LiftEx 2024, the flagship event of the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA), will take place on 16-17^th October 2024 at the new West Hall at Olympia in London.

The free-to-attend show is an essential visit for lifting safety professionals and anyone involved in using or procuring lifting equipment or vital supporting services such as inspection, maintenance and training in industries including Manufacturing, Engineering, Construction, Oil & Gas, Offshore, Logistics, Defence, Utilities and Entertainment.

Few venues around the world can match Olympia for location, atmosphere or versatility – it’s a great central location for a truly global industry.

Gather with industry peers, talk to real people and view for yourself the latest lifting products including hoists, mobile and overhead cranes, steel chains, wire rope, winches, shackles, web slings, rigging, spreader beams, height safety and load monitoring equipment, IT solutions and more.

Boost your knowledge

Crucially, a visit will contribute to improving safety and best practice with advice from experts on the LEEA stand, while free training sessions and presentations will be delivered at the LEEA Accredited Training Scheme (ATS) seminar sessions, held across both days in the show floor theatre.

These will begin with Barrie Mordue, Managing Director of Tensology, conducting a seminar titled: Crane ropes – what the eye can't see, which will lead attendees through a thorough examination of crane ropes and inform them about indicators of internal degradation and MRT as an aid to inspection.

Visitors can learn about safe system fundamentals, equipment application and rescue planning in Working at height and rescue, which will be delivered by Arco’s Training Manager Steve Dawson, Technical Sales Specialist Rosie Webb and Senior Technical Sales Specialist Nerys Knight.

In Know your sling calculations, Elevation Training & Development Ltd Managing Director, Steve Mohammed, and David Middlemiss, Instructor at ETDL, will explain mode factor calculations, types of ton / tonne and sling angles.

In his presentation titled Slinging vs lashing – the critical difference, Andy Cartwright, Technical Manager of Mentor, will look at the common mistakes and assumptions between slinging and lashing, how to read a sling and ratchet strap and what can go wrong if a sling and ratchet get mistaken for each other.

The Importance of pre-use checking equipment seminar will see Geoff Burkill, Training Manager at Carl Stahl, presenting the importance of pre-use checking, legal requirements and practical Inspections.

The role of an Appointed Person and the importance of planning a safe lift session delivered by Matthew Bowden, Lead Trainer at Certex, describes the role of an Appointed Person, the importance of planning a lift safely, and the fundamentals of planning a lift.

The option to attend the ATS Seminar is included as part of your visitor ticket, but you must pre-register for the sessions you wish to attend. Check for details and times at events.leeaint.com/liftex-london-2024/ats-seminar.

A show floor full of lifting innovation

In addition to the seminar theatre, the show floor at Olympia will be packed with exhibitors demonstrating innovations to improve productivity, efficiency and safety. They will include a broad array of lifting equipment solutions from companies such as Atlas Winch & Hoist Services, Britlift, Cromax, George Taylor Lifting Gear, Green Pin (Royal Van Beest), Hird, JD Neuhaus, Lifting Gear UK, LiftKet UK, Miller Weblift, Modulift, RGM Cranes, Reid Lifting, RHC Lifting, Rope and Sling Specialists (RSS) and Worlifts. Visitors interested in materials handling equipment will find, GGR Group, Lift Turn Move (LTM) and Probst.

Chains, ropes and accessories will be featured by companies including Bridon Bekaert, Codipro, Dolezych, JDT, Lift Turn Move, Marlow Ropes, RUD Chains, Pewag, Sahm Splice, Talurit and William Hackett. There will be slings and rigging from Aberdeen Web, Dolezych, Kito Crosby and PMS Industrie.

Exhibitors displaying height safety equipment include Delphini, RidgeGear, SafetyLiftinGear, Safehold, SpanSet, Tiger Lifting and YOKE Industrial Corp. There will be load monitoring equipment from Dynamic Load Monitoring (DLM), Load Monitoring Systems (LMS) and Red Rooster Lifting. A range of IT solutions will be shown from companies including Core Inspection Software, RiConnect, Tele Radio and Villari. Lifting and safety training will be featured on the stands of Carl Stahl and Elevation Training & Development Ltd (ETDL).

