November 2017

| Plant &Works Engineering | November 2017 Maintenance Matters 14 Focus on: Inspection, Maintenance, & Repair that many of these machines have in common, however, is their reliance on the fluids they use, whether this be gearbox oil, transformer fluid or hydraulic fluid. Therefore, it is essential that the condition of these fluids be monitored, to ensure all components are operating as expected. Failure to do this could potentially result in systems falling victim to mechanical problems, or breaking down completely. Powerful insights Many manufacturers try to prevent this by implementing a scheduled maintenance programme. However, this rigid approach to servicing fails to offer a predictive approach to potential maintenance issues, anticipating any problems that could reveal themselves in the future. However, effective fluid analysis means any issues can be remedied before failure. Fluid analysis can help operators achieve considerable cost savings by taking a condition-based approach to maintenance, while reducing downtime and improving the overall efficiency and reliability of equipment. Identifying issues There are a number of common fluid issues in the manufacturing industry, all of which can have very serious consequences on It is critical that machinery and equipment in the manufacturing industry operates at optimal efficiency at all times. By taking a closer look at fluid analysis, the industry could save money and improve reliability. Steve Haughton, technical manager at Finning UK & Ireland (Finning), discusses the advantages of a condition-based approach, outlining how fluid analysis can provide visibility of equipment performance and health. The importance of fluid analysis E ven when faced with the facts and figures, it can be hard to comprehend the sheer scale and diversity of the UK’s manufacturing sector. In 2016 alone, plants and factories across the country produced goods worth almost £365 billion, ranging from raw materials to finely crafted sports cars and electronics. More than that, the sector makes up ten per cent of the UK’s gross value added and 45% of its exports, directly employing 2.7 million people. All this demands a diverse range of machinery and equipment, all of which have their own needs and requirements if they are to operate at peak efficiency. One thing