Editorial

IFS Ultimo and global professional services provider ALLIANT RIGSERV have signed an agreement that offers customers access to IFS Ultimo’s Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) Software as a Service (SaaS) solution. ALLIANT RIGSERV’s subject matter experts (SMEs) have deep knowledge of best industry practices for asset management in the healthcare and oil and gas industries. Through this partnership, they can offer an even more comprehensive and streamlined approach, professionalizing asset management, enhancing maintenance, and increasing safety.            

Located in Houston, Texas, ALLIANT RIGSERV is strategically positioned to connect with businesses from the same key sectors wherein IFS Ultimo is a proven leader of EAM services. Therefore, companies in the medical, manufacturing, and energy sectors will now be able to benefit from IFS Ultimo’s flexible, easy to implement EAM solution to optimize maintenance and improve safety. This partnership further equips end users with built-in integrations to established Enterprise Research Planning (ERP) systems.

Josh Leachman, VP Sales, ALLIANT RIGSERV comments: “IFS Ultimo's established presence in diverse markets opens doors for ALLIANT RIGSERV, allowing us to reach new customer segments. This enables us to cater to a wider range of customers’ asset-specific needs with shorter implementations and faster time to value. Our customers will benefit from IFS Ultimo’s robust reporting tools and real-time actionable insights into their assets.”

Freddy Vos, VP International Sales & Channel, IFS Ultimo, adds: “Through this partnership, asset-intensive companies in the USA will benefit from our solution. Adding ALLIANT RIGSERV’s knowledge and network to our community enables us to profit from its local expertise. We are confident that we strengthen each other and look forward to a new exciting chapter in our international growth strategy.”

www.ultimo.com

Birmingham-based Armac Martin, a pioneer in design-led luxury brass hardware and accessories, relies heavily on compressed air for its CNC machining requirements. However, the company’s existing system was constantly operating at full capacity, leading to unnecessary energy expenditure. By collaborating with FPS Compressors and its preferred local distributor Compressed Air Systems UK - Birmingham, Armac Martin adopted a new system capable of variable compressed air supply. The project led to an impressive 46% reduction in energy consumption compared with the company’s previous compressor.

Founded in 1929 as a local brass foundry, Armac Martin is today a fourth-generation family business with a global reputation for exceptional design and craftsmanship. Compressed air is critical to the successful operation of the company’s modern CNC machining centres. At the same time, like all manufacturers, Armac Martin is driving to make its operations more sustainable. The company has a strategy to achieve net zero by 2041, making the significant energy drain of its compressed air system a cause of major concern.

Collaborating with FPS Compressors and Compressed Air Systems UK - Birmingham, Armac Martin opted for a new system capable of variable compressed air supply, identified through data logging and energy audit exercises. Monitoring of the system took place using state-of-the-art instruments over several weeks. FPS Compressors and Compressed Air Systems UK - Birmingham explained both the data and the recommend solution to Armac Martin’s management team. Notably, the transition to the new compressed air system, which features a NOBEL 18.508 DVF PM variable-speed screw air compressor from FPS at its core, was seamless and without downtime. Comprehensive training ensured proficiency in operation.

With the NOBEL 18.508 DV FPM, compressed air aligns to system requirements by regulating the speed of the electric IE4 permanent magnet motor, which can range from 15-100% of the maximum speed. Notably, the direct-drive system means zero energy losses, whereas standard drive belts may incur losses of 4-11% as the energy transfers from the motor to the compressor. Excellent and precise pressure control extends from 6 to 13 bar, while accurate and optimised cooling of the compressor arrives courtesy of efficient, powerful and quiet radial fans.

By partnering with industry experts and embracing innovative technologies, Armac Martin is seeing a remarkable 46% reduction in compressor energy consumption, translating to an impressive £23,637 in annual savings. The return-on-investment [ROI] for this sustainable initiative was achieved in just 14 months.

“The use of compressed air represents a large chunk of electricity costs at machine shops such as Armac Martin, just like it does at any manufacturing plant, food production facility or packaging plant,” says Nick Poole, Managing Director at FPS Air Compressors. “To make gains, users of compressed air must get smart about specifying the optimal technology, notably the compressor. Armac Martin is a great example of what this strategy can deliver. While the company’s previous compressed air system ran constantly at full capacity, the new solution reduces power requirements by only meeting actual demand. The result? Significant improvements in energy efficiency without any compromise in manufacturing performance.”

