Opportunity to look and learn

An array of new products, a conference addressing the challenges that impact on maintenance functions and a series of learnShops covering today's key topics - all reasons to visit MAINTEC 2010

Marking its 35th year as the UK's leading maintenance and asset management show, MAINTEC 2010 (NEC from 2nd to 4th March), will play host to a wide range of products and services. In many instances the show will see the worldwide debut of products designed to improve plant performance, control and reduce costs, deliver energy savings and ultimately optimise spend.

easyFairs UK managing director,Matt Benyon, says: "While the show has an impressive history, our focus is firmly on the new.With capital spend being kept to a minimum, managers are trying to squeeze that last bit of value out of their current plant. To do this they need new products, new services, and new thinking.

easyFairs MAINTEC is wellplaced to deliver all three."

New Products Here's a taste of the latest products that will be on show: Norbar will be showcasing its new 'T-Box' together with its Torque Data Management System software. These allow the simple processing of data for analysis and retrieval, and can print calibration certificates.

The brand new HS-620 Vibration Monitoring Kit from Hansford Sensors contains a compact, portable digital vibration meter operating with a hand-held probe. It is designed for maintenance technicians to use to monitor vibration levels on important plant machinery, helping to find potential problems and avoid failure There are two launches from C-Cubed. The developer of PocketVibrA, a low cost, easy to use vibration analysis system, will launch version 10 at MAINTEC 2010.

PocketVibrA combines machine condition analysis, balancing, thermography and process parameter trending in a handheld, rugged (IP67) unit.

C-Cubed will also launch a vibration analyser for the monitoring of machine lubrication.

Testo is extending its thermal imaging camera range with the Testo 875 and Testo 881. Anomalies in production processes often lead to costly downtimes; furthermore defective components such as in switch cabinets, can cause fires.With the new thermal imagers, materials are tested nonintrusively, identifying problems before malfunctions or fire risks occur.

On display for the first time will be the latest Fluke Ti32 Thermal Imager and the TiR32 Thermal Imager with powerful 320x240 sensor to provide high-definition, detailed images for under £7200. The image quality helps identify even the smallest temperature differences that could indicate problems.

The Dynaco rapid door range can be seen on the Ro-Dor stand. The range offers energy savings which can fund the cost of the door within a year. Safety features include the absence of reinforcing bars, yet the doors still provide resistance to wind. The range has a knockout facility with automatic re-insertion, often a must with fork lift presence, making the crash resistant rapid roll door suitable for internal & external applications.

Leak detection challenge The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) is hosting its 80th anniversary Spring Conference at MAINTEC. It will also host a 'leak detection challenge' on its stand, demonstrating a mix of detection solutions.

BCAS experts will provide an on the spot estimate of what leakages are likely to be currently costing visitors. There will also be Compressed Air Advice Clinics for visitors with any compressed air queries.

Summit conference Scheduled for 3rd March, The SUMMIT - chaired by Steve Morris, deputy president of the Institute of Asset Management - includes papers and case studies from leading lights in the fields of best practice, human factors, continuous improvement and sustainable energy. Between them they will address the key challenges and opportunities impacting on the asset management and maintenance functions going into the next decade. How to get board-level buy in and change employee behaviour will also be covered.

learnShops The packed learnShops programme includes 30 expert-delivered sessions spanning topics as wide ranging as 'the pitfalls to avoid in the thermal inspections of electrical installations', 'quick & simple condition monitoring - maximising return on a minimum investment,' 'lean maintenance' and 'bearing defect detection using vibration' through to ' agile maintenance - the role of flexible software,' 'energy saving and heat recovery for steam users' and 'understanding maintenance key performance indicators'

Innovations Pavilion The 'Innovations Pavilion' will spotlight latest developments in maintenance technology. Only products and services that have been launched to market after 1st January 2010 will be showcased here - and it will be restricted to just 10 of the most forward-thinking exhibitors.