28 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk April/May 2023 Maintec 2023 Preview records would be cleaned automatically, the rest needed to be looked at by a person which is really time intensive. Today we are operating at over 99% automation, there has been so much machine learning over those two years.” The enrichment of the data and the ‘visibility’ of what spares are available (and where) allows for what Torsten labels ‘the commercial part’ of Sparrow Networks’ offering which they call ‘pooling’. This is where manufacturers work together and effectively pool their spares information and resources. By effectively having access to other businesses’ spare parts – but buying through Sparrow Networks – all participants in the pool reduce their risk of not having access to the spares they need and maintaining production. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are areas that many businesses exhibiting at Maintec are exploring. For example, Grundfos, the well-known pump business, as Cathy Mathiesen, Lead Business Development Nordics & UK explains, “Grundfos is focusing on several initiatives at Maintec, firstly, AI-driven technology to ensure machine reliability and to bring prescriptive outcomes to our manufacturers so that maintenance leaders can deliver predictive maintenance and optimize their staff to focus on what’s important. Secondly, sustainability and topics like the energy optimization of pumps and water re-use –all areas where Grundfos can help lead our customers into a new era.” The AI driven technology that Grundfos has does not just apply to pumps. They are looking at all critical rotating equipment. As Cathy continues, “We have analytical data in the cloud, with over 70,000 machines supplying information, so we can give our manufacturers fantastic outcomes that are driven in a prescriptive way. Most manufacturers are not using AI currently, they are waiting for reports and the data is not in real time, so they still have a lot of machine breakdowns as they are not using technology to increase the optimization of their staff and increase their production. We can help them to use AI driven technology to drive the best outcomes, not just with pumps but with all rotating equipment.” While for many maintenance professionals a visit to Maintec is enough, for those seeking wider choice the fact that Maintec is now placed at the heart of M&E Week means there’s so much more to see and do should you be so inclined. The week beginning 5th June 2023 is Manufacturing & Engineering Week with the centerpiece exhibitions Design & Engineering Expo, Smart Factory Expo, Maintec and the Drives & Controls zone all taking place at Birmingham’s NEC on 7th and 8th June. Other exhibitions are also taking place at the NEC during the week, and these include Automechanika run by Messe Frankfurt; Med-Tech Innovation Expo and TCT 3Sixty from Rapid News Group and Subcon from the Mark Allen Group. For further information and to register please visit: www.mandeweek.co.uk/maintec-home
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