Stands featuring logistics lifting solutions include Redtrail and there will be hire solutions from Speedy Hire and subsea technologies from Unique Group. Test machinery can be seen from Staht and Tensology. And, finally, LEEA will have its usual prominent stand for visitors to meet and engage with the Association’s team.

Network at the best LiftEx yet

The leading annual networking event for the lifting industry is set to be the best yet, supported by sponsors including YOKE, the manufacturer of lifting fittings for chain, wire rope and webbing slings; Rope and Sling Specialists, one of the largest independent companies in the field of lifting equipment engineering in the UK; and Headline Sponsor RiConnect Inc, which offers powerful software known as RiConnect, designed to streamline equipment management and ensure regulatory compliance and traceability.

There will be many chances to network with peers and colleagues, not least on the evening of 16 October 2024 – Day One of LiftEx – when the annual LEEA Awards ceremony will be held at the iconic Dorchester hotel. This promises to be the Lifting Industry’s party of the year.

All of this means a visit to LiftEx 2024 offers the perfect chance to gain vital lifting related knowledge and insights, as well as an opportunity to meet LEEA members and discuss ways they can help achieve best lifting practice.

Register now for LiftEx 2024 at events.leeaint.com/liftex-london-2024.

Integrated Global Services (IGS), a leader in industrial surface protection solutions, has been announced as a finalist for the prestigious Gulf Energy Excellence Awards 2024 in the Best Controls, Instrumentation, Automation Technology category. The company's recently launched Tube Tech Convection Section Cleaning Rover has earned recognition for its innovative approach to enhancing efficiency and sustainability in the energy sector.

The Gulf Energy Excellence Awards, celebrating the most innovative and impactful technologies in the energy industry, will take place on October 9, 2024, at The Post Oak Hotel in Houston, Texas. IGS's selection as a finalist alongside other industry leaders underscores the company's commitment to driving technological advancements in the downstream sector.

IGS's Convection Section Cleaning Rover represents a significant leap forward in fired heater maintenance. The system can remove 90-95% of fouling deposits from convection sections, dramatically improving heat transfer efficiency and reducing fuel consumption. This technology not only enhances operational efficiency but also contributes to substantial reductions in CO₂ and NO_x emissions, aligning with the industry's emissions targets.

Al Geraskin, Head of Product Management and Innovation at IGS, commented on this achievement:

"Being recognized as a finalist for the Gulf Energy Excellence Awards is a testament to our team's dedication to innovation and our commitment to solving critical industry challenges. Our Convection Section Cleaning Rover is not just a cleaning tool; it's a comprehensive solution that enhances safety, improves efficiency, and contributes to our clients' environmental goals. This nomination validates our approach to developing technologies that deliver tangible value to the energy sector."

The technology stands out for its ability to access 90-95% of the surface area in complex convection sections, a significant improvement over traditional cleaning methods. Its automated operation enhances safety by reducing the need for manual entry into confined spaces, while its high-definition camera provides valuable data for asset monitoring and maintenance planning.

For more information about IGS and its technologies, please visit www.integratedglobal.com

About Integrated Global Services (IGS): Headquartered in Virginia, U.S., Integrated Global Services (IGS) is an international provider of surface engineering solutions. It executes projects around the world, and has more than 35 years of experience helping customers solve metal wastage and reliability problems in mission-critical equipment.

• Schaeffler invests in expansion of charging infrastructure for e-mobility
• 5,000 additional charging points to be installed by 2030, including 3,000 in Europe
• Expansion of worldwide charging infrastructure as part of sustainability programme
• Start of project with pilots in Herzogenaurach and Schweinfurt

Birmingham, UK | August 14, 2024 | The Motion Technology Company Schaeffler continues to drive forward the expansion of the charging infrastructure at its locations. More than 5,000 additional charging points for electric vehicles are to be constructed worldwide by 2030. These include 3,000 charging points at European locations alone. This measure is part of Schaeffler’s sustainability programme. The locations at Herzogenaurach and Schweinfurt in Germany are acting as pilot projects for the technology and the operator model. Following the successful completion of the test phase, the project will be gradually rolled out in all other regions of the Schaeffler Group.

“Schaeffler stands for sustainability and is committed to e-mobility,” says Andreas Schick, Chief Operating Officer of Schaeffler AG. “We are pursuing the higher-level objective of reducing our CO₂ emissions on a continuous basis. This includes the carbon footprint for individual mobility. Through this project, we will increase Schaeffler’s attractiveness as a sustainable employer and further motivate our workforce to act in an environmentally conscious manner.”

