Martin Engineering
Maximize production efficiency with remote tracking for predictive and condition-driven maintenance.
If you are responsible for maintenance, your job is to take care of your company’s process facilities, provide safe inspection and maintenance, optimize time and resources, and ultimately maximize uptime.
A revolution is being witnessed in the mining and mineral processing industry that makes this job much easier and gives companies a competitive advantage. Smart remote tracking encourages the next generation of predictive and condition-based maintenance regimes.
Unlike many innovations which catch the headlines, remote tracking is an incredibly simple, not intimidating and cost-effective application. Remote tracking systems that use the same wireless technology we use at home can often be retrofitted into existing production facilities. This is the main reason why it has quickly become indispensable in increasing production efficiency.
Now it’s time to catch the train!
The problem is that traditional inspection regimes are both timeconsuming and inefficient. Sometimes the equipment to be inspected is so far away that it is necessary to travel a long distance for a brief measurement. In others, complex procedures and surveillance may be required for secure access.
There are also instances where a comprehensive stop for inspection of a single component becomes mandatory. Well, what about when it turns out that after a day-long inspection, maintenance is not needed! Do you think that time and resources are used correctly in this way?
Sometimes inspections are thrown at the bottom of the to-do list. Maintenance takes priority only when there is a real problem. This approach brings with it unplanned stops. Moreover, they often don’t have stock for every possibility and you wait weeks for some spare parts to arrive. This can mean working unproductively for long periods of time.
So, is there a better way? Just imagine…
Imagine providing access only when you know maintenance is necessary in the near future. Instead of learning that something is wrong with your plant performance when problems arise, imagine being warned about the condition of components and having indicators to help you schedule maintenance on schedule.
Remote tracking provides such real-time, condition-driven, predictive maintenance indicators.
Thus, it may be sufficient to perform a physical inspection of equipment only when data tells you that a service action is required or when the equipment is nearing the end of its economic life. You also have plenty of time to schedule a thorough inspection, pre-order required parts, schedule maintenance from contractors, and schedule work to be done during an unplanned downtime.
In recent years, we’ve seen remote tracking and condition-driven maintenance begin to rewrite the book on maximizing production efficiency. These methods are also breaking new ground in bulk material handling applications. The scale of the production yield benefit is enormous, as mining and ore processing applications include the largest material flows in the global economy.
For example, imagine how remote tracking can be applied to a conveyor belt scraper used to control spillage and prevent buildup in the vicinity of your process plant:
• Lower security risk: Conveyor belt inspections involve risks such as stored energy, working at height, or accessing controlled areas. Smart remote tracking reduces risks by allowing continuous inspection without the need to visit individual belts.
• Fewer maintenance tasks: The job of regularly inspecting the head drum of each conveyor can be tedious, especially if your technicians are busy or unavailable. Smart tracking means you can drastically reduce the number of maintenance visits without sacrificing uptime. The conveyor is stopped only when service is required.
• Better planning: Belt cleaners can wear at different rates depending on a variety of factors. Smart tracking makes it possible to collect data that allows you to predict when belt cleaner replacement will be required for each conveyor and plant, thereby predicting belt cleaner costs.
• Improved inventory: Stocking up on parts for every possibility is not a good way to use budget. However, ordering parts at the last minute may also mean that belt cleaning is not achieved in the most efficient way. With smart tracking, parts can be ordered automatically when needed for service.
Of course, conveyor belt scrapers are often not at the top of the priority list.
But that’s the point anyway.
Thanks to remote tracking, you no longer have to worry about elements such as belt scrapers. Devices such as Martin Engineering’s groundbreaking N2 Position Tracker (PI) offer technology that takes the time-consuming routine off and lets you know when service is needed. You can also provide effective spill control with a simple upgrade.
The N2 PI, which can be retrofitted onto most belt cleaner mainframes or used as part of a new installation, transmits performance and status data of conveyor belt cleaners to a central gateway.
The gateway then uploads this information to a cloud-based server. The data is analyzed and made available to you via a special application on your mobile device or laptop. So you can remotely trace belt cleaners, predict and schedule maintenance, compare and optimize performance. You can also request all of these services from the Martin Engineering team. The choice is yours.
Keeping your process plant up and running is key to achieving optimum efficiency from your business assets.
Smart remote tracking, which facilitates condition-oriented and predictive maintenance, is one way more and more companies are pursuing this benefit. Make sure you do not lag behind!
Martin Engineering’s N2 Position Tracker (PI) system has proven itself in actual use in the USA. Trials of this patented technology are currently underway in the UK and its applications in Turkey, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India will begin in 2021. The N2 PI sends conveyor scraper performance data to your desktop or mobile phone, allowing you to reduce inspection frequency and unplanned downtime. The position tracker is the first of a series of smart N2 remote tracking devices designed to improve plant production efficiency and performance.
Martin Smart Device App via Mobile Phone