Optimal utilsation of assets, low downtime and low maintenance costs ensure the highest possible productivity. This requires an intelligent EAM solution for registering and analysing the data

The latest Talking Industry (TI) panel discussion discussed how digital technologies can be used in maintenance activities. What can you learn from machines using digital techniques, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI)? TI Chair, Andy Pye reports.

Mitsubishi Electric has released a 24VDC digital input plug-in module for its FR-E800 range of variable speed drives (VSDs). PWE takes a closer look.

Today manufacturing companies are facing more challenges than ever before, from rising energy prices to parts supply issues and more recently an increasing skills shortage. The figures are telling and are indicative of conditions across the globe. PWE reports

Phil Heine is celebrating T-Cards Direct’s 60th Anniversary. Developed by his father, the company has played an important role in the engineering sector throughout this period and PWE caught up with Phil to learn a bit more about the concept and history of the company.

Clive Jones, Managing Director of thermal fluid specialist Global Heat Transfer, explains how proactive thermal fluid management is the key to safe and efficient operations.

Donal Bourke, Director of Sales at PEMAC discusses the common trends emerging in maintenance management across industries and the pivotal role of Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) in the era of Maintenance 4.0.

The continued contraction of the UK manufacturing sector further underlines the importance of digital inspection and condition monitoring technology to avoid unplanned maintenance costs in Q3 2023 and beyond, says Alfa Laval’s new Service Operations Manager.

Fluke Reliability, will be discussing a new vision for the future of maintenance on Stand A42 at Maintec 2023, part of Manufacturing & Engineering Week.

Pressure to meet environmentally friendly practices is at an all-time high. Especially now that we are seeing a dramatic increase in global temperatures and natural disasters. The United Nations have set out a Net-Zero target and with manufacturing companies accounting for 16% of the carbon emissions for the UK alone, there is a demand for sustainable operations. Prasanna Kulkarni, Product Architect and Libby Taylor, Research Editor of Comparesoft, explain why manufacturers leverage IIoT and asset management to drive sustainability.

Permits are a crucial part of maintenance work. They ensure that the work carries out safely and that everyone involved understands the risks and responsibilities. There are multiple ways you can handle permits. Is digitalisation the answer to it?

Schaeffler has launched a ‘Grease App’, which it says offers a solution for complex rolling bearing lubrication questions. PWE reports

PWE looks at how an online monitoring solution using ultrasonic sensors was able to detect an issue on a critical bearing before it turned into a big problem.

Anyone with responsibility for warehouse equipment must consider the question of if the equipment is faulty, do you repair or replace? Rite-Hite’s Thorsten Mauritz explains further.

Maintec returns on 7th and 8th of June 2023 at Birmingham’s NEC as part of Nineteen Group’s Manufacturing & Engineering Week (M&E Week) www.mandeweek.co.uk . PWE reports

At a time when national electrical grids are under extreme pressure, unexpected outages can prove to be a considerable challenge. When a power plant in Germany experienced the sudden failure of a boiler feed pump, output dropped by more than 40%, which affected both the local grid and company profits. Needing to resolve this situation urgently, Sulzer was called in to repair the asset and conduct an investigation to secure the reliability of the power station.

Donal Bourke, Sales Director, PEMAC explains how CMMS software can support preventive maintenance strategies within manufacturing organisations.

Airborne & structure-borne ultrasound has become a major player in bearing condition monitoring. Once considered just a leak detector, more maintenance & reliability professionals are beginning to realise all of the benefits associated with using ultrasound for condition monitoring applications. The P-F Curve with which we have all become familiar with reflects that trend.

Serena Cooper, QMS International, looks at closing the skills gap in manufacturing and engineering

Global miner Anglo American has overcome persistent reliability problems at an important iron ore project in Brazil with the help of Sulzer pump specialists. PWE reports.

Johan Jonzon, CMO and Co-Founder of edge analytics platform developer, Crosser, explains how edge analytics provides instantaneous data to prevent unscheduled downtime.

Do you ever wish you had x-ray eyes to see inside a machine to predict exactly when it will fail? The reality is probably a relentless routine of maintenance checklists and service inspections, together with time-consuming preventive procedures. Nevertheless, unexpected lapses in product quality and machine failures are still likely to happen. PWE spoke to David Hannaby, Market Product Manager for SICK UK to find out more.

