Experts speak out at Maintec

In addition to the ERIKS MAINTEC SUMMIT, easyFairs Maintec 2011 will feature a series of learnShops. IP&E takes a look at what's on offer this year

Maintenance and energy solutions, thermography, hydraulics and mobile working are just some of the topics being discussed at this year's easyFairs MAINTEC show (29th to 31st March). The event spans every aspect of maintenance and engineering and, over the three days, it will feature around 30 free-toattend learnShops, with experts discussing the latest information on the most pressing issues within the maintenance industry.

Some of the world's leading authorities will be taking part and among them is Stephan Barker, head of energy efficiency & environmental care at Siemens, who will be discussing the top 10 energy solutions by return on investment.

Jit Patel, technical sales manager from Fluke UK will be looking at vibration analysis and Geoff Dyson, field operations manager from Panasonic EU will be focusing his talk on business transformation through mobile working.

Dyson explains: "I will be discussing how Yorkshire Water, as part of a major business change programme, mobilised part of its field staff in 2001. The focus will be on why this change was necessary, how it has transformed the performance and perception of the business and how we have continued to develop and build on this early success." From mobile to fixed positioning, Dean Whittle training manager from Reliability Maintenance Solutions, will be exploring why misalignment is so common, and why it is so destructive to bearings, seals, shafts and couplings.

Whittle comments: "You will see visually, using 3D animations and graphical simulators, how vibration analysis techniques can be used to detect misalignment and the methods for correcting alignment." Staying with the maintenance side of things, Geoff Walker, director at Artesis LLP will be providing an insight into maintenance strategy development. He explains: "Maintenance managers these days face a difficult challenge: there are so many tools and systems, vendors, initiatives and consultants all offering their solutions and all saying that their offerings are essential for achieving maintenance objectives, that it is sometimes difficult to know where to start." Walker continues: "How do you decide which are the right ones to do, and which are OK to ignore? A Maintenance Strategy is designed to answer these questions, and to give you a clear set of priorities on which to focus." Alan Frances operation director at Idhammer Systems will be outlining work at Mölnlycke Healthcare. He remarks: "The learnShop will show the progress the Oldham site of Mölnlycke Healthcare has made on its journey of continuous improvement, why the site decided to use Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) as its performance measure, and what it hopes to gain." Meanwhile,Mike Retford, sales & engineering director at MGR Fluid Power will be showing us how to keep hydraulics reliable.

Retford comments: "There are simple maintenance tasks you can apply to hydraulic systems to ensure they operate reliably for many years. These tasks are over looked by many system owners with costly consequences. I will be discussing the actions needed to achieve consistent reliability." For those of you looking for predictive maintenance for the masses, Tom Murphy managing director of Reliability Team might be able to help. He explains: "We will be showing how ultrasound can bring predictive maintenance to the masses by broadening the scope far beyond rotating machinery to look at air, steam and vacuum leaks, steam traps, valves, hydraulic systems, lubrication and electrical problems that don't generate heat." These independent seminars and case studies are selected to provide inspiration and practical guidance on maintenance issues.

To see the full learnShop line-up please visit: www.easyfairs.com/maintecuk and click on 'learnShops'. Visitors can also register to attend for free at the website.

For further information, please contact Lucy Daley on the number below or email: lucy.daley@easyFairs.com.