predictive maintenance

The role of predictive maintenance in Industry 4.0

By Philipp H. F. Wallner, industry manager, Industrial Automation & Machinery, MathWorks  Predictive maintenance offers the ability to anticipate equipment malfunctions before they occur, arrange repairs proactively, avoid stalling factory floor operations and most importantly, prevent the failure of machinery to keep businesses running efficiently. Figures from Deloitte show predictive maintenance can reduce the costs of maintenance by 5 to 10 per cent overall.  
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A reliable coupling for HVAC systems

When asked to describe the most important features of Rexnord® Addax® composite couplings, Steve Hittmann, National Product Manager – Mechanical Drives at CBC, has a long list to go through: Corrosion resistance, high-misalignment capacity, excellent fatigue resistance, low weight, ease of installation and ease of maintenance, to name a few. As the pioneer for advanced composite couplings, Rexnord first introduced Addax couplings for the cooling tower industry in 1987. More than 30 years later, the couplings are still market leading for the many benefits they bring to the efficient operation of cooling towers and other heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. CBC, in partnership with Rexnord, offers assistance with selection, design and installation of Addax composite couplings. Steve says this close partnership between the two companies is particularly beneficial to the end users because “no two coupling installations are the same.”
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Not just cutting the grass

Around 17 years ago, Stephen Millar and a few other family members commenced Fieldquip in Oakey, Queensland. Today, Fieldquip is a preferred supplier of tractor implements to major tractor brands. Fieldquip’s mowing and slashing equipment are distributed through reputable tractor dealerships in Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Island countries. Apart from manufacturing, Fieldquip also distributes a wide range of agricultural products from global brands such as Wiedenmann from Germany, Major from Ireland and RhinoAg from the USA. In 2014, Fieldquip was acquired by an international company the Alamo Group from Texas USA, further broadening its range of products and its market presence. Products manufactured and supplied by Fieldquip are used to maintain turf and vegetation across many and varied applications, from high profile golf courses and sporting arenas to agricultural fields and roadsides. Fieldquip’s grass cutting and vegetation management equipment cover widths from 4 feet to 40 feet. Stephen states that Fieldquip has the widest range of vegetation management equipment offered here in Australia. Read More

Beating rust, like professionals

If there’s one thing a farmer, a miner, a sailor and a builder have in common, lubrication expert David Bailey believes it’s that they all have to deal with rust. Just over a decade ago, CRC introduced CRC Penetr8 to address that very issue. Designed with a 360-degree nozzle, the Penetr8 aerosol can be sprayed in any angle and to penetrate deep into seized, bound or frozen fasteners and loosen them. The story of how the CRC Penetr8 was developed by CRC is an interesting one. One of the first projects where the CRC Penetr8 was trialed was in the Gold Coast, according to David Bailey, CRC Industries’ National Business Development Manager for Mining. Read More