Pilot projects in Herzogenaurach and Schweinfurt
As part of the redevelopment of a parking lot in Herzogenaurach, 40 charging points have been installed, which are initially available for employees without charge. These charging stations are the standard model used at all Schaeffler locations. They provide up to 22 kilowatts of charging capacity per station and are to be operated and maintained by an external partner in the future. The expansion plan for the Herzogenaurach location allows for the construction of a further 245 charging points for employees, company cars and visitors in 2025. In Schweinfurt, the electrical infrastructure will first be expanded to allow the construction of a further 122 charging points. Initial operation is planned for 2025. Here in the UK, the Schaeffler production plant in Sheffield and the Vehicle Lifetime Solutions distribution centre in Hereford have already installed charging points for electric vehicles.

(From left) Dr. Alexander Putz, Plant Manager Schaeffler Herzogenaurach, Andreas Schick, Chief Operating Officer of Schaeffler AG, and Thomas Krämer, Head of the Schaeffler Production System of Schaeffler AG, start the global charging infrastructure project at headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

In Herzogenaurach, 40 new charging points at ten charging stations with an output of up to 22 kilowatts each were created as part of the parking lot redevelopment.

www.schaeffler.com

The first-ever European Union rules to curb methane emissions from the energy sector have become legislation. The new EU Methane Emissions Reduction 2019/942 Ruling means gas, oil and coal industries in Europe must measure, monitor, report and verify their methane emissions and take action to reduce them. The ruling became legislation on 27 May 2024. Why introduce this ruling?

According to the EU’s Green House Gas (GHG) Inventory Report, more than 50% of all direct methane emissions from Europe’s energy sector result from unintentional release into the atmosphere. EU authorities believe this legislation and its focus on LDAR (leak detection and repair) will have a substantial impact on emissions mitigation and contribute towards climate goals. Who does it affect? The new announcement sets out a number of stipulations, such as the requirement for methane leak detection capabilities in: • Upstream oil exploration and production, including all well types • Fossil gas gathering, processing, transmission, distribution and underground storage, including liquefied natural gas terminals • Underground and surface coal mines, including those that are closed or abandoned. How to comply with the legislation A number of timelines are now in place for different types of leak tests as part of a comprehensive LDAR programme.

With the exception of transmission and distribution networks, the ruling expects compressor stations, underground storage facilities, LNG terminals and regulating and metering stations to undertake a Type 1 LDAR survey every four months and a Type 2 survey every eight months. For valve stations the frequency is nine months (Type 1 LDAR) and 18 months (Type 2). In transmission and distribution networks, compressor stations and regulating and metering stations must complete a Type 1 LDAR survey (>16 bar pressure) every four months and a Type 2 survey (>16 bar pressure) every eight months.

For valve stations the frequency is nine months (Type 1 LDAR) and 18 months (Type 2). In addition, regulating and metering stations must perform a Type 2 LDAR (≤16 bar pressure) every nine months, while valve stations must do the same every 21 months. How can FLIR help? Type 1 LDAR surveys seek out larger leaks that have the greatest influence on the environment and generally require more frequent inspection. To help the oil, gas and coal industries undertake Type 1 LDAR surveys and comply with the new legislation, OGI (optical gas imaging) cameras from Teledyne FLIR provide the optimal way for owners, operators and service providers to detect fugitive gas emissions and quantitively measure the size of leaks.

1/2 FLIR OGI cameras have been independently tested and deemed compliant with the new EU Regulation 2019/942, Article 14 sensitivity standard for OGI equipment. The UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) performed the tests, confirming that the FLIR G and GF-series OGI cameras for methane, hydrocarbon and VOC detection are capable of imaging and quantifying (QOGI - quantitative optical gas imaging) a Type 1 leak defined as a minimum detection limit and minimum leak threshold of 17 g/hr. Also available is the new FLIR ADGiLE™ automated solution to detect and locate methane leaks with continuous monitoring and advanced analytics. The system primarily focuses on midstream and high-concentration upstream methane applications. OGI has a clear and fundamental role in the future of methane mitigation across Europe. Teledyne FLIR has been working with the EU for many years to help the industry leverage the latest technology in methane emissions detection and quantification. For more information: https://www.flir.com/discover/industrial/european-union-methane-emissions-reduction-2019942-r uling-maintaining-compliance-requires-quantitative-optical-gas-imaging/

Hi-line Industries, a UK-based leader in the design, manufacture and installation of energy-efficient compressed air purification equipment, is announcing its acquisition by US multinational Ingersoll Rand. Important to note is the assurance of complete customer continuity. Hi-line will continue to build and sell all of its products with no price increases. Steve Smith will also remain as Managing Director to maintain the next-day delivery expectations of customers.