For additional information on this case study please visit:
www.fps-compressors.co.uk/fps-case-study-armac-martin.html

Further information is available from:

FPS Air Compressors Ltd, Unit 5, Tower Estate, Warpsgrove Lane, Chalgrove Oxfordshire OX44 7XZ

Telephone: 01865 892 620                                          e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.fps-compressors.co.uk

SPIE Nederland, the Dutch subsidiary of SPIE, the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications, and Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) Software leader, IFS Ultimo, have joined forces to enhance asset management and maintenance for customers. As of now, SPIE Nederland’s Business Unit Maintenance Solutions will act as an implementation partner for IFS Ultimo in the Netherlands.

The mission of SPIE’s Business Unit Maintenance Solutions is to help customers improve their key maintenance performance. SPIE adds true value for its customers by supporting them in developing, coordinating, and executing maintenance in line with asset management. EAM plays a key role in supporting maintenance processes nowadays. Using an EAM system ensures the best outcomes in relation to a company’s targets and objectives. It supports companies in their sustainable development approach, helping to reduce resources needed for maintenance, as well as energy consumption by improving the performance of assets. IFS Ultimo makes it easy to set up and track asset performance and facilitates organizations in maintaining their assets in an efficient and effective way. The user-friendly interface can be made fit for purpose by SPIE engineers and is compatible with many partner ERP systems and Industry 4.0 tooling.

SPIE has used IFS Ultimo’s EAM software to manage the assets of maintenance contracts of several customers, including some large Dutch governmental organizations, for many years. SPIE’s Business Unit Maintenance Solutions, in particular, uses the software on a daily basis since a large percentage of its customers use it to manage and optimize their maintenance activities. By partnering with IFS Ultimo, SPIE will be able to provide and implement the EAM software across the Netherlands.

Lesley Fraats, Business Development Manager, SPIE Nederland comments: “By partnering with IFS Ultimo, we build an even broader portfolio of expertise around EAM software. We combine our strengths so that our customers benefit from the best of both worlds: IFS Ultimo’s EAM tool, which adapts to the needs and requirements of their business, implemented by SPIE’s consultants, who have the best understanding of the environment in which the software will be deployed and used.

Maarten Meijer, Manager Channel Services, IFS Ultimo adds: “We see companies struggle with both opportunities and challenges that arise due to the fast-changing business landscape and digitalization. IFS Ultimo and SPIE customers will benefit from this partnership by experiencing the joint expertise of both companies from both a maintenance perspective on the work floor and a digitalization perspective. Our EAM software fits extremely well in this landscape and the specialists at SPIE will ensure that the IFS Ultimo software is implemented, used, and adopted in the most effective way.”

About SPIE Nederland

SPIE Nederland is a subsidiary of the SPIE group, the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications. SPIE Nederland provides advice and technical solutions in design, installation and maintenance of network systems and energy, infrastructure, industrial and building installations. 

Employing almost 6,000 people at 41 locations, SPIE Nederland holds the number one position as technical service provider in the Netherlands. 

With around 48,000 employees and a strong local presence, SPIE achieved in 2022 consolidated revenues of €8.09 billion and consolidated EBITA of €511 million.

About IFS Ultimo  

IFS Ultimo is a SaaS EAM / CMMS solution from IFS, focused on maintenance & safety and well known for a rapid deployment, ease of use and an unparalleled time to value. IFS Ultimo is part of IFS.

IFS develops and delivers cloud enterprise software for companies around the world who manufacture and distribute goods, build and maintain assets, and manage service-focused operations. Within our single platform, our industry specific products are innately connected to a single data model and use embedded digital innovation so that our customers can be their best when it really matters to their customers—at the Moment of Service™️. The industry expertise of our people and of our growing ecosystem, together with a commitment to deliver value at every single step, has made IFS a recognized leader and the most recommended supplier in our sector. Our team of 5,000 employees every day live our values of agility, trustworthiness and collaboration in how we support our 10,000+ customers.

www.ultimo.com

Practically all production, manufacturing and assembly processes use compressed air or vacuum systems at some point in their process. Compressed air and vacuum systems are reasonably inexpensive to install, fairly easy to maintain, and usually very reliable.

While these systems are installed and used with very good reason, they can have inefficiencies that can impact their performance, costing businesses a significant amount of money.

Leaks develop over time and subsequently compressors and pumps run at higher rates to compensate; processes are rarely interrupted. If leaks become severe then its often easier to add additional compressors and pumps then it is to fault-find and repair leaks, especially in loud and noisy operational factories.

