MechChem Africa July-August 2023

SmartLink 2.0 takes the guess work out of compressed air performance The SmartLink 2.0 remote monitoring system from Atlas Copco is a perfect example of the company’s commitment to assisting customers in achieving optimum machine performance by developing ever-more advanced technologies and innovative products. “K nowing the status of your compressed air equipment at all times and being able to timeously react on it the available information. However, it is recommended that customers connect their machines to the SmartLink cloud to get the most out of SmartLink.

to optimum machine efficiency, reliability, and life cycle. The SmartLink service timeline indicates the service needs of every machine as well as planned visits, enabling customers to do efficient service planning and parts han dling. The added values here are more hours of machine uptime and subsequent boosted production. So SmartLink essentially takes service to the next level by making us better at supporting our customers,” notes Larue. “In line with our drive to keep on inno vating and to make life even easier for our customers, we have gone a step further. We have developed a SmartLink app that focuses on placing key information right in the palm of our customers’ hands.” This customisable, free mobile app highlights the key operational status of the customer’s compressed air in stallation and provides quick and easy access to air compressor manuals and service history. Moreover, push notifications enable cus tomers to keep their compressed air systems in optimal condition. Customers are now able to receive invaluable insights into their compressed air system’s performance from actionable dashboards by combining the SmartLink portal and mobile app. It takes five minutes to register and set up the SmartLink app dashboard. Any Atlas Copco machine can be added by serial number through this app and what is more, machines do not have to be connected to access all

is the surest way to achieve optimal air ef ficiency and maximum availability,” says Max Larue, Business Line Manager at Compressor Technique Service Division. “For any factory to be ‘smart’ it requires data. But data alone is not enough. Data must be analysed so that meaningful feedback can be generated and results extracted, enabling operators to take the necessary actions. By connecting all compressed air equipment throughout the factory, the performance of the entire instal lation is optimised. The all-in SmartLink connectivity plat form is a web portal that actively monitors all the available data points on Atlas Copco compressed air equipment. This innovative, tailored program tracks all the vital signs, self-diagnoses the machines, makes intel ligent assessments and translates them into clear insights. SmartLink can gather, compare and analyse live data via the easy-to-install, integrated, wireless Smartbox with 24/7 connectivity. Data from all the installations is then automatically uploaded to one server in the cloud. An air compressor audit is provided by AIRScan complete with customised reports that uncover potential energy savings as well as potential problems, while making recommendations on how to improve the energy efficiency of the compressor room. Through SmartLink Energy, the compressed air installation’s energy consumption can be conveniently followed up via an easy-to-read dashboard. Based on the actual working conditions of a customer’s factory, the energy recommendations present real opportunities to improve air system efficiency, which can assist customers in realising potential savings of up to 30%. Also part of the SmartLink 2.0 solution are Smart AIRnet sensors, which include smart pressure, flow meter and dew point sensors that can be added to the customer’s AIRnet installation. Connected with SmartLink, this solution gathers this valuable information throughout the factory and offers recommen dations on how to improve the performance of the entire air system. “Regular on-time service is fundamental

By prompting timeous action, this fully integrated solution from Atlas Copco maxi mises uptime, reduces the risk of catastrophic failures, improves the overall efficiency and health of the machines, which all helps cus tomers to realise lowest total cost of com pressed air system ownership for ultimate business sustainability. www.atlascopco.com/en-za

The Atlas Copco SmartLink 2.0 remote monitoring system and its associated SmartLink app is ideal for optimising air compressor performance.

28 ¦ MechChem Africa • July-August 2023