ABB has acquired a minority stake in Swedish start-up Viking Analytics via its venture capital unit, ABB Technology Ventures (ATV). The strategic partnership to develop the next generation of predictive asset health analytics for electrical equipment, will allow customers to predict anomalies before they become a risk to their operations. Financial details of the investment were not disclosed.

Sulzer engineers custom boiler feed pumps with updated hydraulic design for 50% less than replacement cost. PWE reports

Ian Loudon, international sales and marketing manager at wireless telemetry specialist Omniflex, outlines considerations for when selecting a radio frequency (RF) to operate on.

PWE takes a look at some of the latest problem-solving solutions from Turck Banner in machine safety, diagnostics and data security

PWE spoke to Donal Bourke, Sales Director, and Stephen Davis, Marketing Director, at PEMAC who explain how optimisation services can increase the return on investment of CMMS software projects and support maintenance improvement programmes.

Many companies that have only just started to recover from the disruption caused by the pandemic are now facing new challenges in the form of supply chain disruptions and skyrocketing energy costs. Against this backdrop, improving efficiency and minimising risks to uptime is more crucial than ever, but what steps are asset managers taking to address these challenges?

The manufacturing industry is facing a plethora of external challenges: supply chain disruptions, labour shortages and vast globalisation are amongst those at the top of many lists. Against the backdrop of vast international competition, these external factors have undoubtedly created heightened pressures for manufacturers to outperform their counterparts. Colin Crow, managing director of Nexer UK, reports.

Craig O’Neill and Ron Lucier look at how to choose a cooled or uncooled OGI camera.

A new report from IFS Ultimo outlines what steps asset managers are taking to mitigate the challenges associated with ageing assets, unplanned downtime, lack of communication and skills shortages.

Steam specialist TLV Euro Engineering has launched the FJ32, a range of free-float steam traps designed for process applications including jacketed pans, heat exchangers and vulcanisers that, while adopting the universal QuickTrap connection, can be regularly, safely and easily removed, repaired and reused.

Research conducted by the Tork brand reveals that a large number of machine operators are needlessly interrupted at least 20 times during their workday by having to fetch or dispose of wiping and cleaning products.

Over 60% of managers see improving mobile working as key to enhancing efficiency, and nearly all expect it to become integral to their maintenance strategy in five years’ time.

The skills gap is a prevalent problem across the industrial landscape, but can it be minimised through technology alone? Andy Graham*, explains further

The manufacturing industry is facing a plethora of external challenges: supply chain disruptions, labour shortages and vast globalisation are amongst those at the top of many lists. Against the backdrop of vast international competition, these external factors have undoubtedly created heightened pressures for manufacturers to outperform their counterparts. Could AI and AR be the solution? Colin Crow, managing director of Nexer UK reports

Stephen Davis, Marketing Director, PEMAC looks at 10 steps for implementing a successful intelligent maintenance programme

PWE looks at why remote telemetry units (RTUs) and advanced software will be crucial for managing more diverse, renewable energy sources.

New pump internals from Sulzer solve reliability issues and improve productivity for chemical processing plant. PWE reports.

Implementing a thorough obsolescence management policy and having a robust methodology for the purchase and stocking of genuine automation components are vital to success, yet many businesses have not put comprehensive plans in place, says Leroy Spence, Director at Obso Global

Dr Martin Lawrence, Combustion Development Specialist at Air Products, looks at how digitalisation can enhance aluminium recycling to boost efficiency.

The occasion of the 2022 Drives and Controls exhibition, and its co-located shows (5 to 7 April), marked the first Talking Industry Live sessions. Here, the online panel discussions which were proven successfully online during the lockdown period, and which have now evolved into a regular monthly online event, morphed into a physical event for the first time. Andy Pye reports on the Maintenance session.

Johan Jonzon* explains how edge analytics provides instantaneous data to prevent unscheduled downtime

Talking Industry’s latest panel discussion looked at the future of Plant & Asset Management. Andy Pye highlights the discussion

This new self-assembly solution allows you to create your own hose and fitting combinations in no time at all. Make it easy for yourself, with ergonomic design for comfortable machine handling, grease-free operation for a clean working environment and reduced maintenance, validated press data and clear operating instructions.

New Tork productivity guide provides five steps to using “kaizen” to create a sustainable competitive advantage