Babcock Wanson Group is entering a new chapter in its growth journey, appointing Geoffroy Durandet as its new Chief Executive Officer. This appointment reflects Babcock Wanson Group's determination to accelerate the execution of its strategy and embark on a decisive new phase of its development.

Geoffroy brings to the group deep expertise in managing European industrial and services businesses, a proven track record as a leader, and a recognised ability to steer complex organisations through sustained periods of growth and transformation.

After an early career in the energy industry with Engie then in management consulting with McKinsey&Company, Geoffroy spent over a decade with United Technologies in leadership positions, notably as CEO of Otis France. He subsequently joined Wittur, an industrial portfolio company of Bain Capital, as CEO Europe. Recently Geoffroy was Partner and Operating Partner with Montagu Private Equity, working closely with management teams on the transformation and growth acceleration of portfolio companies.

His arrival is driven by a clear ambition: to give fresh momentum to Babcock Wanson Group's transformation towards the electrification and decarbonisation solutions for its customers, a structuring pillar of its long-term trajectory, and to bring its teams together within a unified and complementary European group, strengthening Babcock Wanson Group’s offering in solutions and services for customers’ benefit.

This change reflects the Group's ambition for the future and rests on unwavering confidence in its teams, values and customers. At this time, the Board expresses its wishes to thank Anne Brifault for her services as an interim CEO over the past few months.

Jerome Losson, Partner at Ambienta sgr and Chair of Babcock Wanson’s Supervisory Board added: “Geoffroy is a world-class leader, who will bring to the Group a distinctive blend of vision and experience, and we are delighted to welcome him to the role. Babcock Wanson’s legacy of sustainable innovation, the quality of its customer relationships, and the commitment of its employees across Europe will help drive the growth of this unique industrial champion."

This communication is made under the authority of the board of directors of Babcock Wanson Group. 

For further information on Babcock Wanson Group, visit www.babcock-wanson-group.com

Many data centres are increasing asset density to support growing demand for computational power, driven by AI and Internet of Things-applications. How are data centres managing all these physical assets?

Higher data centre asset densities

More apps, more connectivity. Billions of people talking to each other via technology, joined by trillions of things. All that interaction needs computation. Add to that artificial intelligence algorithms that need gigantic, and growing, computational power. These trends have clear consequences for data centre infrastructure. They require more cables. More servers. More ports. Higher density racks. And larger server rooms in bigger data centres.

“How to maintain efficiency for moves, adds and changes on so many assets? That is a question we regularly hear when talking to data centre managers”, said Linda Chochoy, Product Manager Market Development at Brady Corporation, a supplier of automated identification and data capture solutions. “How to keep physical asset audits feasible? How to keep the data centre’s real world, tangible assets aligned with its DCIM or core asset databases?”

“A great, tried and tested way to manage overwhelming and growing numbers of assets is automation with machine readable serial numbers or barcodes. When scanned, they instantly generate digital data and can connect a specific physical asset to the right digital record. The barcode’s advanced siblings, the datamatrix and QR-code, are even better suited for very high density asset environments. They allow data parsing, and enable multiple, automated and fast applications based on the same code. If that is not yet fast enough however, if you need asset identification hyperspeed, label-integrated UHF RFID technology is the nec plus ultra.” 

Tiny QR or datamatrix codes

“The advantage of barcodes is that, when scanned, they instantly generate a digital data trail. But let’s face the truth: barcodes have been around since the 1960’s. In data centres, they take too much space, require labels that are too large, and as a result they can hardly be used to identify each server port separately. Due to their size, they also need considerable cable flag labels to maintain code legibility. All those large flags can create a big mess, certainly in high density racking.”

“Enter the QR-code or industrial data matrix code. Smaller, able to include more information, these codes can be printed in millimeters while maintaining scanner readability. They can fit tiny cable flags and every port in high density servers, routers and switches.”

“To read these codes, classic retail scanners do not suffice. They require high accuracy image capture devices that can include near-field and far-field technology, or a combination of both. Advanced Linux-based scanners exist that feature native JavaScript to enable hundreds of custom, user-defined applications. To create labels for these applications, using tiny, high-resolution datamatrix and QR-codes, high accuracy and high precision label printers are needed that can print 203 or even 600 dots per inch (DPI). Printers can be set up to print asset codes straight from your systems as a QR- or datamatrix code on reliable, machine readable labels.”

