Emerson exhibited a range of systems to monitor static and rotating equipment. For valves and instrumentation such as pressure transducers, its AMS Device Manager (below, bottom image) uses the 4-20mA Hart communication protocol to provide commissioning, documentation and diagnostics, including alerts in case of a pressure issue or sensor drift and online diagnosis. It also manages instrument calibration, with timed schedules and a dashboard showing the status of equipment calibrations. Even the details of the calibration can be set, and reports generated after the fact. However, the readings themselves are carried out automatically using an Emerson AMS Trex handheld device and cannot be entered manually, to remove the potential for error or even fraud. Another example of the intelligence of the system is the way it manages safety-critical valves that might only be actuated in an emergency. It will occasionally send a signal for a light test actuation of the valve, and monitor its reaction in terms of closing force; if it does not respond, the system will flag up a note for an inspection. AMS Device Manager also provides an interface from field devices to Plantweb Optics collaboration software.
For rotating assets, Emerson offers its so-called machine management tools. The system recognises the criticality of these assets, specifies the dominant potential failure modes and their relevant P/f curves, and from that their measurement frequency. Two devices launched in 2022. A battery-powered AMS wireless vibration monitor uses the Hart protocol to communicate. The AMS Asset Monitor “applies embedded auto analytics to alert personnel to the most common faults associated with a wide range of assets” - examples include imbalance, misalignment, looseness, gear faults, flow turbulence and lack of lubrication. Emerson says the system includes analysis, reporting and alerting capabilities. “The monitor features an internal Logic Studio with pre-programmed application solutions for easy-to-understand analysis and alert reporting.” Overall asset health status and alerts can be routed to Emerson’s Plantweb Optics platform.
Hansford Sensors has developed a new range of triaxial 4-20mA transmitters for condition monitoring. The HS-473 offers a 4-20mA velocity output via eight-pin M12 connector, and the HS-483 a 4-20mA acceleration output. The stainless steel bodies are sealed to IP67 as a minimum.
After several years of operation in the UK from the southern side of the Channel, Belgium-based condition monitoring company i-Care has opened a Manchester office to provide various predictive and preventive maintenance engineering services. The company, which counts UK businesses Cargill and Nippon Gases as customers, offers condition monitoring hardware and software, in the form of a battery-powered wireless tri-axis vibration sensor readable by handheld tablet. That allows users to add sensors to particular pieces of equipment (up to four), generate inspection routes and record data readings from inspections. Data from those sensors and also temperature and rotating speed is sent to a cloud-based storage system which offers a dashboard summary of equipment status. Also, i-Care staff can log in to the system to perform analysis, provide reports and make recommendations about interventions such as lubrication or bearing swap-outs. Hardwired sensors offer continuous monitoring.
IRISS has launched a range of low-cost high-temperature indicators. It offers two types. For small-diameter tubing and wiring, a range of thermochromic plastic clips (‘Thermo Clips’) change colour when exposed to heat, from blue to pink. That change is temporary for temperatures under 70°C, and permanent over that value. Five diameters of the single-use, push-fit indicators are available from 2.3-31mm outer diameter. The second type is a series of self-adhesive labels with a special pigmented window that goes dark with an increase in temperature: the Safe Connect ‘Thermowrap’ cable wrap darkens over 90°C, and the SafeConnect and ThermoSpot-B indicator at 52°C.
Several new electronics products for sensor testing have been launched by KDP, the distributor of US 4-20mA vibration sensor manufacturer Wilcoxon. A three-channel signal conditioning module for IEPE accelerometers, SC4603, would be suitable for supplying power to a triaxial (three-dimensional) transducer. It is powered by a rechargeable Li-ion battery. A 16-channel power supply is also new. It is said to provide constant current power to piezoelectric accelerometers, voltage mode force transducers and remote charge converters. Also new is the AS-6600 accelerometer simulator, a handheld instrument that mimics many devices’ signals.
Megger displayed a range of electrical test equipment. New on the stand was the DLR02 two-amp low-resistance tester, which provides the potential to download measured data.
Predictive maintenance company Senseye has been acquired by Siemens. Senseye, which employs 70 people, has been folded into Siemens Digital Industries’ customer services business unit. “Senseye’s AI-based solutions complement our digital services portfolio,” says Margherita Adragna, CEO of customer services for digital industries. The Southampton-based startup, founded in 2014, which offers a cloud-based predictive maintenance service, says it has been focusing on its integration with collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams.
The Kappa X wireless vibration sensor has been developed by Sensoteq and research partner RMS. The sensor features 25mm footprint for ease of mounting and replaceable battery. The sensor offers a ’smart wake’ feature to enter a low-power mode, the ability to read up to +/-64G, and a vibration frequency range of 10kHz. The device raises an alarm when vibration or temperature trends increase beyond a certain threshold. It also organises data in the Sensoteq Analytix platform to help operators to pinpoint specific mechanical or electrical faults.
Toyota Material Handling exhibited the Traigo24 three-wheel electric counterbalance lift truck intended for confined spaces and the BT Pro Lifter hand pallet truck, said to be more efficient to operate than other standard models. The company highlighted its lift truck thorough examination and inspection services, as well as its stock of forklift tyres for all applications.
UE Systems presented a link between its Ontrack bearing monitoring system and its Smartlube automatic lubrication device originally released to the market last year. The Ontrack system monitors bearing condition with ultrasonic sensors (Ultra-Trak) connected to the internet. The system organises the data into a digital dashboard that includes trending information, aiming to pinpoint issues before permanent damage occurs. The Smart Lube system, which consists of a controller and one or multiple M-UE single point lubricant applicators with storage reservoir, are also digitally-connected, and can be actuated remotely to deliver a shot of a pre-determined quantity of lubricant. UE Systems showed how the Ontrack system can automatically actuate SmartLube to dispense lubricant based on its measured condition, rather than by time interval. In a closed-loop control, it continues to monitor bearing condition and will signal further shots of lubricant as necessary.
Ultimo explained how autonomous maintenance empowers operators to look after recurring maintenance tasks, freeing maintenance team capacity for more value-adding jobs. The stand also featured a live demonstration of how combining EAM technologies with virtual reality technology can help streamline maintenance on the field. In this example, Ultimo EAM software was linked to ICT Group’s mixed-reality platform HoloNXT, which connects online data with the physical world to create a digital twin. This data is then integrated with insight from Ultimo’s EAM platform to provide real-time information on the status of maintenance activities and asset health. Chris van den Belt, team leader product management, Ultimo, said: “You can look remotely at a physical asset – in this case a bicycle we have on the stand – and have all crucial maintenance and operational data from Ultimo made available to you through HoloNXT. This helps optimise communication and information sharing and enable safer mobile working.”
