The NRF has several one-of-a-kind machines at their plant. Maintenance is thus crucial, as a breakdown of any one of these unique machines could halt the entire production. Previously, the NRF conducted quarterly vibration analyses to identify potential issues with the machines, but they lacked insight into the machines’ condition between these measurements. Consequently, they sought a solution that would allow for continuous monitoring of the condition of their machines.
They installed eight Sensorfact vibration sensors on the machines that were primarily placed on ovens, drying ovens, and center drills. These sensors enabled real-time tracking of vibrations, among other parameters, via the online dashboard.
Sensorfact was able to detect anomalies in the vibration pattern of a drying oven fan. Upon this discovery, the NRF chose to disassemble the fan, revealing that the bearing was oscillating and had suffered wear on the shaft. After conducting repairs, there was a significant decrease in the vibrations.
“Of course machines vibrate, but to what extent are these vibrations really harmful? We’ve seen firsthand that it’s absolutely worthwhile to inspect a machine if something seems off—you can then see the visible damage for yourself. It’s become clear to us that investing in real-time monitoring of vibration patterns is definitely a good investment.”
Without continuous monitoring, this problem would have gone undetected, and could have caused fan failure. The result was a production delay of 1-2 days. Monitoring the vibrations prevented a financial loss estimated at €10,600.
Whether you want to save on energy or avoid maintenance, we can show you how our smart monitoring solution will benefit your plant. Don’t wait any longer and start saving on time and costs right away.
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