eriks know+how 16 facilities management

Building confidenceInside the world of facilities management p12

The leadIng magazIne for maInTenance engIneers from erIKs

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Nat quodit venienduci sequam rem aut aut licia nimus pXX

ISSUE 16

Pumped up new water pumps legislation p10

The how-to of hoses clamping for best performance p26

Inside information focus on facilities management p12

Hide and leak Best practice leak detection p28

Contents

3

Less Friction. More Products.

You receive one uncompromising standard of

quality across a broad range of bearing and related products.

The Timken name reflects an extensive line of tapered,

spherical, cylindrical, ball bearings and mounted units

for virtually every industrial application. Complementing our

core products is an ever-growing line of friction management solutions

including lubricants, single-point lubricators, maintenance tools and

safety equipment.

www.timken.com

Timken engineers apply their know-how to improve the reliability and performance of machinery in diverse markets worldwide. The company designs, makes and markets high-performance steel as well as mechanical components, including bearings, gears, chain and related mechanical power transmission products and services.

© 2012 The Timken Company. Timken® is a registered trademark of The Timken Company.

Welcome to the latest issue of Know+How...…BrIngIng you The laTesT IndusTry sTorIes from around The world, plus Technology updaTes, feaTures and commenT. ThIs Issue we focus on facIlITIes managemenT.

as one of our news items discusses, a recent poll questioned attitudes to innovation in facilities management (fm). whatever your own view, there’s certainly no doubt about our passion for innovation in fm. over the following pages, you’ll read items such as a piece on thermography for data centres, a story about a power transmission solution that provides the full range of drive components for hVac, and a feature on how enhanced stores management can make more improvements to profitability and efficiency than you might think.

we’ll also be keeping you up-to-date on the latest offers, with a best practice report about our new gas leak detection service, and revealing how fenner geared drives and inverters ensured the successful operation of stage props used in a globally televised, one-night-only live stage event in 2012.

If you have any issues you wish to raise or comments to make about any of the pieces featured in this month’s Know+how you can email the editor at: [email protected], not forgetting Know+how’s own website: www.eriks.co.uk/knowhow where you can register for your own personal copy and make enquiries about something you have read or contact one of the contributors.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Alan WhetstoneCommercial Director, Editor in Chief

published by erIKs uK, amber way, halesowen, west midlands, B62 8wg

LatESt NEwS 04

fm world survey suggests economy is driving innovation

sensor-powered thermostats could help save energy

erIKs inks major mro deal with mettis aerospace

chinese space station moves a step closer

IN-DEpth 06

erIKs stages global industrial revolution – in one night

tEchNoLogy UpDatE 08

nsK enhances bearings with €100m investment

simalube offers free cad data download

Big smiles for wera’s ‘Joker’

erIKs offers fit Test for safety masks

pLaNEt pLUS 10

pumps positive for the planet

FocUS oN FM 12

The BIm supremacy? p12

Time to think about w****r p14

sir alex had it easy p16

hot money and how to find it p18

don’t get left on the shelf p20

why every bearing has its fans p22

fancy a trip? p24

tIME SavINgS 26

we’re clamping, your style

BESt pRactIcE 28

Visual detection of leaks with optical gas Imaging cameras

UNREGISTERED

NEW QR CoDE ACCEss To make it easier to get all the latest industry news straight to your mobile device or smartphone, simply scan the Qr codes throughout.

Latest news Latest news

ISSUE 16 www.eriks.co.uk/knowhow4 5

FM World survey suggests economy is driving innovationThe latest Think Tank poll conducted by fm world, the online magazine of the British Institute of facilities management, has revealed that innovation is driving change even where there is no formal process for its implementation.

44% of those surveyed said that they were under no direct pressure to innovate, with only 6% stating that their organisations operated a programme to reward the introduction of new ideas. however, over half reported that they were under a great amount of pressure to cut costs which has in itself driven innovation.

“I do everything I can to both engender a culture where innovation is welcomed and where good practice is rewarded,” one contributor told the Think Tank poll, adding that a shared savings scheme would make an attractive incentive for all parties. “fm providers need to take responsibility for effective innovation or otherwise face being further marginalised from the customer’s decision making process,” another contributor said, “providers must understand that innovation isn’t about self-interest or

improving only their own margins. Instead, it’s about delivering mutual consistent benefits to stakeholders.”

Latest news

sensor-powered thermostats could help save energysmart planet has reported that americans are using less energy for heating but are still failing to conserve energy across the board because of increased consumption by flat-screen TVs, computers, smartphones and appliances.

according to the us energy Information administration, americans have burned around 10% less energy to heat and cool their homes over the last couple of decades but during that same period the amount of energy consumed for appliances, electronics and lighting has grown by around 10%.

web-enabled, sensor-powered thermostats may be able to make the difference. These futuristic devices ‘learn’ the temperature preferences of the user

and can be controlled remotely via a smartphone or computer.

of course, capitalising on the intelligence of these devices relies on the intelligence of us, the users. alan meier, senior scientist in the Building Technology and urban systems department at lawrence Berkeley national laboratory, says, “There is a big question about whether consumers will persist in using any of these wonderfully convenient devices.” meier was part of a study that found around half of participants do not even use the programming features currently provided by existing thermostats, which are designed to conserve energy when occupants are sleeping or away from home.

Chinese space station moves a step closerThe successful launch of the shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft in June, celebrated by president Xi Jinping’s ‘space dream’ speech, has brought the prospect of a permanent chinese space station a step closer.

“The mission’s members carry a space dream of the chinese nation, and represent the lofty aspirations of the chinese people to explore space,” said mr Xi as his countrymen headed for space lab Tiangong-1 on the country’s longest-ever mission.

The local Xinhua news agency calls china’s space dream ‘humble’ and peaceful and emphasises that, “after the year 2020, china’s future space station will probably

be the only one of any kind in service considering the International space station’s retirement plan”.

By then, china’s space dream, “will not only serve its own people but also contribute to space exploration for the human race”, the agency says.

The proposed space station is expected to have a mass of about 60 tonnes and comprise a number of interlocking modules. like the International space station, it will be capable of accommodating residents for long periods and be supplied by robotic freighters.

ERIKs inks major MRo deal with Mettis Aerospacemettis aerospace, a leading global manufacturer of precision forged and machined components has appointed ERIKS for an on-going mro (maintenance, repair and operations) contract.

mettis aerospace has been working in partnership with ERIKS for many years, but the signing of this new contract marks a new era with the establishment of a long-term technical and supply chain collaboration.

“we have to act fast when maintenance issues arise to avoid downtime,” explained lawrence Jenkins, coo, mettis aerospace. “with ERIKS we can be sure we have a partner who is holding the right stocks for us. we’ve already established an excellent working relationship with ERIKS and we now want to formalise that relationship into what we feel will develop into a true working partnership.”

mettis aerospace specialises in the manufacture of precision-forged and machined components in titanium, aluminium and special steels. Its fully integrated operational facility incorporates design engineering for manufacture, forging operations, heat treatment facilities, testing and laboratory facilities, and a machining centre, plus processing, kitting and logistics facilities.

In-depth In-depth

ISSUE 16 www.eriks.co.uk/knowhow6 7

a oNE-NIght-oNLy EvENt.

tELEvISED woRLDwIDE.

