WITH RISING energy costs, businesses across the UK are looking at ways to improve efficiency. Thermography can have an important role to play in this process and can be a valuable maintenance tool, helping reduce costs in several ways. 

It enables preventive maintenance by identifying potential issues before they escalate into major failures, optimises energy consumption to reduce operational expenses, and minimises the need for intrusive maintenance procedures.

“FLIR has been the market leader in thermography for a number of years. As a brand we’re associated with thermal imaging cameras of the highest quality,” said Jason Cargill, technical sales specialist at TELEDYNE FLIR. 

Reducing maintenance costs 

At this year’s Manufacturing and Engineering Week in June, TELEDYNE FLIR spotlighted the FLIR ONE Edge Pro which is ideal for basic electric and mechanical inspections. 

“We just introduced the FLIR ONE Edge Pro this year and we’ve already had a lot of positive feedback” Cargill noted. 

“Alongside this, we’re highlighting our FLIR FlexView lens, which allows you to instantly switch from a 24° wide view for scene context to 14° telephoto for accurate temperature measurement. 

“This both helps to reduce cost by eliminating the need to buy two separate lenses, while it also removes the need to change lenses in the field.”

The company also presented its acoustic solutions at the show, including the FLIR Si124 Industrial Acoustic Imaging Camera which can identify sound patterns created by compressed air leaks. 

Combatting compressed air leakage

“Obviously, compressed air is expensive, so being able to identify these leaks and prioritise repairs is essential,” Cargill continued. “We’ve had reports of customers seeing a return on investment within weeks given that these leaks can have a major impact on operational costs.” 

TELEDYNE FLIR’s solutions can also help companies transition to a preventive maintenance model. “There is a much higher cost when using run-to-failure maintenance or reactive maintenance,” Cargill cautioned.

When employing a reactive maintenance strategy, there are several factors which contribute to higher costs compared to proactive maintenance approaches. Three of the key reasons include:

1. Equipment downtime 

Run-to-failure maintenance results in unplanned downtime. The longer the equipment remains out of service, the greater the impact on productivity and revenue. Additionally, running equipment to failure often results in more severe damage or wear than if proactive maintenance had been performed. 

2. Emergency repairs 

Reactive maintenance often involves emergency repairs that need to be performed urgently. Such repairs are typically more costly as they may require expedited shipping of spare parts or hiring external contractors.

3. Increased labour costs 

With reactive maintenance, skilled technicians or maintenance personnel need to be available on short notice. Overtime wages, extra shifts, or additional staff may be necessary, all of which contribute to higher labour costs.

Facilitating preventative maintenance 

One example of how TELEDYNE FLIR’s solutions can help with preventative maintenance is the FLIR Route Creator Plugin for FLIR Thermal Studio Pro. 

“We have firmware built into our cameras which works with FLIR Route Creator and allows an organisation to create an inspection route around a particular site, helping to streamline the inspection process,” he explained. “It also helps ensure continuity when inspections are carried out by multiple maintenance engineers.”

Summing up, Cargill observed TELEDYNE FLIR had “seen interest across the board” at this year’s Manufacturing and Engineering Week in both its acoustic and thermal imaging products. 

“With the headwinds of recent years, many businesses are facing tighter budgets. With this in mind, we’re committed to providing products which offer an ever-wider range of features at lower price points,” he affirmed. 

Jason Cargill is technical sales specialist at TELEDYNE FLIR

For more information: 

https://www.flir.co.uk

Tel: 01494 430240