Exhibition and seminars: All about maintenance

easyFairs MAINTEC - a UK show dedicated to the maintenance and asset management sectors - is returning to Birmingham's NEC from 29th to 31st March and promises to showcase the very latest in maintenance technology. In addition to the exhibition, the ERIKS MAINTEC SUMMIT will provide a range of seminars to add even greater value to a day at Maintec 2

This year's show attracted more than 1,600 highly qualified engineering decision makers representing key industry players and 2011 looks set to be even bigger. easyFairs has teamed up with Western Business Publishing (WBP) who will be handling the high profile ERIKS MAINTEC SUMMIT of conference programmes which will take place in conjunction with the exhibition.

The ERIKS MAINTEC SUMMIT will bring together senior industry professionals to debate and consider topics that will have a major influence on their future approach to maintenance and other important aspects of their business. Due to the significance of these matters, this year the SUMMIT has been extended by a day in order to include a wider range of topics considered important to future business competitiveness.

The organisers are pleased to have a highly relevant sponsor onboard for the SUMMIT.

MRO product and service provider, ERIKS is at the forefront of the drive for energy reduction and efficiency improvement, as well as offering the know-how to help industry in general it also provides practical support to maintenance professionals in the form of advice and services.

easyFairs managing director Matt Benyon comments: "The new ERIKS MAINTEC SUMMIT looks set to feature some of the UK's foremost authorities on asset management and maintenance issues identified and put together by IP&E magazine. It really is an opportunity to discover insights and ideas that determine which maintenance activities to undertake and how to organise them." Tim Else, sales director of Western Business Publishing, comments: "IP&E is the UK's leading title for maintenance technologies and best practice advice. easyfairs' decision to partner with both ERIKS and ourselves in delivering the 2011 MAINTEC Summit reflects this position. MAINTEC is an important exhibition for IP&E's readers and we have supported the event as an exhibitor and media partner for 18 years. IP&E's readers can now look forward to a comprehensive MAINTEC preview in January and to being the first to receive the MAINTEC Show Guide in advance of the show with their copy of IP&E in March".

What's on show Now in its 36th year, easyFairs® MAINTEC has become the show where industry professionals have a chance to check out the latest innovations from 140 plus companies, from condition monitoring specialists to vibration sensor suppliers, and training providers to access platform providers.

So here's a glimpse of what some of the exhibitors have to offer: Technology company Optris which specialises in the development, production and sales of contact-free infrared thermometers will be showcasing its latest infrared thermometers. Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Kienitz, managing director of Optris, comments: "We now have one of the smallest, more precise and fastest infrared sensors in the world by improving our optris CTfast LT´s optical resolution to 25:1 and the response time to only 6ms." The infrared thermometers optris CTfast LT, optris CSmicro LT and optris CSmicro 2W LT are measuring temperatures ranges between -50°C and 975°C. The robust design allows operation with temperatures up to 120°C without cooling.

Staying with testing and measuring, Fluke, known for its portable electronic test and measurement technology, will be exhibiting a wide range of rugged and reliable portable test instruments suitable for maintenance applications. Its display will include the company's extensive range of thermal imagers, plus the latest Fluke 810 Vibration Tester, which enables maintenance teams to rapidly collect data and diagnose and solve mechanical problems.

Ken West, marketing manager at Fluke, comments: "Fluke 810 is designed and programmed to diagnose the most common mechanical problems of imbalance, looseness, misalignment and bearing failures in a wide variety of mechanical equipment, including motors, fans, blowers, belts and chain drives, gearboxes, couplings, pumps, compressors, closed coupled machines and spindles." For visitors looking for technology intended for clean production Dustcontrol will be demonstrating their latest new air cleaner DC AirCube 500, a clear solution for airborne dust problems.

James Miller, General Manager at Dustcontrol UK, said: Clean air is the Key! DC Aircube 500 is an extremely simple way of decreasing dust concentrations in a working environment. It can also be used as a negative air unit, which can be achieved by either connecting a hose or duct to the outlet or by installing an inlet transition and hose/duct to the inlet.

Testo, one of the leading producers of portable and stationary measurement technology worldwide, will be launching two further models to its range of thermal imagers, the Testo 876 and Testo 882.

Daniel Auer, director of product management infrared measurement technology, comments: "Testo combines consistently strong technology with innovation.With the new products, we are establishing technical standards to be able to offer our customers even more added value." The Testo 876 is the first Testo thermal imaging camera in a classical camcorder design. The light 900g imager is equipped with a rotatable display. This makes thermography possible even in difficult-toaccess places. Testo 882 is the first Testo thermal imager with a 320 x 240 pixel detector, which promises high accuracy without the necessity of an exchangeable lens. Equipped with a 32° lens, the new model offers the user all image details at a glance, ensuring fast, uncomplicated and precise work.

Weatherproofing Advisors (WPA) will be highlighting its new mobile technology aimed at saving companies thousands of pounds on their building maintenance.

According to WPA roof replacement is the single largest capital-expense that commercial property owners will have to face over the lifetime of their building.

In response, the South Lanarkshire-based firm has developed REALM (Roofplan Estate Asset Life-cycle Management), which allows maintenance managers to access their company's roof management history in realtime via a web-based system.

John Kelly, chair of WPA, explains: "REALM is the result of nine years of development and its purpose is to provide our clients with a new level of roof management intelligence. REALM is about achieving an optimum compromise between performance, costs and risk over the roof life-cycle, while avoiding the long-term impacts to the business from short term decisions. In the roofing industry, usually only one party has all the facts, but REALM equalises the information barrier by bringing things like service level agreement targets and deadlines into the open in an honest, non-confrontational manner." Kelly concludes: "With REALM everyone has the facts, which ensures that the people closest to the problem have all the data they need to make informed decisions." For exhibitors and visitors alike looking for training services MGTS (Midlands Group Training Service) will be showcasing its new technical course capability along with its technical skills assessments. Bob Dunn, commercial manager from MGTS comments: "So far these courses have been successful with customers such as Carlsberg Breweries and Walkers Snack Foods.

"The Technical Skills capability include: technical fault finding, thermography and vibration analysis. MGTS has developed a range of health & safety programmes that are specifically designed for maintenance engineers and engineering roles within organisations." easyFairs MAINTEC 2011 will also play host to a new array of show features, including, the Future Factory and a packed out learnShop programme, delivered by industry professionals debating various pressing issues.

easyFairs MAINTEC will also be colocated for the first time with easyFairs MATERIALS HANDLING 2011, a brand new show focused on the complete materials handling supply-chain. It will also cater for the growing number of professionals tasked with the job of reducing the environmental impact of the operations and facilities they manage.

For more information about the show, please visit: www.easyfairs.com/maintecuk.

IP&E's January/February will carry a more indepth preview of the exhibition and have further details of the ERIKS MAINTEC SUMMIT.