Proactive Maintenance.

Unscheduled downtime can have a significant impact on manufacturing companies.

When production halts unexpectedly, it disrupts the entire supply chain, leading to delays in product delivery and potential loss of customer trust. Financially, the costs can be substantial, including lost revenue, overtime pay for workers, and expenses for emergency repairs. Additionally, frequent downtime can damage equipment, reducing its potential lifespan and increasing maintenance costs.

Thermal imaging, also known as Thermography is a powerful tool for preventative maintenance in manufacturing. It involves using infrared cameras to detect heat patterns and anomalies in equipment. By identifying areas of excessive heat, which often indicate potential failures, thermography allows maintenance teams to address issues before they lead to costly unscheduled downtime.

One of the key benefits of thermography is its non-invasive nature. Thermal imaging is performed while equipment is operating, minimizing disruptions to production. This proactive approach helps in identifying problems such as electrical faults, mechanical wear, and insulation failures at an early stage. Consequently, it enhances the reliability and efficiency of machinery, extending its lifespan and reducing maintenance costs.

Moreover, thermography provides valuable data that can be used to track the condition of equipment over time. This data-driven approach enables more informed decision-making and better planning of maintenance activities. Overall, thermography is an essential component of a robust preventative maintenance strategy, ensuring operational continuity and safety.

Teledyne FLIR leads in the design and production of thermal imaging cameras and sensors. These products are used across various industries, including manufacturing, security, and environmental monitoring. 

Their cameras are sophisticated instruments that can appear daunting to the untrained user, with specialist applications requiring a deep knowledge of thermography to provide valuable insights. On the other hand, FLIRs thermal imaging cameras can simply be viewed as tools to do a job, and that job is to inform maintenance teams about the condition of critical assets. The information can provide information to predict the maintenance required, prevent failure, and avoid unscheduled downtime.

While training can be provided by organisations such as the Infrared Training Centre, or online via the FLIR Academy; FLIR offer multiple features to support both experienced and inexperienced thermographers to monitor their equipment. For example:- FLIR Exx-series, and Txxx-series of cameras can be set-up by an experienced user to follow an ‘inspection route’, then less experienced or even beginners can follow the same route, with the camera guiding its operator to take accurate and usable images, pre-selecting the settings and parameters as required. At the end of the inspection, the thermal images can be sync’d wirelessly to a pre-prepared report, allowing easy analysis and interpretation.

This might all sound complicated, but it is just a process that once set-up, supports inexperienced thermographers to capture data in a meaningful way. All designed to provide insights into the condition of equipment around a factory, production plant or manufacturing facility.

If your maintenance teams are forever ‘fire fighting’, on high-alert, or waiting to react urgently to equipment failures, then it’s time to invest some more time and energy to get ahead of unplanned downtime, and monitor the condition of equipment. One of the best ways to do this is through thermal imaging which can be as affordable as companies need it to be, with training, or guided inspection tools readily available to meet the requirements of the technicians and engineers responsible for maintaining equipment uptime.

---

• See also: Which one of 18 million ways to detect air leak? (9/10/2024) 

@flir @mepaxIntPR #TandM #Maintenance #PAuto

New website makes training and certification easier.

Thousands of professionals in fields ranging from building diagnostics, electrical inspection, optical gas imaging, and industrial automation are benefitting from latest infrared camera technology, both to improve their work and grow their careers. Whether handheld or on a drone, these thermal imaging systems can detect anomalies and problems that are often invisible to the naked eye. However, it requires some education to make the most of thermography and get the job completed quickly, efficiently, and most important, accurately.

Finding the right thermography classes is now easier and more intuitive thanks to a newly launched website for the Infrared Training Center (ITC). This site will not only help existing and aspiring thermographers determine the right course to derive more value from thermal inspections, but also help them make a better case to their employers to sponsor this kind of professional development. They’ll find the right training to ensure they conduct inspections the right way—based on a strong educational foundation—instead of working on assumptions and guesses.

Professional upskilling.
Proper training increases the safety of thermography personnel as well as their colleagues who remediate issues thermography uncovers, all the while cutting down troubleshooting time, improving productivity, and creating more effective predictive maintenance programs. That may include keeping mission critical equipment running while maximizing output and minimizing downtime. The end result is a reduction of outages, and potentially, the avoidance of catastrophic—and expensive—failures.