DEpENDINg oN SpLIt-SEcoND

tIMINg. wIth aBSoLUtELy No

RooM FoR FaILURE. No woNDER

UK Loco tURNED to ERIKS FoR

a totaLLy RELIaBLE SoLUtIoN

wIth 100% DEpENDaBLE

SERvIcE aND SUppoRt.

It’s nerve-racking enough when a production line is relying on your equipment to function perfectly. Downtime needs to be kept to a minimum, Mean Time Between Failure needs to be as long as possible, and a breakdown could be highly costly. However, when hundreds of actors and extras are depending on your equipment, when it’s being televised in action, and watched by millions around the globe, and when a breakdown simply is not an option in a one-off, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you really have to be sure it won’t let you down.

So naturally you turn to ERIKS for reliability of supply, quality of components, and the highest levels of service.

Up to the challengeHaving passed successfully through the first stage procurement process, for stage props for a major prestigious live stage show, Worcestershire-based UK Loco was asked to quote on supplies as the next step.

The requirement was for geared drives and inverters for the stage props, and ERIKS was the first supplier UK Loco thought of. Their team of engineers already had a worldwide reputation for providing purpose-

built attractions for the theme park and leisure industry, as well as for stage sets. Now, for one of the biggest and most important challenges they had faced so far, they knew they needed a partnership with a supplier with an equally strong reputation for delivering under pressure.

Satish Chandarana, Technical Support Manager for Drives & Power Transmissions at ERIKS, was asked to tender for the components required for the project. As Alec McAndrew, Chief Operating Officer, UK Loco, explained, he called on ERIKS because, “we have a very good relationship and we knew that, despite the fact that the job was confidential – meaning we would have to ask ERIKS to specify equipment without being able to tell them exactly what it was for – they would give us what we needed. Technically speaking, ERIKS are extremely good at interpreting our needs.”

However, this was no small job, nor even ‘just’ an urgent request for production-critical components. This was nothing less than an enactment of a brief history of Great Britain and – specifically – a scene designed to represent the Industrial Revolution.

Coolly calculatingAppropriately enough, the products ultimately selected by UK Loco for the project were supplied by Fenner – for whom ERIKS is an Authorised Distributor. Fenner was established at the climax of the Industrial Revolution, in the mid-nineteenth century, and has been providing high-quality components to industry ever since.

On this occasion, the components required were Fenner geared drives and inverters for two giant looms – with three geared drives and three inverters needed for each machine.

“As the design moved forward,” explained Alec, “we verified the spec with ERIKS, who were able to calculate whether what they initially estimated would do the job. Once the calculations were worked out it was established that Fenner Series C gearboxes together with Fenner QD:E inverters would suit the application perfectly.”

As seen on TVLee Cooke, Electrical Systems Manager at UK Loco, explained that the Fenner inverters were particularly user-friendly, which was highly important in the

application. “In a theatrical application such as this,” Lee said, “it’s important to be able to make adjustments swiftly and simply, both in rehearsal and before a live audience. With the Fenner QD:E inverters it was possible to easily and quickly ‘tune’ motor speeds to achieve the look that the creatives were aiming for.”

If you were one of the millions who watched the show on TV – or one of the thousands who was lucky enough to be there on the night, you’ll know that despite its scale and complexity, the show went ahead without a hitch. Once again, ERIKS know-how made the difference.

“We’ve had dozens of gearboxes and motors with different torques from ERIKS, and none has ever failed to do what ERIKS said it would,” said Alec. “This was no

exception. At no point did we experience any problems with the Fenner gearboxes and, not surprisingly, we are continuing to consult ERIKS for our current and future commissions.”

Not surprisingly because, having helped achieve an industrial revolution in one night, ERIKS can clearly be relied on to provide revolutionary service and reliability, day in and day out.

erIKs stages global industrial revolution – in one night

“”

we have a very good reLatIonshIp and we knew that, despIte

the faCt that the job was ConfIdentIaL – meanIng we wouLd have

to ask erIks to speCIfy equIpment wIthout beIng abLe

to teLL them exaCtLy what It was for.

technology update technology update

8 9ISSUE 16 www.eriks.co.uk/knowhow

NsK enhances bearings with €100m investmentThe annual €100m nsK investment in r&d has recently resulted in the development of powerful new technologies, especially in bearing steel and sealing solutions. nsK has worked closely with steel manufacturers to produce z-steel, which has such low levels of impurities that the bearing life can be increased by up to 80% over a bearing made of ordinary steel.

meanwhile, advances in seal technology have resulted in a new patented labyrinth design that ensures the best levels of protection while minimising power loss. with several seal and shield combinations available, the right solution can be found for a range of applications, even those involving high temperatures or corrosive atmospheres. nsK has also advanced lubrication technology with high performance, environmentally-friendly lubricants, including clean room greases and low torque lubricants to minimise power losses.

simalube offers free CAD data download

simalube has made 3d cad data for all of its automatic single-point lubricators downloadable from its website free of charge. The data will enable oem customers who use cad software to integrate the automatic lubricators directly in their three-dimensional design drawings.

simalube is suitable for any single-point lubricating task with grease or oil and is available in four different sizes. simalube lubricators guarantee a consistent supply of grease, preventing insufficient lubrication from causing bearings to fail long before they have reached their expected product life.

cad drawings can be accessed on simatec.com

Loctite launches free Maintenance Expert Guideloctite has enabled faster, more efficient product specification for its customers by providing an online maintenance expert guide for mobile devices. users can navigate by product search, application category or specific maintenance tasks, offering engineers an easy, on-the-spot means of finding the right product. They can also use the ‘how to’ instructions, which provide valuable hints on how to use products, or access contact details for a local distributor.

you can access the maintenance expert guide free via your smartphone from m.loctite-repairs.co.uk. It is also available as a pdf, or you can order a printed copy.

Big smiles for Wera’s ‘Joker’The Joker, wera’s open-end wrench, has won this year’s if (International forum) product design award for industry. wera’s tool scored highly in the jury’s assessment criteria – which included categories such as design quality, degree of innovation, functionality and ergonomics – to score the wuppertal-based tool manufacturer the prestigious award.

among the capabilities offered by The Joker is a practical holding function that allows nuts and bolts to be held in the jaw and easily positioned where they are needed, avoiding time-wasting searches for dropped nuts and bolts.

further features include a ‘limit stop’ that prevents constant re-positioning of the wrench and eases the difficulty of holding fasteners in confined spaces.

RX offers Fit Test for safety masks

when safety masks are not put on correctly or do not entirely correspond with the face profile, the necessary protection is insufficient or even non-existent, and it is this danger to safety that has prompted rX to offer the fit Test. during the test, a sweet or bitter solution is sprayed around the wearer with an atomiser. If the wearer can taste the substance, he/she will be retested and adjustments will be made until the wearer can no longer detect the taste.

rX offers a range of ergonomically-shaped masks that can be adjusted to fit closely against the wearer’s face. The range includes: the rX® flat-fold disposable mask, a single use, lightweight, disposable respirator; the rX® pre-formed (cupped) disposable mask, available with or without valve; and the rX® pre-formed (cupped) and reinforced disposable mask, with a lightweight netted construction that has a very low breathing resistance, offering the wearer the highest possible comfort even during the most demanding working conditions.

