Maintec 2011: maintain a competitive edge

Maintec, the UK exhibition dedicated to the maintenance and asset management industry, is returning to Birmingham's NEC from 29-31 March, promising to showcase the latest in maintenance technology. Now in its 36th year, and with 140-plus exhibitors, this is the event for engineers and managers wanting an update on innovations ranging from condition monitoring to vibration sensing and access platforms. And if you're looking for something more, organiser easyFairs points to several show features, including the 'Future Factory' and a seminar programme entitled learnShop – delivering educational sessions for engineers, technicians and maintenance managers (although, as we go to press, no details are available). Additionally, however, easyFairs says there will be a two-day Maintec Summit (this year, sponsored by Eriks) providing a forum for senior professionals to air topics likely to have a major influence on the future of maintenance and the link into industry competitiveness. Then on the show floor, two new features for 2011 will be 'Stop the Hazard,' and 'Lions' Lair.' The former is the result of a partnership between easyFairs and health and safety training provider RRC. Its computerised Stop the Hazard game is being launched at Maintec and RRC says it hopes to show that accidents arise because people on the ground don't understand how to assess risk. RRC managing director Gary Fallaize makes the point that poor health and safety leads to accidents and significant costs to any plant. He believes that Maintec and the RRC game provide a perfect opportunity to brush up on health and safety skills for all those working in the logistics, distribution and supply chain, just as much as engineers and managers involved in operations, plant and production. "Just recently a Warwickshire firm was fined a total of £4,000 and ordered to pay £2,500 in costs, after admitting failure to provide training and a safe system of work for unloading lorries after a worker suffered crushed injuries," comments Fallaize. He explains that Stop the Hazard is all about identifying the hazard before it is too late. At Maintec, players will be invited to perform on a large plasma screen, completing tasks and finding deliberate hazards on the way, he says. Meanwhile, in the 'Lions' Lair' some of the latest maintenance ideas will be presented to industry experts – or lions – in a Dragons' Den-inspired contest. Those sitting in judgment will be: Graeme Coyne, business manager IA&DT service, support and training development at Siemens; Paul Dennis, technical facilities manager at Experian; and Richard Wilkins, centre of excellence business process owner, maintenance from MARS. Their prey will be four exhibitors – Flowcrete UK, Idhammer Systems, MAC EU and the Siveco group. As for new technology, infrared thermometers developer Optris says it will be showcasing its latest products. Managing director Ulrich Kienitz claims that its Optris CTfast LT now has optical resolution down to 25:1, with a response time of 6msec. "We now have one of the smallest, most precise and fastest infrared sensors in the world," he insists. Flir will be displaying its latest infrared cameras, including the P640 and P660 for thermographers – each with increased thermal sensitivity and features such as IR window correction, which automatically adjusts sensitivity when inspecting high voltage installation through safety windows. Then Yorkshire-based explosive atmospheres equipment manufacturer Cordex Instruments will be marking its debut at Maintec with three new products, including a laser-based measuring device, an ATEX/CSA certified explosion-proof digital camera and software for asset management. Fluke says it will be exhibiting a range of rugged and reliable portable test instruments, suited for maintenance applications. "Fluke 810 is designed to diagnose the most common mechanical problems of imbalance, looseness, misalignment and bearing failures in a wide variety of mechanical equipment," states marketing manager Ken West. And he includes motors, fans, blowers, belts and chain drives, gearboxes, couplings, pumps, compressors, closed-coupled machines and spindles in that assessment. Meanwhile, for visitors concerned with achieving clean production environments, Dustcontrol will be demonstrating its latest air cleaner, DC AirCube 500. James Miller, general manager at Dustcontrol UK, says: "This unit provides an extremely simple way of decreasing dust concentrations in a working environment. It can also be used as a negative air unit, either by connecting a hose or duct to the outlet, or by installing an inlet transition and hose/duct to the inlet." Incidentally, while you're at the show, it's worth taking a look at Thermal Energy International's modified range of Flu-Ace boiler heat recovery and emission control packages, aimed at sites using CHP waste heat and traditional industrial boiler systems. The firm claims that efficiencies typically in the range 80-85% can be improved to 90-95%, resulting in significant financial and carbon emission savings.