The exciting field of thermography takes both training and experience to ensure that readings are both accurate and actionable. ITC meets that training need with the highest quality interactive thermography courses from highly qualified international thermography instructors. All ITC courses maintain ISO 9001 certification, ensuring they offer valuable training, certification, and recertification in all aspects of infrared thermography. After all, interpreting thermal imaging correctly comes down to training, experience, and first-hand knowledge of the science behind it all. 

Scott DeRaps, ITC graduate and Level I Thermographer with Coutts Brothers Inc. "ITC trainings have given me the knowledge and the confidence to go into the field and provide high quality inspections for our clients. These inspections are going to save our clients time and money, and can save them from a possible catastrophic failure."

Trade professionals and engineers have varying levels of experience with thermographic applications, and regardless of their experience, the ITC can work to their benefit, starting now.

For new unexperienced users, the introductory courses (Level I) serve to better communicate the value and benefits of working with thermal imaging. For those a step further in their experience and who are already familiar with leveraging thermography in the field (Level II), ITC helps with staying up-to-date with the latest tips and trends while maintaining the highest level of globally recognized certification to boost credibility. And lastly, much more detailed and advanced courses (Level III) round out the program for the experienced users who are honing their skills and keeping their certifications up to date. No matter what level they take, ITC certification can increase a professional’s credibility, enhance their career, and build thermal imaging inspection businesses.

@flir @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Thermography #Training

Two lenses in one.

Camera lens saves time and space while increasing inspection accuracy for thermal cameras.

The FlexView dual field-of-view (DFOV) lens attachment for FLIR Axxx and Txxx Series thermography cameras designed to improve operational efficiency, safety, and accuracy from switchyards to the plant floor has just been introduced.

With a single form factor just 6mm longer than the standard single-lens setup, operators now can have two lenses without adding weight while enjoying a smoother experience operating the camera and reducing inspection time in the field. FlexView also offers fully radiometric performance and imaging quality, resulting in the ability to measure and record the temperature of every pixel in the scene for improved decision support.

“With two lenses in one, thermographers can improve their inspection results, while improving safety, reducing inspection time, and eliminating risk of lens or camera damage during lens changeover,” said Rob Milner, director, global business development, Teledyne FLIR. “The 24-degree wider field-of-view lens within the FlexView offers wide area scanning to detect potential anomalies, while the narrower 14-degree field of views lens delivers pinpoint accuracy with 2.8 times as many pixels on target thanks to the increased optical zoom. More pixels on target means greater accuracy. This is all achieved programmatically via software for fixed cameras, or a simple press of a button for portable cameras.”

The FlexView DFOV Lens can also minimize risk in the field—as fewer lens changes means users are less likely to damage sensitive camera parts while staying focused on the task at hand. With the ability to get more pixels on target versus a single lens system, operators can also increase the distance between themselves and potentially dangerous equipment. This will help the operator avoid arch flashes or exposure to compromised equipment all without sacrificying accuracy or missing potential issues.

@flir @mepaxIntPR #PAuto 

Thermography Seminars programme for 2016.

Fluke is offering a series of free Thermography Seminars as part of its programme of seminars for 2016 in Britain and Ireland. Designed to look at the benefits of thermal imaging techniques to improve maintenance practices, the seminars are one element of the Fluke Academy programme.

The seminars covering Thermography are designed to highlight how thermal imaging can be used to identify the presence of faults in equipment under normal working conditions, in new or existing installations. Each seminar will cover:

• The difference between a visual image and a thermal image
• What that difference means to be able to find latent electrical defects like bad connections
• An understanding of some limitations of thermal imaging
• An introduction to the common types of electrical defects in High, Medium and Low voltage  that can be detected with a thermal imager
• The benefits of thermal imaging for improving maintenance practices
• Tips and tricks on using a Fluke Thermal Imager to help detect electrical defects.

Other seminars in the Fluke Academy programme cover power quality improvement; one designed to help facilities reduce their energy costs; troubleshooting motors and drives to minimise plant downtime; calibrating and troubleshooting process instrumentation; and electrical testing.
The web page also provides access to webinars and webcasts that provide online training to obtain the maximum benefit in the application of thermal imagers, power quality meters and portable oscilloscopes, as well as highlighting training courses with partner institutions.