Enter the FLIR Si-series of acoustic cameras. These cameras see sound, overlaying leak information onto a digital camera screen, adding quantifiable metrics about the leak severity and likely cost to the business for each individual leak identified.

FLIR acoustic cameras work at distances well beyond 50 meters, filtering out irrelevant noise from operating production lines to isolate leak information and clearly pinpoint their location.

After surveying a facility, all images, along with their leak metrics can be viewed on-camera, or uploaded onto cloud-based reporting software, or transferred to FLIR Thermal Studio reporting software.

Leak images will clarify and improve repair work orders, every leak repaired will reduce the electricity consumption of the compressors and pumps used, which in-turn reduces their associated emissions.

Acoustic imaging works beyond air leaks, also locating leaks in CO2, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Helium, Argon and other industrial gas systems too, associated savings are significantly higher for industrial gasses due to their increased production and purchase costs.

Contact FLIR or one of our partners and request a telephone consultation, or even an in-person demo to see how much money we can help your business save too.

Click the link below for more information.

Getec and Babcock Wanson Group are pleased to announce that they have agreed to the sale of the VKK Group, a prominent German company renowned for its expertise in industrial boiler technology.

 VKK Group, comprising VKK Standardkessel Köthen GmbH, VKK Standardkessel Service Köthen GmbH, VKK Standardkessel Verwaltung Köthen GmbH, Dampferzeuger-Rohrleitungsbau GmbH and PCE GmbH was originally acquired by Getec Group in 2018. Under Getec’s ownership, the boiler manufacturer, with physical presence in Kothen, Duisbourg and Lichtentanne, has undergone significant reorganisation, restructuring, and strategic positioning over the past five years, positioning VKK Group as a leading and innovative player in the German industrial boiler market.

Coming from the still famous story of Standardkessel boilers, the group of companies nowadays known as VKK Group, is a specialist in the design and manufacture of industrial boilers for the energy, food, chemical and other diverse industries. VKK Group also offers a wide range of services including engineering, installation of turnkey projects, monitoring and maintenance of equipment. The company has developed an expertise in high power boilers that gives it a strong competitive advantage in the industrial boiler market in Germany.

“With the takeover by Babcock Wanson Group, VKK Group will benefit from a strong and highly respected European specialist to pursue its growth trajectory” states Volker Schulz, chairman of the advisory board. “VKK Group can look ahead with optimism and confidence to its next step of development.”

 Babcock Wanson Group is pleased to make this strategic move and lay the foundation for its expansion into Germany, being one of the largest markets for industrial boilers, leveraging the production site in Kothen and the service site in Duisbourg.

“We are thrilled to welcome VKK Group to our journey of growth,” remarks Cyril Fournier-Montgieux, Chairman of Babcock Wanson Group. “VKK’s stellar reputation and expertise in industrial boilers make it the perfect gateway for our entry into Germany, enabling us to continue supporting our industrial clients in their energy transition and decarbonisation efforts.”

The Babcock Wanson Group intends to leverage the expertise of the VKK Group’s management and existing teams to bring to local customers the most energy and cost efficient solutions for their boiler room needs. This acquisition thereof represents a mutually beneficial arrangement, facilitating the integration of VKK’s expertise in high power boilers across all of Babcock Wanson’s European subsidiaries while harnessing its production capabilities. In parallel, VKK will benefit from Babcock Wanson Group’s advanced portfolio of technologies, including Parat’s high-voltage electric boilers, thereby contributing to the decarbonisation efforts within the industrial sector.

Supported by its main shareholder, Kartesia, Babcock Wanson Group remains committed to expansion and aims to cement its position as the European leader in decarbonisation solutions for industrial processes.

For information on Babcock Wanson, go to www.babcock-wanson.com

Faced with an ever-evolving technology landscape, maintenance professionals are faced with a dizzying array of Computerised Maintenance Management Software (CMMS) choices. The challenge is not finding a CMMS, but finding one that truly meets the unique needs of your operation. The key? Start with a solid strategy.

Plan your CMMS journey: Essential first steps

Before diving into the sea of CMMS options, it's important for maintenance managers to lay the groundwork. This means taking a step back to assess your team's specific needs, workflows and long-term goals. What pain points do you want to address? What processes can be streamlined? How can a CMMS align with your company's growth trajectory? Answering these questions will provide a clear direction and avoid the common pitfall of being swayed by flashy features that don't necessarily solve your core problems.