The acquisition, effective from 1 July 2024, marks the start of a new and exciting chapter in the history of Hi-line as a progressive UK manufacturing business. It follows 12 months of intensive negotiations and due diligence. With Steve Smith as the sole owner of Hi-line, funding was always going to be the issue in reaching the next level. Now, with the backing of Ingersoll Rand’s financial might, the Burton-upon-Trent based company can grow quickly to become the market’s number one in compressed air treatment solutions.

To celebrate the bright future that the acquisition promises, Hi-line staged a launch day in July at nearby St George’s Park, home of the Football Association’s national football centre. The football analogy is quite pertinent.

“At the launch day I explained to our staff that the acquisition by Ingersoll Rand was akin to a wealthy investor buying a football club,” says Steve Smith. “The investor recognises potential in the team, invests in the purchase of the club, and provides funding to buy players and grow.”

Among the first results of the Ingersoll Rand investment will be the addition of Industry 4.1 IoT capabilities to all Hi-line controllers by the end of 2024. Another change will see Ingersoll Rand companies gain access to Hi-line’s highly popular range of alternative filter elements and its coveted series of Hi-PLEX dual technology dryer skids (fridge and desiccant on the same skid).

“What will not change is our outstanding level of customer service,” states Steve Smith. “Headed up by Craig Watson and Oliver Loewenbach, these guys work tirelessly to support our distributors. In fact, we are looking to grow our ACRIB-registered team of service technicians via a new recruitment drive that will deliver even more support for our broad product range.”

Energy-efficient compressed air equipment available from Hi-line includes desiccant and refrigeration air dryers, nitrogen/oxygen separators, filtration equipment, and condensate systems. A five-year warranty reflects Hi-line’s confidence in its high-quality workmanship and materials. Supplying both standard and bespoke solutions, the company serves customers in sectors that include food and beverage, medical, general manufacturing, automotive, breathing air, and laser cutting to list but a few. The company is a member of the British Compressed Air Society and carries accreditation to the ISO 9001:2015 quality management standard.

www.hilineindustries.com

Gravotech, an international leader in the marking and engraving markets for over 80 years, is proud to announce its acquisition by Brady Corporation, an international manufacturer and marketer of complete solutions that identify and protect people, products and places.

Mike Bacon, Internal Technical Applications Engineer at Matara, addresses the issue of quality when it comes to pneumatic cylinders: what constitutes quality, why does quality matter and, just as importantly, when does it matter.

From its origins in the first part of the 19th Century, pneumatic cylinders have been used in countless industrial processes around the world to move something along a linear path.  A relatively straightforward mechanical device, pneumatic cylinders use compressed air to drive a piston inside a cylinder. The piston rod transfers the force it develops to the object to be moved.

Although it depends on the application at hand, pneumatic cylinders are often preferred to hydraulic cylinders as they don’t come with the associated risks of leakage and cross-contamination. Furthermore, they are quieter and, overall, take up less space as there is no requirement to store fluid.

Over the years, a wide array of pneumatic cylinders has been developed to meet specific needs, including roundline, guided, precision slide, compact, clamp and stopper cylinders.  Rodless pneumatic cylinders are also available - and becoming more popular - which have been design to perform as a self-contained linear actuator for improved flexibility.

As with all mechanical devices, quality differs between types of pneumatic cylinders and between manufacturers.

When it pays to invest in quality

Whilst I’d like to say that quality always matters, the reality is that quality matters more in certain applications.

When it comes to miniature ‘brown’ cylinders, typically used in moving items off a conveyor belt for example, these are generally low cost items that don’t tend to be long lasting.  You could invest in better quality versions but the return on investment doesn’t add up, mostly because they are very low cost so it’s not worth repairing them, and they are incredibly easy to replace – you literally swap out the broken one with the new one in ten minutes.