Terms and conditions apply.

RX IS HELPING TO ENSURE CORRECT USE OF RESPIRATORS By

OFFERING A FIT TEST TO DETERMINE WHAT TyPE OF SAFETy MASK

IS BEST SUITED TO THE WEARER. THE TEST ALSO TRAINS THE

EMPLOyEE IN HOW TO FIT A MASK CORRECTLy.

ADVERT

10 ISSUE 16 www.eriks.co.uk/knowhow

You and the

Now it only takes 5 minutes to find out 5 years’ ownership costs.

You’ll find the ERIKS Online Motor Calculator at

motordemo.eriks.co.uk

Before you spend money on repairing or replacing a motor, spend a few minutes finding out its Total Cost of Ownership.

The ERIKS Online Motor Calculator gives you a comparative TCO for repairing your existing motor, or replacing it with an IE2 or energy-efficient IE3 motor. It also tells you the new motor’s carbon footprint over 5 years, the cost savings you can achieve, and even its eventual scrap value.

With these facts and figures at your fingertips, you can make an informed decision to repair, or replace. And because ERIKS are equally expert at both, your next step will take even less time to work out.

Two directives have been issued by the eu. The first directive affects industries which use water pumps, and the second affects all enterprises that ‘are not smes’.

More efficient pumpingmotors have been subject to eu energy efficiency legislation for some time now, under the european minimum energy performance standard (or eu meps). now pumps are being brought into line, with the annex II ecodesign requirements for water pumps, efficiency requirements.

since 1st January this year, all new water pumps have been required to have a minimum efficiency of meI ≥ 0.10 when measured according to annex III. and from 1st January 2015, all new water pumps will be required to have a minimum efficiency of meI ≥ 0.40.

meanwhile, an ecodesign standard for glandless standalone circulators and integrated glandless circulators has been in effect for some time, affecting the 950,000 or so domestic circulators sold into the uK market each year.

naturally ERIKS is completely up to speed on the legislation, and all new ERIKS’ products affected by the legislation meet or exceed the requirements. ERIKS can also offer help and advice relating to the legislation, if you are unsure how it affects you.

You are being watchedThe second piece of legislation – en 16247-1, energy audit in public Buildings 2015 – requires you to have an energy audit carried out by independent, qualified and/or accredited experts, or implemented and supervised by independent authorities under national legislation.

These mandatory audits come into force in the uK in 2015, and – if you’re not an sme – you’ll be required to undertake one every four years to make sure your energy use meets the relevant european or International standards, such as en Iso 50001 series (energy management systems) and en Iso 14000 (environmental management systems).

with the support of ERIKS and your facilities management company, an audit can quickly and easily be arranged and carried out. and if any of your equipment fails to meet the grade, ERIKS can help you to upgrade or replace with the latest energy-efficient solutions, to meet the requirements of the legislation.

positive energy reduction of this kind is just one facet of ERIKS’ planet+ initiative, with positive pollution reduction, positive waste reduction and positive risk reduction being the other three. so whether you want to comply with legislation, reduce your energy bills, reduce your carbon footprint, or have a more positive effect on the welfare and well-being of the planet and your employees, you can be positive that ERIKS can help.

PUMPs

PosITIVE

FoR THE PLANET NEw LEgISLatIoN FRoM thE EU wILL hELp to ENSURE that

pUMpS pLay thEIR paRt IN REDUcINg ENERgy USE aND

caRBoN EMISSIoNS – jUSt LIKE erIks pLaNEt+ INItIatIvE.

You Need To

buT You doN’T Need To

comPlY,

worrY.

focus on facilities management


Building Information Modelling (BIM) has profound implications for the facilities management function, affecting how equipment maintenance within buildings is recorded. after many years and government-sponsored reports bemoaning the lack of joined-up thinking in the building construction and design sector, the development of BIM, and the mandating of its use on all government building projects by 2016, has forced all those in the construction chain to evaluate their roles. From designers and architects to project managers and construction companies, BIM is forcing on them a greater requirement for collaboration as well as an assessment of individual component cost and performance information prior to specification. Effectively, the provenance and performance data for every chiller, boiler, generator and brick in a building is written into initial construction plans at a granular level.

It should be obvious already that the day-to-day knowledge of equipment condition and probable maintenance

requirements is critical to the planning and cost calculation for both capital and maintenance expenditure, but BIM offers the prospect of this being an obligation on building owners, designers and occupiers, not an optional extra. It forces performance data to be fed back into the process for assessing equipment choices for other new builds, giving FM the opportunity of contributing to the process of designing the buildings it ultimately manages.

Indeed, this forcing of asset-level control on the FM function could elevate its status within organisations, putting FM in the position of leading capital expenditure plans. For those of us continually surprised at FM’s relatively small voice given the amount of expenditure it can influence, this can only be a good thing – and not before time, say most facilities managers.

however, we’ve still a long way to go. For all the noise surrounding BIM, there’s still plenty of uncertainty. For a start, the way in which operational data

is fed back into new builds is far from clearly defined, while the way in which the building information model generated at the

outset is then subsequently managed and maintained through a building’s operational life is also up for debate. there’s much froth and excitement about the savings already being generated by high profile BIM projects, but how any changes to use or equipment is subsequently documented in the model has yet to be widely agreed on. that this process should involve the facilities manager seems clear, but that’s about all that is.

Much has yet to be decided about BIM in terms of its operational impact, but it will certainly affect equipment choices and play a huge role in a building’s energy performance. there are struggles ahead, but with BIM the data genie is not so easily put back in its bottle.

The BIMsupremacy?

Martin ReadEditorFM World

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you’ve probably heard before that 95% of the cost of running a pump is energy. And that only 1% of the capital cost is the purchase price, whereas 4% is applied maintenance. So if you can make savings in energy or maintenance, the next cold winter won’t send chills through your budget.

The difference in efficiency between an old pump and one with the latest technology can be as much as 15%. yet up to 60% of pumps in plant rooms and pumping operations are actually obsolete – wasting energy and being almost impossible to source OE spare parts for when they inevitably fail.

So you can wait until the thermometer drops, push the ‘On’ button and hope for the best. Or you can plan ahead now.

Knowledge is powerBefore you can decide how to make your pumping system more efficient, you need a comprehensive audit that looks at your pumps, tests their performance, uses data logging to identify current energy use,

and calculates payback periods for any replacement pumps.

It should also identify the highest and lowest energy users, based on operating hours, usage and motor size, so you can make an informed decision about which ones to deal with first.

Of course, for an unbiased result and solution-neutral advice, you need an unbiased and solution neutral advisor – like ERIKS.

ERIKS are not only solution neutral – able to repair or replace – but are also British Pump Manufacturers’ Association CPSA (Certified Pump System Auditor Scheme). Which means you’ll get comprehensive and accurate results as well as advice you can trust.