 The MaintMaster advantage: Simplicity, flexibility and expertise

Once you have defined your selection criteria, MaintMaster offers remarkable qualities such as ease of use and the ability to adapt to changing requirements. It excels in areas often overlooked by others. The ease of reporting jobs via QR codes and mobile phones is not just a feature - it is the gateway to ensuring accuracy and comprehensive data collection, and importantly, promoting HSE compliance. By making incident and near-miss reporting accessible on the shop floor, hazards can be addressed promptly, driving continuous improvement in your safety culture.

Theis ease of use extends to all aspects of the system, making it accessible to all team members. As your needs evolve, the flexibility of the system ensures it evolves with you, providing a sustainable, long-term solution. Plus, with zero-coding customisation, you can easily adapt MaintMaster to your unique workflows and processes without relying on expensive developers or IT resources. This is in line with the PAS 55 guidelines on asset management, which emphasise the importance of tailoring tools to optimise organisational performance.

So, features are cool, but remember what we said before: they're not the whole story, right? Well, let us tell you that MaintMaster has even more to offer. It's not just a system, it's a partnership with experienced experts who have a deep understanding of maintenance workflows. This expertise is invaluable in ensuring that MaintMaster not only manages maintenance tasks efficiently, but also improves them through best practice and industry knowledge. As your operational needs change, MaintMaster's scalability means that your CMMS is dynamically, ready to support your growth and adapt to new challenges to ensure a sustainable and future-proof maintenance strategy.

Discover MaintMaster: Your partner for maintenance excellence

Your journey to the perfect CMMS starts with understanding your needs and ends with a system that meets them. When you're ready to explore how MaintMaster can fit into your well-researched plan and improve your maintenance operations, get in touch. Let your search for the ideal CMMS end with a solution that not only meets, but exceeds your expectations.

https://maintmaster.com/

Contact:

MaintMaster Systems Ltd

Plexal, 14 East Bay Lane

Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park,

E15 2GW London, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 749 332 8466   E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Membership options will continue to evolve through 2024 as ICML restructures its individual and organizational benefits to take advantage of new content and partnership opportunities.

 The International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML) announces a major expansion of its Associate Membership package for individual practitioners. Effective immediately, Associate Members can now enjoy discounts on their ICML certification exams, retakes, and recertifications. Each member will also receive a one-year subscription to ICML’s eLibrary that houses a growing catalog of essential lubrication-related books and media resources. And, lastly, Associate Membership is now open to non-certified professionals who want to be a part of ICML’s worldwide initiatives.

“This exciting expansion of our Associate Membership package is in keeping with ICML’s mission that supports hard-working lubrication and oil analysis practitioners with opportunities for educational and professional development,” said Executive Director Leslie Fish. “Individual membership will continue enabling practitioners everywhere to have a personal stake in ICML’s mission, now even more so with these new enhancements.”

First-time Associates will also receive a free digital download of ICML 55.0, "Optimized Lubrication of Mechanical Physical Assets Overview," which serves as the executive summary of the seminal ICML 55^® global standard for lubricated asset management.

The Associate Member package price has been revised to reflect these new initiatives. At $160/year (certified) or $195/year (non-certified)—plus a one-time processing fee for first year—the revised pricing is in line with those of other nonprofit organizations in the M&R space. A three-year option remains available for ICML-certified practitioners, conveniently aligning with recertification cycles.

“Overall, these changes for individual members are aimed at improving our ability to offer the kinds of quality benefits, resources, and experiences that practitioners have come to expect from ICML,” said Marketing Manager Paul Hiller. “These changes will make it possible for us to sustain significant, useful offerings for all, while at the same time positioning ICML for future plans.”

ICML’s Associate Member application process itself remains unchanged for now. Individual applicants will still complete a PDF form and submit it for confirmation. Each new Associate will be assigned a unique membership number that will enable access to the exam discounts and to the eLibrary portal.

Corporate memberships—currently the Full, Supporting, and Affiliate packages—will be retooled in the coming months to utilize the expanded Associate offerings. A full description of membership packages, complete with application links, can be found on ICML’s Membership web page.

Current Associate Members will not be automatically grandfathered into the new plan. These individuals will have the option to complete their current terms on the previous plan or to upgrade to the new, enhanced plan.

The Membership Role of ICML’s eLibrary

ICML’s new eLibrary, hosted by River Publishers, is expected to be a massive draw for Associate Members. Accessible anytime and anywhere, the eLibrary is a centralized, vendor-neutral, education portal for members and non-members. It comprises a growing catalog of digital content specifically designed and curated for career advancement, from emerging topics to principles and fundamentals that will help practitioners further their knowledge.

Members will be able to submit their own works to be considered for publication in the eLibrary.

