September 2019

Focus on: Condition Monitoring Maintenance Matters September 2019 www.pwemag.co.uk Plant & Works Engineering | 13 2. Keep it clean. Keeping the factory floor as free of contaminants as possible will help to prolong the lifespan of equipment. “Dampen down dust with sprays, or use extractor fans to remove it,” David says. “Actions such as these make the aggressive environment smaller and more manageable.” 3. Evaluate the location of equipment. “Just because an asset is part of the process creating the aggressive environment, doesn’t mean it physically needs to be there,” David says. “There are few applications in which you can’t create enough distance between a motor and a gearbox, for example. In fact, driveshafts of up to 10m in length are entirely possible if engineered-in at the design stage.” 4. Check your assets have the right IP rating. Even the cleanest production lines spread contaminants, which ultimately leads to the expansion of the aggressive environment. Make sure, therefore, that any component working as part of the process has the correct IP rating, whether it’s based directly within the aggressive environment, or not. “If it only has a standard IP rating, it won’t be long before its performance and reliability are affected,” David says. 5. Defend your assets. A good defence should be the final step before implementing condition monitoring. “Consider moulded-oil bearings and super seals to increase protection against contaminant ingress,” David says. “Automatic lubricators are also effective, because they place positive pressure on the lubricant within the bearing.” For further information please visit: https://eriks.co.uk/en/services- page/monitor/condition-monitoring.html David Manning-Ohren, condition monitoring manager at ERIKS UK & Ireland 20 years of CMMS Benefits For a free on site demonstration please quote IPE2016 C