Pimp that pumpReplacing an out-of-date, inefficient or obsolete pump with a new model is not always a straight swap. The footprint may be hugely different, and pipework may

need redesigning, which may not always be possible. Or if it is possible, the presence of asbestos may make it too expensive to contemplate. In that case, ERIKS can offer you expert advice and assistance with improving the efficiency of your existing pump or pumps. This may involve a motor upgrade, pump refurbishment, reverse engineering of spare parts, or a different pump control philosophy – using a variable speed drive, for example.

whatever the audit reveals, you can depend on erIks to have a solution to minimise your energy use, maximise the efficiency of your pumping systems, save on your energy and maintenance costs – and ensure that when winter comes and you push the ‘on’ button, your pumps won’t let you down.

Time to think about w****r

wE’RE SoRRy. wE KNow SUMMER’S haRDLy aRRIvED. BUt wE’vE aLREaDy haD thE LoNgESt

Day, thE NIghtS aRE DRawINg IN, aND SooN FacILItIES MaNagERS aLL ovER thE coUNtRy

wILL BE thINKINg aBoUt tURNINg thEIR hEatINg pUMpS BacK oN. whIch MEaNS Now IS

thE tIME to MaKE SURE thoSE pUMpS aRE thE MoSt EFFIcIENt thEy caN BE.

andy crusePumps Business Development DirectorERIKS UK


focus on facilities management focus on facilities management

Jose Mourinho believes himself to be ‘a special one’. Well, he might be able to win a European Championship, but how special would he look if he had to take care of facilities for a major industrial production site, or a shopping centre, or a hospital? Because the facts prove most Facilities Managers have it tougher than a football manager. Here’s why:

Being a Facilities Manager is a round-the-clock responsibilityOkay, so football’s no longer just about Saturday afternoons, and the off-season seems to be getting shorter and shorter. But no-one expects the soccer boss to be on call seven days a week in case of emergencies – unless you call it an emergency when Sky Sports wants a quote.

Facilities Managers have to stick at the jobWith the possible exception of Sir Alex Ferguson, football managers have proved to be pretty disposable in the past. One or two bad results and they’ll be out of the ground quicker than you can say ‘enormous pay-off’. But most Facilities Managers don’t have that luxury.

Things have to be kept running efficiently with maximum uptime. And if there’s a problem, it’s down to them to sort it out. With thousands of shoppers or patients, or hundreds of thousands of pounds of productivity and the jobs that go with it depending on them, it has to be done quickly and efficiently with minimum fuss and maximum success.

There are no billionaires backing Facilities ManagersMost football managers have the kind of budget a Facilities Manager can only dream about, and for them, financial pressure means a player wanting another £10k a week, not the need to get more performance every quarter, for less money every quarter, from equipment that’s three months older than the last time the budget was cut.

The football manager’s hot seat has a roofThe pitch-side bench for the manager usually has a roof to keep off the rain. And though his team is more exposed out on the pitch, at least they’re only out there for 90 minutes. The Facilities Manager and his team, on the other hand, have to contend with everything from harsh working environments for the equipment they’re responsible for, to harsh working environments for the team themselves.

Anyone who’s been up on a roof in a rainstorm, trying to swap-out a belt on a fan in an air-handling unit, knows that being closer to the rainclouds doesn’t mean you get wetter. But they also know it certainly feels like you do.

Facilities Managers don’t have physiosFootballers break down just like equipment. But there’s an army of physiotherapists and other treatment specialists to help get them back on their feet, up and – literally – running, in as little time as possible.

Instead of physios, facilities managers have fenner

Fenner products and solutions are designed to help equipment keep going well into extra time, with fewer breakdowns, less maintenance and longer Mean Times Between Failure. They’re also designed to help Facilities Managers do what most footballers want to do as they approach full-time: save energy.

The Fenner QD:HVAC inverter, for example, has hardware fully optimised for driving fan and pump loads, and can recoup its purchase cost in saved energy costs in six months or under. And that’s from an inverter which takes as little as two hours to install, and even qualifies for an Enhanced Capital Allowance if it’s fitted as part of a CapEx project.

Or take the Fenner T-Max V-Belt Drive Tensioners, which automatically take the slip out of any belt-driven climate control system. This reduces maintenance time and costs (no premature belt failure), reduces system downtime (no belt re-tensioning) and reduces system noise (no loose belt vibration). Fitted in conjunction with a Variable Speed Drive they also increase energy efficiency by eliminating slip and torque losses.

And with no tools required and no need to move drive components to install the tensioners, they’re as easy to get into place as it is to get a Premier League player into a nightclub.

spot the differenceSo there are obviously big differences between football managers and Facilities Managers (the salary being a major one). But there’s also one major similarity: the pressure. And we would argue that it looks as if Facilities Managers have it tougher.

Or to paraphrase Sir Alex’s comment after the 1999 European Cup Final: “Facilities Management...bloody hell.”

sir Alex had it easyyoU’vE MISSED yoUR chaNcE to appLy FoR FERgIE’S joB at

MaNchEStER UNItED. BUt hIS REtIREMENt MaKES It a gooD

tIME to aSK thE qUEStIoN yoU havEN’t hEaRD (yEt) FRoM

LINEKER oR chaMBERLIN. who haS thE toUghER tIME: thE

FootBaLL MaNagER oR thE FacILItIES MaNagER?



level 2. This level of training, combined with ERIKS twenty-five years of condition monitoring experience, means that clients can depend on the detection of all issues in the area surveyed, the capturing of useful data, and the correct interpretation of the thermographic images.

Better still, a comprehensive survey of an entire electrical system in – for example – a data centre, can be completed in a matter of minutes with no interruption or disruption of operations, compared with the two to three days required for manually checking connections and terminals during a scheduled interruption.

Point and shoot?Thermographic imagery is an effective way to detect the increased temperature levels which often indicate an electrical fault such as a defective connection. The infrared visual data captured provides a clear indication of the location and nature of the issue.

But these are no point-and-shoot cameras. The information is only useful to an operator trained to interpret it correctly.

ERIKS’ highly-qualified condition monitoring team uses thermographic cameras to check circuit boards, terminals, connections and even ups systems, and from the results gathered provide a report – with thermographic evidence – highlighting findings, providing an interpretation of the data, and allocating a ‘degree of severity’ to each issue, indicating how soon action needs to be taken to prevent a failure.

This report provides written, verifiable and auditable documentation of the survey that has been carried out. a follow-up survey will then be commissioned, to provide similar written and verifiable evidence that repair or maintenance work has been successfully undertaken and the issues resolved effectively.

ERIKS’ situation as an impartial third-party ensures the report can be relied on as a true record both of the issues and of their resolution.

safe bets and easy winswhilst thermographic surveys are important in identifying electrical issues which could lead to fire or other safety problems, they are also invaluable in identifying energy losses, and therefore energy- and cost-savings.

ERIKS’ ability to put a monetary value – expressed as a cost per hour – on energy losses identified by thermography, means facilities managers can now quickly and easily identify where and how savings can be made, can initiate a project to resolve the issues, and can then provide the client with independently verified evidence, for a signed-off cost saving.

so unless a client has money to burn, thermography is the latest hot ticket for facilities managers, to saving energy and saving money.

of course detecting an electrical system issue in a data centre, a school, a bank or a hospital is not only about the money. where electrics are involved it’s just as much about safety, prevention of downtime through unscheduled stoppages, and even about fire prevention.