The importance of tag and label reliability

Some data centre managers have become wary of using labels because of negative experiences. Labels take time to create and apply, and when they are about to pay off, lower quality labels can be found at the bottom of the server rack.

“Labels that cannot stay attached serve no purpose at all. A data centre is a challenging environment that requires professional, quality labels. Server-generated heat is detrimental to lesser label adhesives. In addition, curved cable surfaces require specialised label materials. Brady has researched and developed a range of professional labels made out of nylon cloth and advanced polymers. These labels can keep all data centre cables and components identified. Laboratory-testing, using internationally accepted FINAT- and ASTM-methods indicate they stay attached and remain legible for up to 10 years in data centre environments. That’s more than the lifecycle of most data centre assets.”

5 outcomes for well identified data centres

A well-identified data centre has every cable identified, including all fibre, UTP, power and other utility cables. All server, router and switch ports will also have a unique, coded identity. This enables DCIM or system updates with just two 1 second code scans: scan cable, scan port.

“Well-identified data centres enable 5 considerable benefits:

• More accurate and faster moves, adds and changes (MACs), through faster identification of the right assets, with greatly reduced risk of unplugging the wrong cable
• Faster troubleshooting with clear identification on every cable and asset
• Faster rack and server room audits by scanning physical assets against digital infrastructure records or DCIM-data
• Faster, feasible data centre inventory checks
• More smoothless server rack commissioning and decommissioning

Next to cable and port identification, many higher tier data centres also label transformers, pipes and other infrastructure to increase the speed and precision of a wider range of interventions that may be required to protect uptime and high service levels.”

RFID: a physical asset radar

To achieve even higher asset identification speed, RFID technology is the top of the line. Instead of scanning each asset’s code, RFID readers will detect all assets in range in a single scan. Passive, UHF RFID labels do not require batteries and feature thin, integrated antennas that provide up to 15 metres read range in open spaces.

“Brady offers specialised on-metal RFID labels that circumvent known radiosignal distortion from metal surfaces. Read range in datacentres is about 3-4 metres, more than enough to very quickly confirm the presence of labelled assets in multiple server racks in a couple of seconds.”

“The technology works like radar, in a sense that the labels bounce off radiosignals emitted from UHF RFID readers. A portable RFID reader enables users to select a detected asset’s ID number on-screen and to write to that tag or to its record. 

Through signal strength variation detection, it is even possible to home in on a selected asset with on-board visuals and sounds.”

“There is more. If fixed RFID readers are placed at server room entrances, every labelled asset moving in or out can be detected automatically, along with its movement direction. This makes it possible for data centres to automatically update server room inventory lists, to sound a buzzer or send a text message when the wrong asset moves in or out, and to enable server room inventory checks and audits in a minimum of time.”

Webinar: Datacenter lifecycle identification

How to optimally support efficiency goals across the data centre life cycle? Discover the role of reliable identification in data centre construction, commissioning, hand-over and lifecycle operations.

Topics:

• Design & build: support compliance, high durability and smart traceability
• Commissioning: enable high speed execution
• Handover: quickly reconcile physical asset labels with digital records
• Lifecycle operations: protect uptime and facility ROI
• Fill out the form and get your free recording of the data centre identification and traceability webinar.

Get the webinar recording now >>

Brady Corporation

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.brady.co.uk

Linda Chochoy works as Product Manager Market Development for Brady Europe, Middle East and Africa. She analyses customer needs, interviews data centre managers, cable harness production managers and electronics production managers to capture emerging business needs and support Brady’s product development.

Shrewsbury-based Borger has completed the installation of a new pump and macerating system for a processing plant that converts food waste into nutrient-rich compost.

Featuring an auger, grinder and rotary lobe pump, the highly robust Borger system methodically moves and reduces acidic food waste, ready for composting.

Designed with Borger’s Maintenance-In-Place for ease of servicing, the reliability of the custom-built system greatly reduces downtime.

By macerating the solids so efficiently, the Borger Multicrusher homogenises food waste to help facilitate the most effective pumping process.

In addition to composting, Borger’s pumps and macerators are widely used at biogas/AD plants, including the award-winning Creed Integrated Waste Management Facility on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. Here, a Borger Multicrusher chops a 7-cubic tonne batch (per shift) of waste salmon. The technology guarantees the shred of waste salmon to meet stringent regulations for the safe use of digestate as a renewable fertiliser, by cutting the waste to the required maximum particle size of 12mm.