The eLibrary interface allows subscribers to read, highlight, take notes, and search over 10,000 pages of content. Furthermore, subscribers can make downloadable purchases of any eLibrary book.

Titles already include the complete ICML 55 Standard series. Books, journal articles, guides, podcasts, and other content introduced to the eLibrary during the membership term are added to existing subscriptions at no extra cost.

Valued at $250/year for non-members, ICML Associates will find eLibrary subscription already built into their $160 or $195 membership fee, which is considerably less than the non-member subscription rate.

“Members will have access to the entire ICML 55 series plus everything else that will constantly be added to the eLibrary—all for an annual Associate Membership fee that is less than a single ICML 55.2 book alone,” notes Hiller. “We really, really want lubrication professionals to have access to this digital library that will become a massive resource of published media content.”

For decades, leading packagers and industrial users have insisted upon AERZEN compressor stages and packaged units. Why? Because with their exceptional versatility these machines are the ideal solution for every application. Originally designed for compressing air, nitrogen and neutral gases, these all-round geniuses are also developing their strengths in use with special gases, in vacuum operation and in inlet pressure applications. Direct and belt-driven, dry running and classified oil-free to class 0 or with oil injection, with or without pre-inlet. Let’s put it this way: AERZEN has the right compressor for every application.

Screw compressors are perforce twin-shaft rotating lobe machines. They work on the positive displacement principle with internal compression and are so-called compulsive conveyors. This applies for all screw compressors. However, what makes AERZEN screw compressors special is that we have made reliability, ease of maintenance, user-friendliness, flexibility and energy efficiency a matter of principle. The result is a range of unique design features.

Compared to standard compressors they save a considerable amount of energy. And what is the ultimate in compressor technology? It is AERZEN's new E-compressors. With an increase in efficiency of around 6% they free up even more valuable potential.”

Overview

In a collaborative effort with a prominent global copper smelting operation, IGS (Integrated Global Services) successfully executed a groundbreaking project aimed at enhancing the reliability and longevity of a waste heat boiler.

The project not only showcased the technical capabilities of IGS but also delivered substantial commercial benefits to the plant.

Commercial Benefit Analysis

Avoided Downtime and Replacement Costs

Traditionally, the copper smelter plant faced significant challenges with the waste heat boiler, experiencing only 11 to 13 months of service life for critical panels. This led to extensive downtime, high replacement costs, and logistical challenges, particularly exacerbated by supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 situation.

IGS intervened with a high velocity thermal spray (HVTS) cladding solution, aiming to extend the intervals between turnarounds. The successful application resulted in a remarkable avoidance of downtime and replacement costs, contributing significantly to the project’s return on investment.

Identification of Issues and Initial Contact

The copper smelter plant in Chile, facing corrosion and erosion issues in their waste heat boiler, had historically resorted to panel replacements, single tube replacement and weld build-up strategies.

The turning point occurred when a representative came across another waste heat boiler reliability project delivered by IGS and approached the company seeking alternative solutions. This led to a comprehensive technical presentation to the plant’s maintenance and commercial teams.

Contract Award and Application

Following successful presentations and discussions, IGS secured a contract for a 70-square-meter application of their proprietary HVTS high-nobility alloy. The application took place in a laydown yard in October 2022, targeting critical areas of the waste heat boiler was applied.

Post-Application Inspection

The waste heat boiler ran continuously until the end of September 2023. In August, anticipating an outage, IGS mobilized an inspection crew, including local representatives from Chile. Despite a tight five-hour window, the team conducted a thorough inspection using magnetic lift-off (MLO) gauge testing. The results were overwhelmingly positive, with the cladding exhibiting no degradation after 11.5 months of service. Kevin Phillips, who has overseen both the project and inspection, described the cladding as in-applied condition.

“In all my years as a technical solutions partner, I have never had a client hug me. They were so pleased with the outcome!”, said Kevin.

Future Collaborations and Market Expansion

The success of the waste heat boiler project paved the way for potential collaborations on other critical components within the copper smelter. Converter hoods, copper cooling plates, and other identified assets are now under consideration for IGS solutions. The client’s satisfaction has positioned IGS as a trusted partner.

Conclusion

The IGS project on the waste heat boiler at the copper smelter stands as a testament to the company’s innovative solutions, delivering both commercial benefits and engineering excellence. This case study exemplifies how IGS’s proactive approach and proven solutions can transform operational challenges into opportunities for extended asset life and enhanced productivity.

Integrated Global Services, IGS - Your Efficiency & Reliability Partner