But whatever the reason, the evidence of an issue is always the same, and with a high-resolution thermographic camera it’s as clear to the trained operator as a footprint in blood to a TV ’tec.

It’s the ease of detection, the clarity of the evidence, and the capability for traceability

and accountability which has led so many major organisations – from banks to supermarkets, and museum operators to schools – to insist their facilities management companies utilise thermography for their condition monitoring activities.

Banking on thermographya major supermarket chain operates data centres throughout the uK to control its cashpoints and tills. The scale of its operations is such that the failure of one bay in one data centre due to a failed connection or a resulting fire will shut down all the checkouts and all the cashpoints in every one of its outlets across an entire county.

To avoid this nightmare scenario, the company’s facilities manager subcontracts ERIKS condition monitoring team to conduct regular scheduled thermographic surveys of all the data centres, to detect any electrical system or climate control system issues.

ERIKS is the preferred thermographic surveyor because of the high quality cameras used (flIr gf320 thermal imaging cameras) and the highly-skilled operators who use them. no ERIKS thermographic camera operator is allowed to conduct a survey alone until he or she has achieved British Institute of non-destructive Testing

yoU DoN’t NEED to woRK FoR a FacILItIES MaNagEMENt coMpaNy to KNow that hEat LoSS aND

ELEctRIcaL SyStEM ISSUES USUaLLy EqUaL ENERgy LoSS, whIch IN tURN EqUaLS MoNEy LoSS.

that’S thE EaSy paRt. thE haRD paRt caN BE SpottINg thE ISSUE, caLcULatINg a vaLUE FoR

thE LoSS It’S caUSINg aND, thEREFoRE, pUttINg a SpEcIFIc FIgURE to vagUE ‘ENERgy SavINg’

pRoMISES. thIS IS SERIoUS DEtEctIvE woRK – BUt a thERMogRaphIc caMERa wIth aN ExpERIENcED

aND tRaINED opERatoR IS thE EqUIvaLENt oF hoLMES aND watSoN, MULDER aND ScULLy, aND MoRSE

aND LEwIS RoLLED INto oNE.

Thermographic surveys are invaluable in identifying energy losses, and therefore energy- and cost-savings.


20 21ISSUE 16 www.eriks.co.uk/knowhow 21

when you need a replacement item urgently, the storeroom is the first place you look. surprisingly, when you need to maximise efficiency

and increase profitability, it’s also the place to go. Because if you think of it as just somewhere to keep stuff, you could be storing up trouble.

a poorly-managed storeroom can hinder production, limit efficiency and waste resources. yet with better storeroom planning, organisation and inventory control, you can reduce inventory, take better control of purchasing costs, reduce transportation costs, and make better use of resources.

From boardroom to storeroomgood management in the storeroom is as critical as in the boardroom – and just as essential to a business’s success. Just ask anyone who’s been to the stores for a crucial bit of kit, only to find it’s out of stock, or that the only one left is unserviceable.

with good management, costly downtime can be avoided by ensuring fast-moving, plant-critical parts are readily available, in good working order, and stored where they should be.

But stocking up on every possible part is not the most efficient solution. all you’ll have is money tied up on shelves full of expensive components, which might sit there for months and be unusable by the time they’re actually needed. Instead, an efficient storeroom needs planning, organisation, and careful management and monitoring of stock to ensure the right parts are always available.

good management also means knowing which parts to keep and which to order-in as required. after all, there’s no point storing a critical item such as a large bore bearing if it takes a day to strip the old one out of

the machine. you could save yourself the expense and the space required to hold one in stock, by having it delivered in less time than it takes the engineers to prepare for installation.

Aim for less than perfect“ensuring 100% availability of the production environment means having a service level of 100% on all mro items – and this is simply unfeasible and/or too costly.” so says dr. amar ramudhin, director of supply chain management & Technology at georgia Tech’s supply chain & logistics Institute, atlanta, usa.

“Inventory management for minimising the stock of any product is a function of its demand distribution, and of supplier reliability regarding the quantity delivered and delivery lead time. except for fast-moving supplies or consumables, the demand distribution of mro parts is unknown and – more importantly – the parts themselves might not be known until they fail.”

ramudhin identifies several situations that prevent storeroom management

optimisation. These include: ordering from too many suppliers, resulting in complex negotiations and procurement processes; hoarding of mro items in toolboxes, resulting in poor usage data and systems performance; and management of the mro storeroom by maintenance specialists rather than material or inventory specialists.

More than just storesa closer relationship with a supply partner like ERIKS – with services ranging from Just-In-Time delivery to a vendor-managed inventory, to a complete takeover of the inventory management of mro activities – can have a positive effect on more than just your stores.

It can help improve mro procurement and stores activity by identifying unrequired items, and can lead to significant improvements in plant efficiency and economy. careful monitoring of the stores by an experienced supplier can also help to identify potential problems on the factory floor, highlighted by a sudden increase in the use of a particular spare part, for example.

apply this knowledge in conjunction with predictive maintenance procedures, and production line availability will inevitably increase.

‘swap’ your supplier‘swap’ your supplier for a consultant – without changing the company – by capitalising on the close relationship you already have. Their deep understanding of your company’s needs can bring real savings, through knowledge of the stock, the operation, and what can and can’t be streamlined.

also, with a close supplier relationship, your business doesn’t need to waste time calling numerous suppliers to quote on each product. and part costs will drop because

the supplier will be buying in larger numbers than the company alone can.

as summarised by dr ramudhin: “once implemented and fine-tuned, the results of [an optimised] system should be a significant reduction of mro related costs, through reduced inventory levels, elimination of hoarding, better control on purchasing costs, a reduction in transportation costs, elimination of obsolete parts, better visibility on mro item usage, and better use of the organisation’s resources as they are diverted to more value-adding or mission critical activities.”

storeroom optimisation is an ERIKS’ specialty, based on over 10 years of stores transformation and project management experience. with an expert solutions provider such as ERIKS acting as a consultant as well as a supplier, your engineering business can reduce stockholding and downtime, while improving efficiency and profitability. and while others reap the benefits of being leaner and more competitive, you won’t be left on the shelf.

Don’t get left on the shelfBEINg LEaNER aND MoRE

coMpEtItIvE aRE two

IMpoRtaNt tRENDS FoR

ENtERpRISES. BUt whERE

Do yoU thINK IS oNE oF

thE BESt pLacES to StaRt?

julia MullarOperations Development Manager ERIKS UK Integrated Solutions



a split roller Bearing such as the revolvo srB could be the answer.)

finally, ERIKS know as well as any facilities manager that repairs or replacements have to be achieved as quickly as possible to maintain the uptime and availability of a fan.

all these considerations lie behind the range of bearing housings and units supplied by ERIKS, and all this experience and expertise backs up the advice ERIKS can offer when you need to choose your next bearing.

meanwhile, to help you appreciate the choices available, the table (above) outlines the main points of difference to consider.