Also, at three Singleton Birch biogas plants in Northern Lincolnshire, England, a total of four Borger rotary lobe pumps are an integral part of the AD process that utilises maize, sugar beet and chicken litter as its feedstock.

Borger UK

01902 798 977

www.boerger.com

As AI workloads, cloud demand and rack densities increase, cooling is becoming one of the most critical elements of data centre performance. High-density computing environments generate more heat in a smaller footprint, driving greater use of advanced liquid cooling and other high-capacity thermal-management systems. These technologies can support demanding workloads, but they also reduce the margin for error.

In this environment, cooling resilience cannot begin at the point of failure. It must start earlier, with the ability to identify small changes before they develop into a wider operational issue.

The margin for cooling disruption is shrinking

Traditional data centres often benefited from a degree of thermal buffer. Lower rack densities and large volumes of conditioned air could provide teams with more time to respond when cooling performance began to decline.

High-density AI environments are different. Greater heat loads mean temperatures can rise more quickly if cooling capacity is reduced. A minor loss of performance that may once have developed gradually can now place equipment, uptime and service-level commitments at risk much sooner.

This changes the role of refrigerant leak detection. Rather than treating detection solely as a compliance or safety requirement, design and engineering teams increasingly need to consider it as part of the facility’s wider cooling-resilience strategy.

Cooling disruption can begin before an alarm

Refrigerant leaks are not always sudden or immediately visible. A small leak can develop gradually at a joint, valve, seal or other component, allowing the system’s refrigerant charge to decline over time.

Initially, the cooling system may compensate. Compressors may run for longer, controls may adjust and temperature set points may continue to be maintained. From an operational perspective, the system can appear to be functioning normally even though its performance has begun to change.

As refrigerant levels continue to fall, cooling equipment may work harder to maintain the required output. This can contribute to increased energy use, place additional strain on system components and gradually reduce the cooling capacity available to the facility. In a high-density environment, continued refrigerant loss may eventually lead to a low-pressure trip or an inability to meet the thermal load. By that point, the opportunity for planned intervention may have narrowed considerably.

The challenge is that detection systems intended primarily to identify higher refrigerant concentrations may not alert teams during the earliest stages of a leak. A critical alarm can confirm that action is required, but it may not provide the earliest opportunity to respond.

Early detection should begin at the design stage

Cooling resilience is strengthened when refrigerant detection is considered during system design rather than added late in the project. Design teams can identify likely leak points, plan suitable sampling locations and determine how detection information will connect with building-management or facility-monitoring systems. Aspirated sampling pipework can also be incorporated while plant layouts, service routes and access requirements are still being developed.

This early consideration is particularly important in large or complex cooling installations, where multiple pieces of equipment may need to be monitored across separate plant areas. The location of sampling 

points can influence how quickly a developing leak is detected and how easily teams can identify its likely source.

During commissioning, high-sensitivity detection can provide another layer of visibility. It can help engineering teams identify low-level refrigerant presence, installation issues or emerging leaks before the cooling infrastructure is handed over to the operator.

Once the facility is live, the same system can support a more proactive maintenance strategy by showing where refrigerant is being detected and how readings are changing over time. This gives teams an opportunity to investigate while cooling equipment is still operating, rather than waiting for a fault, pressure trip or loss of capacity.

How aspirated refrigerant detection supports earlier visibility

Aspirated refrigerant detection continuously draws air from multiple sampling locations back to a central sensor for analysis. This allows several plant areas or potential leak points to be monitored from one system while still providing zone-specific information. Sampling points can be positioned close to chillers, compressors, valves and other areas where refrigerant leaks may develop.

The Bacharach® Multi-Zone gas monitor from MSA Safety uses infrared sensing technology to detect supported refrigerants at concentrations as low as 1 ppm. A single monitor can sequentially sample up to 16 zones, giving design, commissioning and maintenance teams greater visibility across complex cooling infrastructure.

This high-sensitivity approach can help identify low-level refrigerant presence before it develops into a more significant loss of charge. When detection information is connected to wider monitoring and alerting systems, teams can also review readings remotely, examine trends and prioritise investigation according to the location and development of an event. The value is not simply in generating another alarm. It is in providing actionable information earlier in the progression of a leak.

