Leading up to the Asset Performance 4.0 hybrid Conference and Exhibition, BEMAS, the Belgian Maintenance Association, is organising a hackathon. The purpose of a hackathon is to have an asset owner define a challenge in operations or maintenance. Interested individuals or solution providers then try to formulate a solution using digital tools, such as predictive analytics, AI, IoT… 

On October 27, Dr. Alexander Broos, Director of the  VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association) will delight all visitors of the Asset Performance 4.0 Conference with a keynote presentation on the importance of manufacturing technology specifications and the umati community’s role in standardising data communication.

Leading up to the conference, he already shared with us his fascinating insights on the rapidly changing world of industrial and manufacturing technology and how data transactions can be managed effectively in the age of industry 4.0.

Babcock Wanson, a leading player in the design and maintenance of industrial boiler rooms, has completed its first acquisition and strengthened its position in the UK with the purchase of Steam Plant Engineering (SPE), a leader in the field of industrial boiler services. The acquisition has been made thanks to the support of Kartesia, which recently became its new majority shareholder. This acquisition fully reflects the ambition and objectives of the Babcock Wanson Group to become the pan-European leader in the industrial boiler services industry by consolidating the key players in the market.

The special measures and precautions required in hazardous work environments where a potential fire or explosion could occur means various equipment and tools must be specifically designed so they don't contribute to an event that could lead to injury, loss of life and damage to facilities.

Across Europe, companies working in such potentially explosive environments as the oil and gas sector, flour mills, mining operations and many more are legally compelled to use ATEX-rated equipment so that the risks are minimised and staff are kept safe. These machines, devices and tools must be robust enough to work in all kinds of challenging environments, including those with low and high ambient temperatures, and they typically won't need to be dismantled and undergo maintenance as often as other types of equipment.

ScottishPower, the first integrated energy company in the UK to generate 100% green electricity, has partnered with Siemens Managed Applications and Services (MAS), the nationally-accredited meter operator arm of the global technology company, to install smart meters across its 450,000-strong customer base in northern England.

 Covering the North-West, North-East and Yorkshire, the project, negotiated without face-to-face meetings due to Covid-19 restrictions, will see smart meter installations begin in August.

With construction sites given the green light to go back to work, it’s never been more important for those in charge of planning a site office to get things right, especially as social distancing and hygiene measures now play a vital role in any successful planning.

From health and safety through to storage, plans must be comprehensive and have contingencies factored in to ensure productivity is maintained and sites stay open during a global pandemic.

To put things in simpler terms, a site’s office must offer a combination of safety, security, amenity, and visibility. So, in today’s article, we’re going to cover the most important things to consider when planning a site office.

Now that we’re in the process of exiting what is hopefully the final COVID-19 lockdown in the UK, the government is beginning to turn its attention to areas that have been neglected when dealing with the pandemic. One such area is the building of more affordable housing.

There are a number of complex factors at play when it comes to the provision of affordable housing, from planning and development to budgeting. But one surprise way in which the UK could pave the way for more affordable housing is through an oil to gas conversion.  Here, we explore how LPG is assisting in the provision of affordable housing for UK buyers and why it could be an open-goal for the sector and government in the desire to hit targets and meet housing demands.

Vietnam’s leading tech firm, FPT Software, today announces its investment in global IT services provider Intertec International (Intertec), aiming to strengthen its North American nearshore delivery capabilities.

With this strategic investment, FPT Software and especially its North America subsidiary, FPT USA Corp., can secure access to Intertec’s nearshore technology delivery centres in Costa Rica and Colombia and tap into Intertec’s wealth of operational experience in Latin America (LATAM). This deal enables FPT Software to address its clients’ increasing demand for Agile software engineering and bridge the time zone differences between its IT professionals and customers.

Pipeline operators and specialty hot tapping service companies have a more precise and safer solution in pipeline intervention solutions. The newly engineered Enerpac LSA Line Stop Actuator Series provides cost-effective isolation of pipelines to allow for maintenance and modifications, avoiding interruption of service and costly shutdowns. Used in conjunction with the Enerpac hot tapping range, the LSA Series applications include tie-ins and line bypasses, for example. 

The Water Jetting Association, the member organisation for the water jetting industry in the UK, has become a member of the European Water Jetting Institute.

The WJA is now looking forward to working with other members of the EWJI to further shared aims that include continuously improving the safety and technical capabilities of water jetting processes.

WJA Director David Kennedy said: “We’re very pleased to have joined the EWJI. Sharing experiences and expertise and working together to promote water jetting must be a good thing for our industry.