Where quality most certainly does matter is when it comes to the bigger cylinders - 125, 100, 6200 bore cylinders – which are lifting heavy weights.  Replacing a big pneumatic cylinder is costly and rarely quick, as they generally aren’t stock items and therefore have to be machined and cut, which could easily take several days.  At Matara, we have a large UK based machine shop and are able to build many pneumatic cylinders in-house, which means we can frequently deliver a replacement cylinder in two to three days, but that isn’t the case for all suppliers.  Time is also required for the on-site engineers to fit the replacement, which will take several hours, not minutes.  All of this time is clearly disrupting the process at hand.  That’s why you really want these larger cylinders to be reliable, repairable (where possible) and long lasting. 

Then, of course, you have the health and safety implications to take into account, especially if the cylinders are lifting several tonnes of machinery or items vertically.  The last thing anyone wants in this scenario is the cylinder to fail and everything to plummet.  If this did happen, other machinery could be damaged and you would probably have to shut down the whole area, which could last for days.  To skimp on the cylinder, saving a few pounds, really wouldn’t be a good idea here.

What constitutes quality in a pneumatic cylinder? 

As I’ve said, pneumatic cylinders are fairly simple devices in that they’re composed of just three or four parts. This actually makes it quite straightforward to tell when they're not good quality by just looking at them. Typically, there will be gaps, such as around the seals, and they may not quite line up.

But there are other important aspects to consider when assessing the quality of a pneumatic cylinder that need you to probe a little further.

Let’s start with the materials used in the construction of the cylinder.  Aluminium, steel and stainless steel are essential.  When it comes to the rods, chromed rods are ideal if the cylinder will be lifting heavy weights as these are far less prone to breaking.  The seals are the items that are most likely go wrong on a cylinder as they can be easily damaged, especially in dirty, dusty site.  In harsher environments, it pays to invest in better quality seals. In food environments, for example, corrosive resistant stainless steel seals would be a good option, but there are also PTF, PTFE and wiper seals.

To ensure you end up with a pneumatic cylinder that meets the demands of your site and application, its important that the manufacturer is able to offer a range of accessories.  These include external accessories, such as mountings and crevices, and accessories fitted within the cylinder itself, including scrapers and bellows to protect the rod from dust and debris. Not every manufacturer will have a comprehensive range of accessories, but the better known, better quality ones will.  At Matara, we produce a range of accessories including clevises such as male/female, rear and offset variations, as well as flange mounts, flow controllers, foot brackets, and reed switchers.

Next, check that the pneumatic cylinder adheres to the relevant standards: ISO 15552, ISO 21287 and ISO 6432.  All reputable companies manufacture to those international standards, so that shouldn’t be an issue.  What is an issue though is how those manufacturers test their products.  Avoid batch tested products as you cannot be sure your specific cylinder has been tested.  At Matara we test each and every cylinder we manufacture in house, which means we very rarely have any returned. 

Lastly, what level of support can the manufacturer bring?  This is a much under valued area, but one that definitely impacts the overall quality of the product and service.  Is the manufacturer willing to visit site and provide advice on the cylinder?  Maybe it can be repaired rather than replaced.  Would a high temperature seal solve any issues?

Don’t forget maintenance

No matter how good quality the pneumatic cylinder, regular maintenance will help reduce unexpected downtime.  This will generally involve checking the cylinder, tube, and rod seal for damage and applying lubricant where necessary.  As the seals are most prone to damage, pay particular attention to these and replace where necessary.  Matara supplies seal kits which make this process very straightforward. 

Keeping the pneumatic cylinder clean also pays dividends.  In particularly dusty environments it’s worth considering an easy clean cylinder where the surfaces are smoother all around so they don't collect dust and debris in the first place and can be easily cleaned. Tie rod cylinders are also slightly easier to clean as well.

Horses for courses

Ultimately, the nature of the site and the cost implications of repairing or replacing a pneumatic cylinder are the determining factors in just how much you are willing to invest in them.  If it’s a hostile environment or one where hygiene is paramount, such as food or pharmaceutical, then quality really does matter.  Choose well and your pneumatic cylinder should perform reliably and consistently for a long time.  We were asked to replace a Matara cylinder recently that had been operational for over 13 years, which is an astonishing length of time to be fully operational.  It goes to show that quality counts!