Cooling resilience starts before failure

As computing densities rise, data centres have less tolerance for unnoticed cooling degradation. A critical alarm may indicate that cooling performance is already at risk. Early leak detection provides an opportunity to act sooner, while the system is still operating and before a low-level issue becomes a wider cooling disruption.

By integrating high-sensitivity refrigerant detection into design, commissioning and maintenance strategies, data centre teams can gain better visibility of emerging risk and take a more proactive approach to protecting cooling performance and uptime.

Explore how the Bacharach Multi-Zone gas monitor can support earlier refrigerant leak detection across critical data centre cooling infrastructure. Contact MSA Safety to discuss your application with a refrigerant-detection specialist.

*Bacharach is a trademark of MSA Technology, LLC, registered in the United States and other countries and regions. Trademark wording and designation should be confirmed by MSA before publication.

www.msasafety.com

EXAIR's new Model 5930 Air Holster provides a simple and convenient way to keep Safety Air Guns secure and within easy reach at workstations throughout a facility. Designed to give operators a designated location for their air gun when it is not in use, the Air Holster helps prevent misplaced tools while keeping work areas organized and efficient. Its practical design makes it an ideal addition to manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, and other industrial workstations where Safety Air Guns are frequently used.

 The Air Holster attaches securely to any strong magnetic surface, allowing operators to quickly access tools throughout the workday. Featuring a full-length front opening, longer tools and Air Guns can be easily retrieved and replaced after use. The Air Holster provides durable storage for busy industrial environments and offers another simple way to improve organization and efficiency around machines like mills, lathes, cutoff saws, and more.

The Air Holster joins EXAIR's growing selection of accessories designed to make Safety Air Guns even more versatile and convenient. EXAIR offers extension pipes to provide additional reach into difficult or remote areas, Chip Shields to help protect operators from flying debris, flexible Stay Set Hoses for applications requiring frequent positioning, and service kits and replacement parts to keep Safety Air Guns performing effectively. The Air Holster is priced at $38. https://exair.co/190-holster

www.exair.com

The Tab-IND series complements the Pepperl+Fuchs enterprise mobility portfolio with rugged industrial tablet solutions for intralogistics, the manufacturing and automotive industries, and field applications.

Pepperl+Fuchs, specialist for enterprise mobility solutions for industrial hazardous and non-hazardous areas, is introducing its new Tab-IND series of tablets with 8 and 10-inch displays for industrial use, leveraging its expertise in hazardous areas requirements. The rugged devices are protected against dust and spray water according to IP65.

The Tab-IND series is designed for applications in industrial environments where mobile devices are subjected to harsh conditions and where a long service life and flexible customization options are required – such as in intralogistics, manufacturing, or the automotive industry. The Tab-IND’s extensive range of accessories and available interfaces allow the tablet to be customized for specific application needs.

The tablets ship with Windows 11 or Android 15 (10-inch model only), but are also available with a ThinClient. Bright displays with up to 700 cd/m², stylus and glove support, and an operating temperature range of -20 °C to +50 °C enable use in harsh industrial and outdoor environments. All variants feature a 13-megapixel main camera. The Windows models are additionally equipped with a 13-megapixel front camera, while the Android version features a 5-megapixel front camera.

Connectivity is ensured by the latest mobile and communication standards such as Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 BLE, 5G, or LTE. A front-facing NFC module supports, among other things, access and identity controls for restricted areas. In addition, Push-to-Talk over Cellular enables fast and easy voice communication for groups over cellular networks, while a freely programmable button and a fingerprint sensor ensure flexible use and secure authentication.

With a quad-core processor, up to 16 GB of RAM, and up to 256 GB of internal storage, the tablets are ideally equipped for modern augmented reality and extended reality applications. The removable battery with a capacity of 37.2 Wh provides up to 14 hours of runtime. Weighing just over 500 grams (8-inch) or just over 800 grams (10-inch), the tablets are also slim and lightweight.

SmartBacks expand the range of functions

To expand the Tab-IND series, Pepperl+Fuchs offers various SmartBacks. These are attached to the back of the tablets and expand the range of functions depending on the application. Additional batteries to extend runtime or special mounts can also be added as SmartBacks to the back of the device. Custom extensions based on SmartBack technology are also possible, such as for communication interfaces like Industrial Ethernet or IO-Link.

