interval overhauls.

PRÜFTECHNIK, the vibration analysis specialists have introduced a new FFT analyzer and data collector to their range of condition monitoring systems.

According to the company this new addition uses the latest microchip technology to make the system one of the fastest FFT analyzers on the market.

Other innovations such as an automatic light sensitive keyboard and high resolution backlit screen for easy viewing in any light conditions, long battery life, 102,400 lines of resolution and massive on board memory capability which is upgradeable to 1 gigabyte ensures that the VIBXPERT will be a major addition to the condition monitoring market.

The system measures and records all forms of machine vibrations, bearing condition, as well as process and inspection data. For the diagnosis of complex vibration conditions VIBXPERT provides comprehensive analysis functions such as order spectrum, cepstrum, orbit, phase, cross phase analysis and coast down measurement.

PRÜFTECHNIK Condition Monitoring presents the VIBROWEB; a new, automated monitoring and diagnosis system for production-critical machines and systems.

VIBROWEB is completely autonomous, running without PC connection which makes it particularly suitable for applications in distributed and out-of-the-way machine parks (pump stations, pipelines,...).

The modular and flexible system configuration keeps investment and installation costs low and also enables the economic integration of VIBROWEB into existing monitoring infrastructures. VIBROWEB is designed to allow the logical connection of almost every type of sensor (ICP, DMS, LineDrive,...).

The signal conditioning for each channel is carried out with the aid of special plug-in cards that are simple to replace as and when required. Of the 32 analog measurement channels, two can be measured simultaneous, with other channels available for rpm measurements (8x) and for digital inputs and outputs (each 4x).

Unfortunately, when it comes to steam traps, people often ignore them.  There

A new, versatile and comprehensive handheld machine condition analyser is launched by SPM Instrument AB, Sweden.

Leonova

A new variant of the MG4 has been introduced. Called MG4-Ref11, it has been developed for the pulp and paper industry for continuous monitoring of refiners.
 
Refiner disc segments getting in contact with each other cause the segments to break. Spare segments are expensive and the margin of error in this application is very small. This requires measuring equipment to be extremely fast. The MG4-Ref11 has been adapted to these requirements and has a measuring cycle of approximately 0.4 seconds for shock pulse measurements.

For further information on the MG4-Ref11, visit
http://www.spminstrument.co.uk/products/mg4
SPM Instrument UK Limited
Tel +44 1706 835331 | +44 1706 260640 |
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www.spminstrument.co.uk | www.leonovabyspm.com | www.linelazer.com | www.bearingchecker.com

The Schaeffler Group

Since 2002, customers worldwide have avoided failures of their equipment, from vital production equipment to the office air conditioning, by using Artesis

Rustem Yildiz is maintenance manager responsible for the Gebze plant which supplies Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, Toyota and Honda on a Just-in-Time basis. From his office, he can access data on the current condition of all the equipment monitored by the Artesis MCM units, and is automatically notified of any changes in status, indicating a potential deterioration in performance.  In addition to the excellent downtime figures, he measures the success of the system by a significant improvement in his homelife, resulting from a dramatic reduction in the number of out of hours calls he receives, that previously had disrupted his evenings.

In his opinion, key elements behind the success have been: