Maintec 2012 06 February 2012

With this year's Maintec show just a few short weeks away, Brian Tinham takes a lok at what engineers, technicians and mangers can expect to find

Now in its 37th year, the industrial maintenance and asset management show Maintec returns to Birmingham's NEC, running from 28 February to 1 March. Organiser easyFairs says that plant managers, engineers and technicians will see the latest technologies. However, they will also be able to catch up on best maintenance processes and practices, taking advantage of Maintec's so-called LearnShop seminar series.

LearnShop seminars, which run on all three days, cover subjects ranging from maximising plant efficiency and minimising breakdown potential, to practical applications of ATEX, bridging the maintenance skills gap, the nuances of successful FMEA (failure mode and effect analysis) and practical methods for saving and recovering energy. All of which should be worth attention, particularly given the line-up of supporters, which ranges from BCAS (British Compressed Air Society) to the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing, Institution of Diagnostic Engineers, Institute of Asset Management, Facilities Management Association, UK Thermography Association and IET (Institute of Engineering and Technology).

BCAS, for example, will be playing host to a compressed air advice clinic and the Leak Detection Challenge. For the former, the trade association says simply that it will be ready to answer any question regarding compressed air system legislation, standards, energy and environmental efficiency.

As for leak detection, BCAS makes the point that compressed air utilities consume more than 10% of industrial electrical energy, so its challenge to engineers is to find out about the new assessment standard (ISO 11011, Compressed air – Energy efficiency – Assessment), being developed by ISO (WG 4) with assistance from BCAS, which considers the entire system, from energy inputs to work performed.

Incidentally, on this theme, Gardner Denver CompAir will be offering free compressor audits – analysing air usage against parameters, including pressure requirements, power consumption and flow rates. The company says it will then identify ways to improve performance, such as changing the size and mix of fixed and regulated-speed compressors or investing in new, more energy-efficient machines.

Meanwhile, new to Maintec 2012 is a specialist hazardous area event called HAZEX, sponsored by Hazardous Engineering Solutions. The organiser says HAZEX will cover latest products, legislation, case studies and techniques applicable to plant engineers and technicians working in hazardous areas and handling hazardous materials. Also as part of HAZEX, RRC's stand will feature a hazard spotting game with multiple levels to complete and £500 worth of training vouchers available to winners on each of the show days. And visitors can take advantage of 'Dr T's Safety Clinic', where RRC director Dr David Towlson says he will answer questions about any health, safety and environmental issues that effect you at work.

So much for the show events; moving on to products due to make an appearance at Maintec, several stand out. Ro-Dor, for example, says it will show industrial doors, including a fully functional Dynaco Rapid Roll door, said to cut energy wastage and maintenance costs. Meanwhile, SRO Solutions is to major on its asset management system, based around IBM's Maximo software, which automates the processes surrounding routine and one-off maintenance tasks, helping to ensure maximum uptime and profitability.

In a similar vein, Siveco UK says it will be exhibiting its mid-market CMMSs (computerised maintenance management systems), which, according to the company, can handle all plant or project sizes, requiring anything from desktop units to corporate systems. Check out its latest mobile technology, which works with smart phones, iPads and 3G mobile devices.

Moving on, Testo, who will be introducing its new thermal imaging SuperResolution technology, said to double the geometric resolution of its cameras' thermal images. The company says that technicians can expect to see greater detail, making it easier to sport even the smallest of faults in difficult-to-access places or dangerous zones on plant.

Similarly, Flir is due to launch several new products for electrical and mechanical condition monitoring, fault analysis, energy management and plant inspection. Watch out for the Flir E-Series, described by the company as offering the best value in thermal imaging and digital camera resolution ever. Not only are plant engineers promised enhanced imaging quality and more analysis functions but also wireless transmission of images and other information to mobile devices such as iPhones and iPads.

Space is limited, so if you see nothing else, take a look at SCHAD, Infor and Thermal Energy International. SCADA software company SCHAD is making its UK debut at Maintec 2012, with its Extend7000 mobile SCADA system. Infor will be demonstrating its expanded asset management software capabilities for Infor10 EAM (enterprise asset management). And Thermal Energy International will be exhibiting its range of energy efficiency products, including GEM venturi orifice steam traps and its flue gas condensing heat recovery economisers.

Incidentally, if you want independent advice on maintenance instruments, go to the 'Lions' Lair', where maintenance products and services will be put to the test by a panel of industry users, who say they are not afraid to speak their minds.

Brian Tinham

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