BFPA Directory 2019

automation and artificial intelligence (AI) have become very familiar terms – not just used by consultants – and have become everyday parlance. Although the level of this type of technological adoption is still fairly low in our industry, I think it’s fair to say that anybody who doesn’t take notice of these trends is probably risking slow company growth and at the worst complete business failure. So, you need to ask yourself whether you want to embrace the future and thrive or whether you want to remain in the past with all the risks associated with not keeping up with your 38 www.bfpa.co.uk competitors. If you feel, like most people, that you’re somewhere in between those two extremes I would like to draw your attention to an event we are holding during 2019 to encourage more companies to fully understand and embrace these technology trends. “Of course, it is no good having the ability to develop artificial intelligence if there’s no means of deploying it effectively within your own business and operational environment. More particularly with reference to this particular event, there is no point in investing a lot of time and effort, money and resources in developing a high- performance hydraulic fluid power system if the very lifeblood of that system – the hydraulic fluid – is not in tip-top condition. So, the rationale behind this event is to help you to recognise the importance of maximising purity in your hydraulic fluids, how to go about measuring contaminants and, most importantly, how to avoid undue levels of contamination wherever possible.” The importance of cleanliness In his Keynote Address, Matt Fielder, Market Development Manager, Stanhope- Seta Ltd., looked at the development and use of two-micron particle counting instruments. Fielder made the point that hydraulic systems require clean lubricant to perform efficiently and that particulate can cause both production and safety threats. He said using particle counting for monitoring hydraulic oil supports hydraulic performance and predictive maintenance, assisting with equipment downtime and cost saving. Fielder explained that particle counters are used to determine the ‘quality’ of a sample. “The size, number and distribution of particles help to determine the cleanliness or suitability of the sample for the intended application,” he said. “Routinely monitoring particles can save both time and money by reducing equipment downtime. Hard particles that become embedded into the surfaces of moving parts can cause abnormal machinery wear. Particle counting is also used to assess fuel cleanliness, where the problems caused by particles are blockage, wear and erosion in fuel systems.” Fielder remarked there is a general desire to know more about the type sizes and morphology of the contamination we are actually looking at – the material found as contamination in the systems; whether it is generated, whether it is ingress or whether it is added via the oils. He added that there is demand for system improvement and a demand for extended service intervals and for cost of the systems to be cheaper and more efficiently run. Fielder concluded by emphasising that “no hydraulic system has ever failed as a result of being too clean”. More information on BFPA programme details visit the dedicated conference website www.bfpatechnicalconference2018.co.uk Matt Fielder: “No hydraulic system has ever failed as a result of being too clean.” Joanne Coyle: “Advancements in imaging technology as well as continued testing and R&D have significantly improved the quality of measurement for fuels and lubricating oils.” The first day’s proceedings were followed by a Conference Dinner at the nearby Bailbrook House Hotel.