Among other things, a scanner frame is available for barcode scanning, for tracking shipments, or for picking materials or goods to support efficient intra- and transport logistics processes.

Additional accessory solutions are available, such as vehicle mounts, anti-theft devices, rugged frames for increased durability, charging stations with multiple charging bays, or a mount/single bay. The devices are charged via durable contacts on the underside, which are particularly long-lasting. An IO dock for use with external devices and displays is also available, making the tablet an alternative to a stationary office PC.

Kiosk terminals for industrial environments

As additional variants, Pepperl+Fuchs offers two kiosk terminals in 15-inch and 22-inch display sizes. They are suitable, for example, for access control, as information displays, or for digital workflow interactions. Both sizes are equipped with Android 15, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of internal storage, and a front-facing NFC module. The 22-inch terminal features a 13-megapixel front camera, while an optional 5-megapixel front camera is available for the 15-inch terminal.

European development and local expertise

The new devices complement the existing ultra-ruggedized portfolio of tablets from the Tab-Ex® series and smartphones from the Smart-Ex® series for hazardous areas. Development and design incorporated Pepperl+Fuchs’ expertise as a global market leader and trusted advisor for the most demanding solutions and applications in hazardous areas, leveraging global supply chains.

Pepperl+Fuchs places special emphasis on European development and design to address the specific challenges faced by industrial companies. This means that companies can not only choose between different display sizes but also expect long-term device availability (at least five years) and software updates.

True to the motto “Global but Local,” Pepperl+Fuchs, as a family-owned German company, offers its customers comprehensive service through its local branches in the respective local language. Especially for companies that use tablets in both hazardous areas and simply harsh environments, it is advantageous to be able to source all devices from a single provider.

A strong partner for every task

With Pepperl+Fuchs, customers benefit from a comprehensive portfolio and years of experience, not just in hazardous areas. Mobile devices, HMI solutions, and a wide range of process-oriented devices and sensors come together perfectly to form a broad offering for any automation and digitalization requirements. Mobile workers can integrate additional solution packages from a single source, such as Pepperl+Fuchs data collection, measurement, and monitoring devices, headsets, or Auto-ID.

https://www.pepperl-fuchs.com/

The maintenance and reliability sector has a knowledge problem more than a technology problem. As experienced engineers retire, they take decades of tacit know-how with them - the sound a failing bearing makes, the fault pattern that never shows up in a manual. No software licence replaces that overnight, and the industry doesn't have years to work out how to capture it.

That's why AI in enterprise asset management (EAM) needs to mean something more specific than a chatbot bolted onto existing software. The real opportunity is what Ultimo calls digital workers: AI agents built to absorb and apply an organisation's own operational history - not a generic model trained on the internet, but one that learns from a site's actual failure modes, work orders and technician judgement calls. That's the difference between AI as a feature and AI as a way of institutionalising expertise before it walks out the door.

Ultimo has been investing heavily here, with digital agents already supporting environment, health and safety management, maintenance planning and maintenance technician roles - with more in development. The goal isn't to replace engineers; it's to make their knowledge an asset the organisation keeps, rather than one person's memory.

This is exactly the conversation Ultimo will be having at the Mainstream UK Summit in Birmingham this October. Ultimo is an Interaction Partner at the event and will be joined on stage by customer Forth Ports, bringing a practitioner's perspective to the discussion of what this shift means for the sector.

For teams grappling with an ageing workforce and a widening skills gap, this is worth seeing first-hand. Visit the Ultimo stand or catch the Forth Ports session on 20–21 October to find out what "system of intelligence" actually looks like on the plant floor.

Author 

Berend Booms, Head of Enterprise Asset Management Insights at Ultimo

Maintenance teams face a constant challenge: identifying problems before they become failures. While some issues reveal themselves through alarms, leaks, or breakdowns, many develop quietly over time, hidden behind walls, inside equipment, or within hard-to-reach areas. By the time visible symptoms appear, the resulting downtime, repair costs, and operational disruption can be significant.

The Cost of Hidden Problems

Moisture intrusion, corrosion, overheating electrical components, and internal equipment degradation are common examples of issues that can remain undetected during routine inspections. A small water leak behind a wall can eventually lead to structural damage, mold growth, or equipment failure. Similarly, a loose electrical connection may generate excess heat long before it causes an outage or safety incident.