.@FlukeCorp  #PAuto 

Seminars on thermography.

Fluke is offering a series of free Thermography Seminars as part of its programme of seminars for 2015 in Britain and Ireland. Designed to look at the benefits of thermal imaging techniques to improve maintenance practices, the seminars are one element of the Fluke Academy programme.

The seminars covering Thermography are designed to highlight how thermal imaging can be used to identify the presence of faults in equipment under normal working conditions, in new or existing installations. Each seminar will cover:

• The difference between a visual image and a thermal image
• What that difference means to be able to find latent electrical defects like bad connections
• An understanding of some limitations of thermal imaging
• An introduction to the common types of electrical defects in High, Medium and Low voltage  that can be detected with a thermal imager
• The benefits of thermal imaging for improving maintenance practices
• Tips and tricks on using a Fluke Thermal Imager to help detect electrical defects.

Other seminars in the Fluke Academy programme cover power quality improvement; one designed to help facilities reduce their energy costs; troubleshooting motors and drives to minimise plant downtime; calibrating and troubleshooting process instrumentation; and electrical testing.
The web page also provides access to webinars and webcasts that provide online training to obtain the maximum benefit in the application of thermal imagers, power quality meters and portable oscilloscopes, as well as highlighting training courses with partner institutions.

Thermography seminars!

Fluke is offering a series of free Thermography Seminars as part of its programme of seminars for 2015 throughout Britain and Ireland. Designed to look at the benefits of thermal imaging techniques to improve maintenance practices, the seminars are one element of the Fluke Academy programme.

The seminars covering Thermography are designed to highlight how thermal imaging can be used to identify the presence of faults in equipment under normal working conditions, in new or existing installations. Each seminar will cover:

• The difference between a visual image and a thermal image
• What that difference means to be able to find latent electrical defects like bad connections
• An understanding of some limitations of thermal imaging
• An introduction to the common types of electrical defects in High, Medium and Low voltage that can be detected with a thermal imager
• The benefits of thermal imaging for improving maintenance practices
• Tips and tricks on using a Fluke Thermal Imager to help detect electrical defects.

Other seminars in the Fluke Academy programme cover power quality improvement; one designed to help facilities reduce their energy costs; troubleshooting motors and drives to minimise plant downtime; calibrating and troubleshooting process instrumentation; and electrical testing.
The web page also provides access to webinars and webcasts that provide online training to obtain the maximum benefit in the application of thermal imagers, power quality meters and portable oscilloscopes, as well as highlighting training courses with partner institutions.

Thermography stick

Fluke is offering a free USB stick, an exclusive ‘gateway’ to access everything the professional electrician and industrial maintenance technician needs to know about Thermal Imaging. It contains videos, a digital copy of the 72-page booklet ‘Principles of Thermography’, a ROI calculator, links to online training, and much more.

Thermal imaging can find faults fast and save downtime. Fluke offers a wide range of thermal imagers which includes the entry level Fluke Ti9 and TiS, and the latest Fluke P3 Series, comprising the Ti27, Ti29 and Ti32 for industrial, electrical and process control applications, and the Fluke TiR27, TiR29 and TiR32 for building inspection, energy audit and building maintenance applications. Fluke thermal imagers are designed to be safe, rugged and easy to use, while offering superior image quality and high productivity.

 The free Fluke thermography USB stick contains:

• Brochures from the current Fluke thermal imager line-up
• A booklet on the basics of thermography
• Videos of Fluke thermal imagers in action
• Links to online thermography training
• A Return on Investment (ROI) calculator
• SmartView® software, a modular suite of tools for viewing, annotating, editing and analysing infrared images captured by Fluke thermal imagers

E-learning thermography!

Fluke has an e-learning programme specifically designed for the use of thermography in building diagnostics. The programme can be purchased online or is free of charge to purchasers of a new Fluke Thermal Imaging Camera designed for building diagnostics. The programme consists of 13 training modules, valued at £300 (ca€345) Fluke TiR and TiS thermal imagers are supplied with a voucher which can be used online to activate the course. The training content has been developed in association with experienced building diagnostic thermographers at Fluke’s training partner, Infrared Building Solutions.

