BY RICHARD STONE

Plant and Works Engineering, edited by the fantastic Aaron Blutstein, has been the UK’s leading monthly industrial maintenance magazine since 1981. With a total circulation of over 10,000, the magazine delivers up-to-date information on the technological opportunities and challenges in manufacturing.

The October issue features four of our clients. Boulting Technology, Global Heat Transfer and Novotek all provide important information about industrial maintenance, while EU Automation offers safety tips that should be applied in every factory.

COVERAGE HIGHLIGHTS

In heat transfer specialist Global Heat Transfer’s article, the company’s head of R&D Dr Chris Wright explains why heat exchanger maintenance is a whole system issue. Heat transfer fluid flows throughout systems across a plant, therefore problems with the fluid have a knock-on effect in other areas of the plant, not just the exchanger.

Wright explains that heat transfer fluids degrade over time and the degradation products, such as carbon, can damage the system. Maintenance must be performed proactively, by taking regular samples to assess the quality of the oil and detect problems before they cause vast collateral damage.

Sean Robinson, service leader at industrial analytics platform supplier Novotek UK & Ireland, then explains how machine learning can make proactive maintenance more effective. Machine learning algorithms can be used to identify correlating factors in data so that problems with machinery, and the root causes of those issues, can be flagged.

Machine learning is not the only technology that can improve maintenance engineering. In leading systems integrator Boulting Technology’s article, the company’s sales manager Nick Boughton explains how augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are redefining plant maintenance. Maintenance engineers can use AR and VR technology to create a digital representation of a machine fault and the solution. They can also visit a site virtually and speed up time to pinpoint exactly when a system will fail.

In Plant & Works Engineering, Broughton also explains how AR and VR can be used to help tackle the UK’s engineering skills gap. Firstly, engineers who do not possess the skills needed to maintain a part can receive instructions via AR so that they can service or replace the part. In addition, engineers can gain practical, digital experience in an industrial environment to develop the skills required to maintain the factories of the future.

A key part of plant maintenance is ensuring all machinery is safe to use. In obsolete parts supplier EU Automation’s article, the company’s marketing director Jonathan Wilkins shares his three tips for machine safety. These tips cover everything from considering operational safety around working machines, to using real-time performance data to keep engineers safe in the event of an imminent mechanical fault.

CAN MEDIA COVERAGE HELP INCREASE BRAND AWARENESS?

Our clients tell us that media coverage like this works wonders for helping them to achieve their business objectives. If you would like your business to appear in Plant & Works Engineering, or any other publication relevant to your field, give us a call on +44 (0)1785 225 416 or drop us an e-mail at sayhello@stonejunction.co.uk.