Capital Equipment News November 2020

Testing for water content samples at WearCheck.

New trends: key benefits “You need access to your data wherever you are,” says Briggs. “The Cat app is the mobile companion to My.Cat. Com, bringing information straight to the client’s phone or tablet.” He says the Cat Inspect app enables clients to complete digital machine inspections and prioritise actions to keep equipment at peak performance. Both apps are available at no cost at Google Play and at the Apple App Store. Zeelie says it is “easy” to motivate an investment in condition monitoring on new machines, given the cost of these machines and the benefits offered by condition monitoring. “This ensures the owner that they have the best machine in the best possible condition from day one. Having more systems based in the cloud allows for easier access to information from any location, eliminating the need for virtual private networks (VPNs) and crowded plant networks due to multiple remote connections.” The benefit of the digitisation of assets and processes, paired with real-time data acquisition, advanced data analytics and machine deep-learning,” says Robinson, “is that the focus has shifted to even earlier detection of failure modes and emerging stage defects.” He says WearCheck uses these advancements in technology to develop its own analytical abilities which it plans to use in the development of future AI condition monitoring ecosystems that will identify and minimise risks to assets simultaneously, in real time. “Online monitoring reduces human error, relying instead on automated systems which run 24/7, 365 days a year.” Further benefits come into play when human movement is restricted due to Covid-19 regulations. In such cases, owners will know that their equipment is still being monitored and is not dependent on human intervention. In closing, Barloworld Equipment’s Briggs notes that condition monitoring is “easy” in principal but can be difficult in application. “Not everything can be measured and therefore monitored, so a robust process to embrace the benefits of condition monitoring is essential,” he says. b

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