Based in the UK, Matara is a linear motion, automation and pneumatic component specialist.  For more information go to www.matara.com

What could you achieve with a label printer that combines rapid output, stunning color accuracy, and the flexibility to handle diverse printing needs?

Brady’s new BradyJet J7300 Colour Label Printer prints industrial-strength labels in vibrant full colour. Optimally support safety, lean efficiency and maintenance in production environments. Use the toughest materials on the market, complete with automatic setup, calibration and printing on the very first label.

Why should you consider equipping your operation with a BradyJet J3700?

• Ideal for industrial labelling that changes frequently, from regulatory signage and Lean visuals to barcoding, lab ID, GHS labelling and UL/component ID
• LabelSense™ technology enables printer, materials and inks to talk to each other for automatic part recognition, setup and adjustments
• Dual CMY and true black (K) ink cartridges deliver vibrant colours, deep black, dark tones, readable barcodes and sharp text job after job
• Prints smear-free inks on labels that resist water, chemicals and abrasions for up to two-year outdoor durability (even longer indoors)
• Print Utility dashboard helps you plan, budget and troubleshoot with status alerts, a job cost calculator, remote monitoring and more
• Exterior LED lighting and clear cover communicate real-time printer status
• Ships with the free Brady Workstation Basic Software that includes fundamental apps and features to create labels.
• Optimized Windows® driver lets you connect to third-party software and print PDFs

Unleash your true colours with the BradyJet™ J7300 Colour Label Printer. Enjoy fast, industrial-grade full colour for variable print jobs from the production line to the lab.

Discover the new BradyJet J7300!

Brady Corporation

ww.brady.co.uk

For those of us within the maintenance and reliability industries, we would have come across the topic of oil analysis as a method to monitor the health of the oils in machines. This monitoring method has been around for decades but is it still relevant with all of the new, shiny gadgets and technologies that we have today? In this article, we will explore some of the benefits of oil analysis, how it compares to other technologies and why we still need it today.

What is oil analysis?

For those not familiar with oil analysis, it can be likened to performing blood tests for the human body. Oil in our machines is often compared to the blood in our bodies. Blood circulates throughout the body taking important blood cells with food and oxygen in it to the various organs, similarly oils follow this behaviour. However, oils transport additives which provide varying functions including reducing wear or friction or even preventing corrosion or oxidation to name a few.

When performing a blood test, we can test for a few things; the overall condition of the organs or we can test for specific things such as the presence of bad cholesterol. With oils, we do a very similar practice where we can test for the overall health of the machine or pinpoint exact components and look for distinct changes which are reflected in the characteristics of the oil.

Basically, oil analysis can help you to determine the condition of your oil (if it is degrading or if the additives have depleted such that it no longer protects the equipment) and the health of your asset as the oil can reflect if there is wear occurring in the components. As such, it can provide very useful information to help operators and maintenance personnel to plan effectively for any type of maintenance to be done on the components.

Why oil analysis?

The P-F curve is one that is used throughout reliability to demonstrate the point at which a component is expected to have a functional failure. There are many variations of the PF curve, and different monitoring technologies can be placed in specific orders accordingly. However, it remains dominant that oil analysis is among the top three techniques used for early detection of failure.

Oil analysis can be used to detect the presence of contaminants, metals and other molecules at a microscopic level and quantify these appropriately. Most OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) publish their acceptable standards for various tests (usually standardized tests by some accredited body such as ASTM) and have these available to laboratories around the world. When an oil analysis test is performed (as per the stipulated standards), the lab will compare the actual values to the expected values (from the OEM) and then provide some guidance to the user on possible steps forward.

Every lab will have a specific format for reporting the results of your oil analysis (similar to the labs for reporting on blood samples). Typically, the actual value is shown and then there may be an expected range for the various characteristics or just an indication of whether the actual value falls outside of the range (on the higher or lower end of the scale).

 (Bureau Veritas, 2017) gives an example of a report and all of the variables involved here: https://oil-testing.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/BV_Understanding-An-Oil-Analysis-Report_FINAL_11_8_2017.pdf

While this is their reporting standard, other labs will have a different format, but the tests will all conform to the same internationally recognized standard. As such, if oil is tested in the United States (as per a particular standard) and then tested in Italy (as per the same standard) then there can be some comparisons of these results. However, one must also be aware of the types of instruments being used and their calibration as this can account for slight differences in test results.  As such, oil analysis provides a global standard for which equipment performance can be compared across regions.