For maintenance professionals, the challenge is not simply fixing problems but finding them early enough to avoid costly consequences and unplanned downtime.

Finding What You Can't See

Modern inspection technologies help maintenance teams move beyond traditional visual checks. Thermal imaging has become a valuable tool for identifying temperature anomalies associated with electrical faults, overloaded circuits, failing components, and insulation or moisture issues. Compact thermal cameras such as the Flir C8 allow technicians to quickly scan equipment and facilities, helping pinpoint areas that require further investigation.

When moisture is suspected, dedicated moisture meters provide additional insight. The Flir MR277 combines thermal imaging and moisture measurement, while the MR59 pinless moisture meter helps assess moisture levels behind surfaces without causing damage. Together, these tools provide a more complete understanding of asset condition before minor issues develop into expensive repairs.

Looking Inside Without Disassembly

Even after a potential problem has been identified, gaining access to the affected area can present another challenge. Disassembling equipment or opening structures for inspection can be time-consuming, disruptive, and costly. 

Inspection cameras and videoscopes offer a practical alternative. Solutions such as the Flir VS80 enable technicians to inspect machinery, ducts, wall cavities, and other confined spaces without extensive dismantling. By providing a direct view inside hard-to-reach areas, inspection cameras help verify findings, reduce troubleshooting time, and improve confidence in maintenance decisions.

A Practical Inspection Workflow

Many organizations are adopting a layered inspection approach. A technician might begin with a thermal scan using a Flir C8 to identify abnormal heat patterns. If water ingress is suspected, a Flir MR277 or MR59 can help verify the presence and extent of moisture. A Flir VS80 can then be used to inspect inside the affected area and confirm the root cause.

Compatible devices can also connect through the METERLiNK® app, enabling data sharing, remote monitoring, and more efficient documentation. This helps teams keep inspection records organized and communicate findings more effectively between the field and the office.

Beyond Individual Tools

The most effective maintenance programs combine multiple sensing technologies. Alongside thermal cameras, moisture meters, and inspection cameras, Flir's portfolio includes electrical test tools, acoustic imaging systems, and fixed monitoring solutions. Together, these technologies help maintenance teams detect issues earlier, make better-informed decisions, and take a more proactive approach to asset management.

Ultimately, the goal is simple: make hidden problems visible before they become costly failures. For organizations focused on reliability, efficiency, and asset longevity, that visibility can make all the difference. Learn more at www.flir.com.

Award strengthens trusted domestic thermal imaging industrial base, critical to defense modernization and uncrewed systems priorities Teledyne FLIR OEM, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), announced it was selected to support the U.S. Army’s Delivering Unmatched Thermal Capability Hastened (DUTCH) initiative, led by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies and the U.S.

Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) C5ISR Center, to enhance next-generation uncooled thermal infrared (IR) sensing for defense applications. The DUTCH initiative is focused on strengthening U.S. thermal sensor capabilities. The program will focus on improving uncooled thermal sensor performance while reducing size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C).

The initiative also emphasizes scaling these technologies for high-volume production to enable future defense programs. Uncooled thermal sensors are essential technologies for a variety of defense applications, including uncrewed aerial systems, loitering munitions, thermal binoculars, and weapons sights. Under the award, Teledyne FLIR OEM will further the development of uncooled thermal imaging technologies and apply its system integration expertise to help drive development and demonstration efforts aligned with U.S. Army modernization priorities.

The work builds on the company’s continued investment in advanced small-pixel pitch uncooled thermal architectures and recent product innovations that scale integration across defense and uncrewed missions. “Teledyne FLIR OEM is proud to contribute to the U.S. Army’s efforts to accelerate next-generation uncooled thermal performance while strengthening a secure, resilient domestic industrial base,” said Paul Clayton, president of Teledyne FLIR OEM. “Our ability to deliver state-of-the-art, NDAA-compliant thermal imaging solutions on time and at scale helps reduce program risk and ensure reliable long-term access for critical defense programs, like Drone Dominance.” The DUTCH initiative aligns with Department of War priorities to strengthen secure microelectronics supply chains and restore domestic manufacturing capacity for mission-critical technologies.