Maintenance – who needs it?so you’ve got the right advice, you’ve chosen the right bearing unit, and you’ve fitted it. with the simatec simalube automatic lubricator, that’s it until it next needs replacing in around a year’s time.

holding 30, 60, 125 or 250ml of oil or grease (which can be enough for a year’s lubricant, depending on the application), the

simalube lubricator automatically delivers lubrication for preset time periods.

requiring no external power, the simalube can help make dramatic savings of lubrication time and costs, for lubrication points that are trapped or otherwise difficult to access.

which means most fans should have one, and shows why so many facilities managers are fans of simalube.

whether you’re responsible for maintaining fans, hVac or air handling, in a shopping centre or a factory, downtime is something you need to keep to a minimum. which means you need bearings you can rely on to the absolute maximum. and if ever a bearing does need replacing, you need to know you can replace it quickly and efficiently so your asset can be back up and running in the shortest possible time.

There is a whole range of bearings you can choose from, to suit your particular application. But with so much choice, how do you ensure you’re getting the best bearing for the job?

Bias-free bearingsfirstly, you need to be talking to a supplier with a comprehensive range of bearings available for a full range of fan applications. But you also need a supplier

who is completely transparent about the advantages and disadvantages of each particular arrangement, so you can make an informed decision. and a supplier you can trust to give you unbiased advice, that helps you to select the best solution for your application.

ERIKS not only has a choice of housed units and bearings from a range of reputable manufacturers, but also can offer expert advice on which one best suits which application.

Hands-on experienceas experienced maintenance engineers as well as component suppliers, ERIKS have real insight into the problems posed by different fan applications. These range from the issues raised by – for example – the high temperatures bearings have to contend with in some industrial

operating environments to dirty and dusty environments where a higher level of sealing is required.

naturally they are also aware of the requirement for absolute reliability, when a fan may sit idle for weeks, then be required to switch on and operate instantly at maximum speed.

not least, as maintenance engineers themselves, ERIKS are also aware of the considerations involved in replacing bearings. with many hVac and air handling units situated in exposed positions (often on a roof), no engineer wants to be struggling for hours in the wet and cold to swap-out a bearing. and with limited working space in many air handling units, a bearing needs to be easily removable without having to dismantle half the equipment to access it. (In this case,

Why everybearing hasits fans

BEaRINg FaILURES aRE RESpoNSIBLE FoR ExpENSIvE DowNtIME IN

a NUMBER oF ScENaRIoS FaMILIaR to thE FacILItIES MaNagER. wIth

SUch a wIDE SELEctIoN oF BEaRINgS avaILaBLE, It payS to KNow

yoU caN REpLacE FaILED paRtS qUIcKLy aND EFFIcIENtLy.

Rhp Self-Lube® Rhp Life-Lube™ timken Blue-Brute SKF SE Revolvo SRB

Bearing type

deep groove ball deep groove ball spherical roller bearing

spherical roller bearing; self-aligning ball bearing; carB torodial bearing

cylindrical roller bearing (split)

MaterialBearing steel stainless steel with

molded-oil™Bearing steel Bearing steel Bearing steel

Housing types

2 bolt pillow block; 2/4 bolt flange; take-up unit

2 bolt pillow block; 2/4 bolt flange; take-up unit

2/4 bolt pillow block; 2/4 bolt flange; take-up

2 bolt pillow block (take-up and flange)

2 bolt pillow block, bolt flange, take-up, hangar

Housing materialcast iron, 2 piece sheet steel

pBT thermoplastic resin

cast steel (1 piece) cast iron (2 piece) cast Iron 2-piece and cartridge 2-piece

standard size range

12–100mm (+ equivalent Imperial sizes)

20–40mm 40–100mm (plus others equivalent sizes plus imperial)

20–140mm (larger range also available}

35 to 600 mm

sealing range

single lip nitrile rubber (standard), flinger, triple lip

single lip nitrile rubber seal and metal flinger

extensive, including labyrinth, triple lip

felt (standard), and extensive range including labyrinth

felt (standard), extensive range inc. labyrinth, garter

shaft locking

grub screw (standard); eccentric collar; taper sleeve

grub screw set screw; eccentric collar; adapter sleeve; patented V and double V lock

adapter sleeve (taper bore bearings)

clamp rings, supplied with bearing

split solid housing/ bearing

solid housing/ bearing

solid housing/ bearing

split housing/ solid bearing

split housing and Bearing

Revolvo sRB split pillow Block unit - completely split to shaft Bearing unit with cylindrical roller Bearing

sKF sE pillow Block unit – split housed sperical roller Bearing unit

RHP Life-Lube®

polymer pillow Block unit – maintenance free Ball Bearing unit

RHP self Lube®

pillow Block unit – Ball Bearing unit

Timken Blue Brute pillow Block unit – solid housed spherical roller Bearing unit


Slips and trips are the most common cause of major injuries at work. 95% of major slips result in broken bones and are responsible for, on average:n øver a third of all reported major injuries n 20% of over-3-day injuries to employees n Two fatalities per year n 50% of all reported accidents to

members of the public that happen in workplaces

n £512 million in lost production and other costs to employers

n Incalculable human cost n More major injuries in manufacturing and

the service sectors than any other cause

In the food and drink industry, slips and trips occur more often than in almost any other industry – responsible for 35% of the ‘major’ injuries (from a broken arm to hospitalisation) and nearly 25% of all injuries for the industry, reported to the Health and Safety Executive. That’s around 1,300 injuries a year, with around 80% being slips and 20% trips.

Whether you’re an employee who’s suffered an injury, or an employer who’s had to sort out the consequences, you’ll know this kind of trip is no holiday.

Where did you slip up?years of experience prove that slip prevention works, and can cut injuries by 50% or more. Which of course means cutting the costs and the consequences too.

Statistics show that 90% of slips happen on floors that are wet or – in the food industry – contaminated with food product. 75% of trips are caused by obstructions, and the rest by uneven surfaces.

This means that prevention may involve:n Preventing contamination of the floor

and walkwaysn Limiting the effects of contamination

when it does occurn Ensuring the floor has a sufficiently rough

surface to help reduce slipsn Ensuring the floor is cleaned effectively

in a way which reduces slip risk (some

treatments actually make floors slippier)n Providing suitable footwearn Eliminating or reducing carrying of loads

and pushing or pulling of trolleys, which increases slip risk

n Eliminating holes, slopes and uneven surfaces

n Eliminating materials and objects likely to cause tripping

It’s a daunting list and – like most tasks – sounds a great deal simpler to put into practice than it actually is. Which is why we recommend you contact an expert in health and safety in the workplace, such as ERIKS.

After all, you wouldn’t want to trip up at the first step, would you?

Fancy atrip?

yoU, oR SoMEoNE yoU KNow, coULD BE taKINg

a tRIp qUItE SooN. aND Not thE KIND oF tRIp

whERE yoU’LL coME hoME wIth a SUNtaN aND

gREat photoS, BUt thE KIND that ENDS IN a&E.


Lower risk, higher productivity.

RX® Dyneema®Safe3 safety gloves use the very latest in Dyneema® fabric technology to produce a lightweight, close-fitting, elasticated and durable glove that gives significantly higher cut/abrasion/tear resistance and increased durability over aramid-based gloves.

This high level of protection is achieved without the use of reinforcing glass fibre or steel wire, which means that there is no compromise on comfort either; your hands will stay dry and cool all day, reducing fatigue and discomfort which can lead to increased productivity.