Oil analysis vs other technologies

Just as oil analysis is similar to blood testing, we can think of our bodies as a critical machine with various components which need to be monitored. If we get a fractured bone, a blood test will not help us to assess if the bone is broken or can be repaired. In this case, we may need an x-ray. Similarly, with machines, there are various types of tests to determine different aspects to be monitored.

Typically, oil analysis can provide the operator with insight into whether there has been any internal damage to the equipment in the form of wear particles which can be quantified. As with most condition monitoring methods, being able to trend the patterns over time helps the operators to identify if wear is occurring at an increased rate or whether the oil is degrading.

On the other hand, other technologies such as vibration analysis or ultrasound analysis or even thermography are not able to detect the presence of molecules. These other types of analyses focus on alignment, or other mechanical issues as they occur and can trend them over time. However, oil analysis can accurately detect the presence or absence of contaminants or additive packages which could affect the health of the oil and by extension that of the machine.

Oil analysis should not be used as the only technology in your condition monitoring artillery. Other technologies can be used alongside oil analysis to provide the user with a more comprehensive overview of the health of the asset. For instance, if the oil analysis discovered high wear, the next step would be to identify where the wear was coming from. Perhaps in this case, one of the other technologies could identify a misalignment or other mechanical issue which could be the source of this wear. Thus, these technologies should be used to work together to achieve better reliability for their asset owners.

Is Oil Analysis still relevant today?

With the many advancements in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and the advent of countless different sensors on the market, the question arises, “Is Oil Analysis still relevant today?”. Granted that these advancements have significantly transformed the industry, we need to recognize that they are here to help evolve what we already do and not necessary replace it.

These advancements build upon the foundations of the techniques of oil analysis. With artificial intelligence and machine learning, we can train models to interpret oil analysis data and trigger alerts accordingly but there should always be a human present to overview these. In the real world, not every situation has occurred or been recorded yet hence the models do not have that particular data to learn from nor can they make decisions about it since it simply doesn’t exist in their “brain”.

Humans can “think outside the box” and formulate patterns or trends which may not be triggered by the models simply because these models have not been taught these patterns. Hence it is important to always have a human in the loop and not rely solely on these models especially when million-dollar decisions can be negatively initiated with the wrong interpretations.

Lately, sensors have gained more traction and a wider adoption as they can be integrated into warning systems to alert users to potential deviation from known characteristics of the oil. However, as noted above, sensors rely on data sets to compare the information and on some form of capacitance which must be converted into a signal before it can be interpreted.

With lab equipment performing the actual tests, there is a higher rate of accuracy plus the added advantage of having humans review the results for discrepancies before sending off the report. While sensors can be the first warning system for some users, lab equipment should be utilized for those more precise tests which require a higher level of accuracy.

In essence, oil analysis remains very relevant today. However, it has significantly evolved over the last few decades. Today, oil analysis can achieve a higher efficiency level with the integration of the advancements in technology (AI, machine learning and sensors) and other available monitoring technologies. Together, these should all be used to create a greater impact on improving the reliability of the machines.

References

Bureau Veritas. (2017). Understanding an Oil Analysis Report. Retrieved from Bureau Veritas: https://oil-testing.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/BV_Understanding-An-Oil-Analysis-Report_FINAL_11_8_2017.pdf

Author:

Sanya Mathura, REng, MLE

Founder, Strategic Reliability Solutions Ltd

Sanya Mathura is a highly accomplished professional in the field of engineering and reliability, with a proven track record of success in providing solutions to complex problems in various industries. She is currently the Managing Director of Strategic Reliability Solutions Ltd, a leading consulting firm that specializes in helping clients improve their asset reliability and maintenance practices.

Sanya holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering as well as a Masters in Engineering Asset Management from The University of the West Indies and has over 15 years of experience in the industry. She has worked with several well-known companies and has been recognized for her exceptional work in the field of reliability and lubrication engineering. Her expertise in developing and implementing asset management strategies, risk assessments, and root cause analysis has earned her a reputation as a subject matter expert.