Teledyne FLIR OEM’s role builds on its experience as a U.S.-based non-traditional defense contractor providing high-volume manufacturing and system-level integration for uncooled thermal imaging systems, helping expand a scalable, low-risk domestic supply base for infrared components. “A trusted, scalable, and resilient domestic supply of high-performance thermal imaging camera modules is vital to U.S. national security,” said George Bobb, President and Chief Executive Officer of Teledyne Technologies. “Across Teledyne, we are committed to moving quickly to develop and deliver the critical defense technologies needed by our war fighters.” T

In an ideal world, a cooling tower would reliably deliver its design fluid temperature and flow rate relative to the prevailing ambient conditions indefinitely.

In reality, cooling towers act as natural air scrubbers, removing impurities from the incoming air. Over time, these impurities can accumulate on the heat exchange media. At the same time, water evaporation concentrates dissolved solids, which can lead to scale deposition.

Water flow, airflow and heat exchange surface are the essential ingredients of cooling tower thermal performance. However, these three critical subsystems do not make up the entire cooling tower system.

Managing Airflow

Airflow is generated by fans driven by motors that are either directly connected to the fan or operate through gearboxes or belt drives.

Maintenance of the air-moving equipment should focus on the condition and performance of the fans themselves. Where fan blades are adjustable, blade angles should be checked and correctly set to achieve the required airflow. Gearboxes and belt drives should also be inspected to ensure they are operating correctly, with bearings and gearboxes adequately lubricated in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements.

Regular inspection is essential to identify issues such as worn belts, damaged fan blades, excessive vibration, bearing deterioration or gearbox problems before they affect performance or lead to unplanned downtime.

Heat Exchange Media

The heat exchange media, or fill, should be selected to provide the optimum balance between heat transfer performance and resistance to fouling.

Maintenance should begin with checking the cleanliness and condition of the heat exchange surfaces, while also confirming that the correct type of fill is being used and that it has been installed correctly.

Incorrect fill selection or poor installation can cause the packs to become blocked rapidly, increasing pressure drop and restricting airflow. Poorly fitted fill packs can also allow air to bypass the water through gaps within the pack. This reduces thermal performance and can increase drift rates.

Cleaning and inspection should therefore form a key part of any preventive maintenance programme, particularly where the cooling tower operates in an environment with high levels of airborne contamination or where water quality presents a significant scaling or fouling risk.

Managing Water Flow

The water distribution system is also essential to efficient cooling tower operation. Heat exchange surfaces can only perform effectively when they receive a consistent and evenly distributed flow of water.

Blocked, damaged or incorrectly positioned nozzles can cause an imbalance in water distribution, resulting in variations in wetting rates or even dry areas within the fill. These dry spots reduce the effectiveness of the available heat exchange surface and can significantly affect overall thermal performance. 

Regular inspection and cleaning of distribution pipes, headers and nozzles should therefore be incorporated into the maintenance programme. Any damaged or blocked components should be repaired or replaced promptly to maintain uniform water distribution across the fill.

Beyond Cleaning

While water flow, airflow and heat exchange surface are the essential ingredients of cooling tower thermal performance, the wider system also requires regular inspection and maintenance.

Other important components include:

• Drift eliminators, which minimise the quantity of water droplets carried out of the cooling tower with the exhaust air.
• Air inlet screens and honeycomb panels, which help prevent direct sunlight from entering the tower and reduce the ingress of airborne contamination.
• Access and safety systems, which provide safe access for inspection, cleaning and ongoing maintenance.
• The tower structure and general fabric, which should be inspected to identify corrosion, deterioration, damage and other issues that could affect the integrity or performance of the system.

A Comprehensive Approach to Preventive Maintenance

A comprehensive cooling tower maintenance programme must go beyond cleanliness. Regular inspection, cleaning, servicing and replacement of components not only support safe operation but also help maintain thermal performance and minimise operating costs.

Cooling towers are ultimately maintainable systems made up of a series of interconnected subsystems. Many of these components can be inspected, serviced, repaired or replaced relatively easily and cost-effectively when problems are identified early.

By maintaining airflow, water distribution, heat exchange surfaces and the supporting systems in good condition, cooling towers can continue to operate safely and efficiently for many years.

Preventive maintenance is therefore not simply about keeping a cooling tower clean; it is about maintaining the performance, reliability, safety and longevity of the complete system.

www.dhdcooling.co.uk