Feel the difference. order your rX® safety gloves today.call 0800 006 6000 or visit www.eriks.co.uk

Our Dyneema® Safe3 safety gloves providecomfortable, tough and long-lasting protection

- a superb all-round performance!

Give them a hand.

Safety ProductS

the rX® saFety gLove range

rX® dyneema® safe3Seamless knitted Dyneema®

glove with polyurethane coating.

rX® top-Flex puSeamless knitted nylon glove with polyurethane coating.

rX® nitri-4-gripSeamless knitted nylon glove with light porous breathable foam nitrile coating.

rX® durafit nFtSeamless nylon glove with a foamed nitrile palm coating.

rX® chemresistSynthetic rubber glove with nitrile coating.

paul SkadeCategory Manager Tools and Maintenance ERIKS UK

time savings time savings


We’re clamping, style your

thERE’S MoRE thaN oNE way to cLaMp a hoSE.

BUt thERE’S USUaLLy oNLy oNE StyLE oF cLaMpINg

that’S thE RIght way. aND KNowINg thE RIght

StyLE FoR yoUR paRtIcULaR appLIcatIoN caN

MaKE a SIgNIFIcaNt DIFFERENcE to SaFEty,

pRoDUctIvIty, aND tIME-SavINg.

you may not think that the way you join a hose to a coupling can be all that critical. however, it’s actually a key factor in the performance of the hose assembly, and therefore, by extension, to the performance of the equipment it’s attached to.

for example, a large pharmaceutical company uses hose clamps on its robotic machines, to attach the vacuum hose from the main vacuum supply to the robot head. The robot goes through such an extensive range of motion that the hose is subject to extreme stresses and needs changing 3–4 times a week, which involves removing the clamps to carry out the replacement.

The clamps which the company were using, were of such a design that they were rendered unserviceable as they were removed, so had to be scrapped and replaced every time a new hose was fitted. The result was a far slower hose replacement process and a massive waste of money and resources, with numerous clamps being thrown away and replaced.

Clamp-it-yourselfERIKS’ solution, based on years of hose and clamping technology experience, was to provide the customer with a self-clamping system.

These particular clamps are not only quicker and easier to fit, but they can also be re-used when the hose is replaced. The time-saving difference between these new clamps and the old style disposable clamps is around 25% (approximately 15 minutes per change) and the cost-saving has been so immediately noticeable that the customer is in the process of fitting a new-style clamp to every hose, as and when it fails.

uptime is clearly increased and maintenance costs are reduced, but the full scale of the savings cannot be calculated until all the old clamps have been replaced. however, the customer reports that the longest-fitted self-clamping system has been in place for 12 months already, with no indication of failure.

Clamp down on wasted timenot every new clamp will deliver such impressive savings in time and costs. But a comprehensive examination of service conditions by an ERIKS hose technology expert will certainly help to ensure you have the right clamp for the job – or will provide you with a recommendation for a different clamp that’s more effective and more efficient.

of course it’s also worth remembering that if the wrong clamp results in a failure, it’s usually a sudden and often catastrophic one. whether your hoses are high pressure or lower pressure but carrying steam or hazardous chemicals, that kind of failure is obviously something you want to avoid. for convenience – saving time on fitting – and for safety and reliability, the ERIKS lmc range of clamps offers a suitable solution for many applications.

Clip, crimp or clamp?lmc clamps are a highly versatile, safe and convenient alternative to clips and crimping. They are also far more reliable than a worm drive, and still provide a high level of security and seal integrity – as high, in fact, as a crimped fitting. They also cost around the same as a crimped connector, but save time and money because they can easily be fitted on-site using standard tools.

using lmc clamps can even save you time and money on replacing hoses. Because often, you won’t have to. The lmc clamp will fit perfectly to a damaged hose which has simply been shortened to remove the damaged section.

A grip of steel (stainless steel)available in aluminium, brass and stainless steel, lmc clamps are basically two interlocking hemispherical shells, which are bolted around the hose end using a locking collar with an inner safety rim. This rim fits over and interlocks with the hose shank collar. Tighten the bolts, and that’s it: the coupling simply cannot be removed from the hose.

leak-free at pressures up to 25 bar, the lmc clamp can be used with thick- and thin-walled hoses in many materials – including pVc, rubber, and silicone.

The range also includes hygienic fittings suitable for the food sector, which have a smooth internal bore free from places where dirt can gather and bacteria can breed. The clamp faces are free from protrusions and parts which can snag – making them not only ideal for hygienic purposes but also in applications where the equipment is moving or the hoses are frequently dragged across work areas.

Time well spentThough using the correct clamp can almost certainly save you time, you still need to invest some time in a regular inspection of the hoses and connections, for damage and wear.

erIKS can provide a cost-effective on- and off-site testing service, incorporating visual inspection, pressure testing and a fibre optic camera for internal inspections.

with the right style of clamp and an effective inspection routine, ERIKS lmc clamps can solve the problems of leakage, blow-offs and difficulties associated with hose expansion and contraction. all that, and saving you valuable time so you’re free to get on with the job – with nobody cramping your style.

best practice best practice


until now, methods for detecting leaks had not moved on far from simply sniffing. The only difference is that now the sniffing doesn’t depend on a sensitive nose but a mechanical ‘sniffer’, which detects and

counts the parts per million of gases in the local atmosphere. on a calm day this can

work, but in windy conditions it’s far less effective, and even in ideal conditions it can’t accurately detect the source of the leak.

since research shows that 84% of leaks take place in just 1% of plant, being able to pinpoint the source of the leak not only minimises the amount of plant which has to be shut down, but also the amount of downtime for even the affected part. or as the eu puts it in its Best available Techniques draft reference documents:

“direct visualisation of leaks is of great value to improve the efficiency of maintenance on equipment as only the leaking equipment is repaired. another advantage...is the possibility to detect leaks under insulation and to screen from a distance, so that...emissions from components not accessible for sniffing can be located and repaired.

Visual detection of leaks with optical Gas Imaging cameras

“ogI cameras should be introduced...for easier and faster identification of significant leaking components.”

optical gas Imaging cameras use thermographic technology to detect leaks. gases are opaque in the infrared wavelength, and each gas has its own distinctive wavelength, making it possible not only to see the leak but also to identify which gas is leaking.

of course thermographic cameras have long been used in the electro-mechanical environment, but these cameras usually operate only at long or short wave, whereas gases are generally found in the medium wavelength, and are only visible to the high-end ogI thermographic cameras.

In addition, any camera is only as good as the person behind the lens. ERIKS, for example, who offer gas leak detection with ogI cameras as part of their condition monitoring service, are the only operators of these cameras in the uK with level 2 technicians. These are the most highly trained in interpreting the data presented visually on screen by the cameras.

using the high-end imaging system of the flIr gf320 ogI camera, ERIKS’ technicians can detect Volatile organic compounds – in fact, more than 20 different toxic, explosive and flammablegases. some gases such as carbon monoxide may also be visible in the right atmospheric conditions. The flIr camera makes it possible to scan thousands of components per shift, with no interruption to processes. It’s also far safer than a traditional sniffer, since potentially dangerous leaks can be detected and monitored from several metres away.