As the head of Strategic Reliability Solutions Ltd, Sanya leads a team of highly skilled professionals who provide a wide range of services to clients across various industries, including oil and gas, manufacturing, and transportation. Under her leadership, the company has expanded its services and is now recognized as a leading provider of reliability engineering services in the industry across the globe.

In addition to her work at Strategic Reliability Solutions Ltd, Sanya is an active member of several professional organizations, including the International Council for Machinery Lubrication and writes technical papers for several organizations. She is also a sought-after speaker and has presented at various conferences and seminars on the topics of reliability engineering and lubrication. She is also an avid advocate for women in STEM.

At HANNOVER MESSE 2025, the international drive technology and fluid power sector will once again demonstrate its strength and importance as the largest supplier segment of the international engineering business, under the "Motion & Drives" label. The exhibiting companies will present innovative and intelligent individual components and complete systems across all sectors.

Hannover. Traditionally, drive technology and fluid power has been represented at HANNOVER MESSE by a large number of companies from Germany and abroad, especially in odd-numbered years. This will also be the case in 2025 when manufacturers will present their latest applications and components for intelligent and sustainable production. All this, under the Motion & Drives label, will be focused in Halls 4, 5 and 6. Drive technology and fluid power plays a key role in many industries, because nothing can move without these technologies. For the strongly export-oriented industry, HANNOVER MESSE is the ideal platform for boosting global business thanks to its highly international character. Companies that have already registered include Atos, Bosch Rexroth, Cantoni, Festo, Flender, IMM Hydraulik, SEW-EURODRIVE and Schaeffler.

"With HANNOVER MESSE, we are offering exhibitors the opportunity to be embedded in a unique industrial innovation ecosystem. It is one in which companies from the engineering, electrical and digital industries as well as the energy sector present efficient and sustainable solutions for current and future industrial value creation. The mix of representatives from research, business, start-ups and politics meeting in one place at the same time is unique. This results in unique business potential and access to top-level decision-makers, technology scouts, experts and media representatives from all over the world," says Hubertus von Monschaw, Global Director Trade Fair and Product Management HANNOVER MESSE at Deutsche Messe AG.

"In 2025, HANNOVER MESSE and its Motion & Drives community will be the driver of innovation and center of gravity when it comes to the best new solutions for the engineering world. The Motion & Drives companies supply power, torque, positioning, data, and solutions for our real and virtual worlds," emphasizes Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Managing Director of the Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers Association (VDMA).

According to the VDMA, German drive technology companies alone exported goods worth EUR 17.9 billion last year. The most important customer countries were China, the USA, France, Italy, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic and the UK.

Fluid power is also a very export-oriented segment: in 2023, goods worth EUR 8.4 billion were exported, corresponding to an export quota of 60 percent. The most important customer countries are the USA, China, Italy, France, Austria, the UK and the Netherlands.

In addition to the individual stands, the Motion & Drives area will offer an exclusive joint stand for VDMA members as well as a forum accompanying the trade fair, the "Motion & Drives Conference Stage", which will be organized by the VDMA Drive Technology and Fluid Power associations. Current industry topics will be discussed there, including digitalization, interconnectivity, Manufacturing-X, OPC UA, umati as well as energy monitoring and efficiency, carbon footprint, digital product passport and recycling management. In addition, a special show organized by the EU-funded Fluid 4.0 research project will demonstrate digital and sustainable solutions in fluid and drive technology. One focus will be on the challenges of system architecture, energy consumption, PCF calculation, and recycling management.

With umati, the VDMA has launched an interface initiative to make data more easily accessible. With umati, data – including from drive technology – can be used without additional outlay.

HANNOVER MESSE

HANNOVER MESSE is the world's leading trade fair for industry. Companies from the engineering, electrical and digital industries, as well as the energy sector, come together under the main theme of "Industrial Transformation" to present solutions for production and energy supply, today and tomorrow. The main exhibiting areas for 2025 will be Smart Manufacturing, Digital Ecosystems, Energy for Industry, Compressed Air & Vacuum Technology, Engineered Parts & Solutions, Future Hub and International Trade & Investment. A conference program with around 1,600 speakers complements the program. This trade fair will be held next in Hannover from March 31 to April 4, 2025. The partner country is Canada.

www.messe.de