In order to enable customers to make the fastest start into the world of infrared thermal imaging of buildings, Fluke is now offering purchasers of buildings diagnostic cameras an exciting and unique way of learning how to use their new camera for a range of applications. Leak tracing? Energy assessments? Roof surveys? Plumbing and heating diagnostics? All these and more are covered in this new e-learning programme. Purchasers of a Fluke TiS camera or one from the range of TiR cameras from a Fluke authorised distributor will be provided with a voucher which enables them to log immediately into an easy-to-use, on-line training system as soon as they open the camera case. This allows them to start working effectively straight away.

Once logged in, purchasers can benefit from the series of 13 training modules. The different modules will take anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hour maximum. Each module can be taken whenever and wherever it is convenient, and a key advantage is that users can study at their own pace. In total, if users choose to take all the modules, the programme runs for approximately four and a half hours. All modules are practically focused on how to be safe, effective and efficient in the real world of building diagnostics. In addition to covering a full range of applications such as those mentioned above, subjects ranging from “Marketing Infrared Thermography and Getting a Return on Investment” to “Standards and Regulations” and “Software and Report Writing” are covered, helping the Fluke camera buyer to grow his or her business as well as capture and interpret high quality images.

For those users that want the full hands-on training experience, Fluke is offering a number of one day training courses in thermography for building applications

IR imaging and thermography portfolio for scientific, industrial and security applications

Xenics is extending its range of products to the very promising high-volume security and high end thermography markets. At this year's SPIE DSS (5/9 Apl 2010 Orlando FL US) the company will highlight its substantial innovations by showing high quality products such as the Onca, Xlin and Meerkat families.

"We are broadening our product portfolio as well as our strategic presence in new markets, changing from a mainly technology-driven to a fully market-driven approach," says Xenics founder and CEO Bob Grietens. "In addition to our fast growing business in advanced InGaAs SWIR imagers we are now serving the markets for uncooled bolometer and cooled InSb / MCT / QWIP detector solutions, building on our strong scientific-based but application-oriented R&D portfolio."

At the show, Xenics will demonstrate its continuing innovation in advanced IR solutions, especially its latest developments in thermography and for security applications, which are rounding out the product portfolio by adding value to cover new applications. This product strategy is an answer to the impending changes in the markets and it will ensure the company further expansion and growth.

In the framework of its latest innovative developments, Xenics will give an overview of its proven capabilities in science-based design and production of IR imaging and thermography solutions. On view will be a number of commercially successful and pioneering products: Meerkat, Xlin, Onca, Bobcat, Gobi, and Cheetah - underlining the growing market demand for technically advanced but affordable IR solutions.

One of the timely consequences of Xenics' new strategic direction is to extend its advanced camera program to various demanding security applications. Usually, the equipment geared to these markets conforms rigidly to military specifications. However, to adapt to and take advantage of the budgetary restraints of many institutional customers, Xenics is pursuing a different path, as Grietens explains: "We are offering high-quality, multi-spec commercial systems – almost military-level – to an important and growing subset of the security market - at an affordable price point and easy maintainability."

Featured prominently will be Xenics' line-scan detector Xlin-1.7-1024 sporting a unique combination of features for high-speed imaging applications. At a full high-speed line rate of 40 kHz and a resolution of 1024 pixels in combination with a 12.5 µm pitch, Xlin enables much more accurate inspection and smaller particle detection at shorter wavelengths than other cameras.

This very competitive combination of product features positions Xenics in the upper echelons of line-scan camera providers on the world market.

Likewise, Xenics' Onca family, a high-end IR and thermal imaging platform with cooled detector offering high detectivity, good stability, increased dynamic range via super framing, TrueThermal calibration and a filter wheel for spectral or high temperature measurements, is claiming top position in competitive rankings. The Onca camera is suited for scientific applications as well as industrial process monitoring, high-speed imaging, target signature radiometric data collection, tracking and IR spectroscopy. At more than 100 images per second, image acquisition and control are compatible with GigE Vision and CameraLink for easy system integration.

Since its successful launch in 2000, Xenics has grown into a world-leading vendor of IR components and systems delivering a wide range of flexible product configurations and camera settings, besides customized solutions according to agreed specifications. As a sole-source Europe-based supplier of InGaAs detector solutions, Xenics draws on leading local talent and knowledge bases to export its products to worldwide markets.