The camera measures temperatures from –40°c to +350°c, with ±1°c accuracy, and its high sensitivity mode (<25mK) means it can provide real-time visualisation of even small gas leaks.

gas leak detection from ERIKS condition monitoring team can be built into customers’ preventative maintenance scheduling, with a survey carried out every 3 or 6 months.

If a leak is detected during one of these scheduled visits, the ability to pinpoint the exact source allows for less disruption to production, a faster repair, and a quicker return to normal operation.

gas leak detection should also be incorporated as part of the standard routine after a shutdown, or after major changes to the plant have been commissioned and completed, to ensure there are no leaks in the newly-operational or newly-built system.

erIks’ technicians will produce a comprehensive report based on their findings, fully documenting any leaks discovered, detailing the exact source of the leak, with images to back-up their findings. videos of the gas imaging are also made available to customers on a secure server.

once a leak has been detected, ERIKS will offer totally impartial advice on repair or replacement. however, ERIKS’ wide range of expertise and core competencies means that if the issue involves sealing, gasket, valve or flexible hose technology, they can offer a quick, effective solution backed by years of experience.

when a gas leak has an impact on plant safety, production and the environment, early detection and a fast resolution are critical. utilising the latest optical gas Imaging cameras operated by highly-trained technicians is clearly best practice.

Gases detected by ERIKsUsing the FLIR gF320 ogI camera, ERIKS trained technicians can detect:n Benzene n Butanen ethane n ethanol n ethylbenzene n ethylenen heptane n hexane n Isoprene n methane

n methanol n meK n mIBK n octane n pentane n propane n propylene n 1-pentene n Toluene n Xylene

this is a sample of detected gases. For more information or a comprehensive list, contact eriks.co.uk/knowhow

thE EU DIREctIvE oN INDUStRIaL EMISSIoNS caME INto FoRcE UNDER UK LEgISLatIoN at thE

BEgINNINg oF thIS yEaR. thE DIREctIvE MEaNS that coMpaNIES MUSt coNFoRM wIth thE

appLIcatIoN oF BESt avaILaBLE tEchNIqUES FoR poLLUtIoN pREvENtIoN aND coNtRoL aND

optIcaL gaS IMagINg (ogI) caMERaS aRE hIghLIghtED IN thE DIREctIvE FoR thEIR EFFEctIvENESS.

Dave Manning-ohrenCondition Monitoring Manager, ERIKS

“

ISSUE 16 www.eriks.co.uk/knowhow30

In the circumstances, even attempting to comment on this

subject in a few hundred words sounds Quixotic, but I relish challenges and will do my best to make a couple of points that I think are important.

please stop thinking that social media will solve all your company’s problems. If you are rubbish at what you do and your customer services sucks, you’ll still be the same even after you decide to go on facebook, or Twitter. actually, you’ll be worse off as all your faults will be picked up, exposed and magnified a hundredfold. you may as well write a suicide note.

If you go on social media without a purpose, you are also wasting your time. social media is a communication channel; think of it in terms of the good old-fashioned telephone. you can pick up the phone to dial a friend or two and have a long chat with them but if

this is all you do during the day you’ll end up with a great social life and no business. however, if you pick up the phone to call a prospect you could bring in some sales. The same applies to social media – do it with a purpose, monitor it with determination and you’ll get rewards. If you are desperate, don’t rely on social media to solve your problems, tweet @samaritans instead.

lastly, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that just by establishing a cosmetic presence on social media you can avoid being caught in its web. a few weeks ago a young apprentice in an accountancy firm boasted on Twitter that she had knocked a cyclist down while on her way to the office. I won’t even comment on the foolishness of those actions – enough has been written on the case – but naturally all hell broke loose. The police got in touch with her of course, so did the media, as expected. But what damaged

the reputation of her employers was the fact that they hadn’t reacted to the story in an appropriate way via their own little-used social media channels. This made ordinary people furious as it smacked of wanton indifference, even if it was unintended. so, resign yourself to the fact that if you have any presence on social media and your employees are also on those channels (as most of them are), you’d better know how to use social media effectively.

social media, just like the telephone or the washing machine, is – love it or hate it – here to stay. so make sure you know how to use it and make it work for you, not against you.

The Tig

Tig goes social thESE DayS yoU’LL FIND aRtIcLES oN SocIaL MEDIa EvERywhERE yoU LooK.

whEthER yoU aRE BRowSINg thRoUgh pLUMBINg MoNthLy, DESIgN ENgINEERINg

oR pR wEEKLy, SocIaL MEDIa IS oNE oF thE hottESt topIcS aRoUND. jUSt

googLE ‘SocIaL MEDIa’ aND a StaggERINg 4.4 BILLIoN ENtRIES aRE DISpLayED

(BEt NoBoDy EvER REachED thE LaSt pagE oF thoSE SEaRchES!).

“

For Fenner®, call ERIKS.

Energy Efficient Fan and Centrifugal Pump ControlThe Fenner QD:HVAC sets a new standard for dedicated fan & pump control whilst retaining the ease of use you come to expect from Fenner inverters. Fenner QD:HVAC has an innovative design, combined with robust performance to provide powerful flow control and reliability in a compact drive.

Energy optimisation Energy monitoring Built in cascade control Multiple fan operation Resonance avoidance

QD:HVAC Inverters

Energy Efficient98.8

Energy Efficient95

Energy Efficient96

Energy Efficient98

EXAMPLE SAVINGS BASED ON A 45KW LOAD

Power

Flow %

Input to fixed speed systems

Input to fixed speed systemsCalculation is based on a typical estimated factory working week and energy costs, including estimated components and installtion costs.

Investment paybackin 8 months

Savings of over€31,000 in 5 years

35,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

00 123 45

€

Hours

Using a Fenner QD:HVAC drive to reduce the fan speed during periods when maximum flow is not required provides the maximum possible energy savings.

www.fptgroup.com

ERIKS UK Amber Way, Halesowen, West Midlands, B62 8WG Tel: 0121 508 6000 Fax: 0121 508 6255

T : 0845 006 6000

Fenner is a registered trade mark of J. H. Fenner & Co.

A 20% REDUCTION IN SPEED CAN REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY UP TO 50%.

INSTANT POWER SAVINGS: With variable speed control, HVAC immediately reduces power usage compared to fixed speed systems.

of SKF housings designed for maximum reliability and minimal maintenance

SE design bearing housings

SKF sets the new standard for split plummer block housings with the introduction of SE bearing housings. These robust units are manufactured with higher grade materials, improved machining accuracy and a number of new features that enhance their serviceability compared to the previous SNL design.

SKF (U.K.) Limited01582 490049www.skf.co.uk

A new generation

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

In SKF’s continuing efforts to reduce environmental impact, a declaration of the environmental performance of SE housings is described in an EPD according to ISO 14025.

Design and manufacturing improve-ments:

• Stiffer, more robust housing

• Better heat dissipation

• Efficient grease guiding system

• Repositioned grease escape hole for easier access

• Better corrosion protection

Improvements for more accurate and efficient servicing:

• Improved markings on the housing

• Dimples to locate accessories and improved lubrication facilities

• Simple mounting and dismounting

For further information visit: www.skf.co.uk/se

SE design housings from SKF offer improve-ments over SNL housings in three important areas: quality, serviceability and environmental impact.