Chance to look, listen and learn

Now in its 37th year, easyFairs MAINTEC - a show dedicated to the industrial maintenance and asset management sectors - returns to Birmingham's NEC from 28 February to 1 March 2012 to showcase the latest technologies in the sector. In addition to the exhibition, there will be 30 topical seminars running over the three days

The 2012 show will once again play host to many of the major players within the sector, as well as a diverse selection of smaller companies. In addition to the exhibition and seminar programme visitors will find a new hazardous goods event called 'HAZEX' that reflects the burgeoning responsibilities of maintenance professionals, and the growing concerns and tighter legislation over a plant's health and safety.

The show has the support of key sector organisations, including the British Compressed Air Society, the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing, the Institution of Diagnostic Engineers, Institute of Asset Management, the Facilities Management Association, United Kingdom Thermography Association and The Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Matt Benyon, managing director of easyFairs UK (pictured), says: "MAINTEC is the perfect platform for both large and small companies to showcase their latest maintenance and engineering offerings to key decision makers within the industry, as well as visitors wanting to witness first hand the very best in maintenance technology."

learnShops For those who want to keep abreast with the latest issues and trends there will be 30 learnShops (seminars) running over the three days, with speakers from major brands such as Britvic, Siemens, and Schaeffler, all revealing their secrets to help those visiting succeed in 2012.

Condition monitoring "In today's challenging economic climate, it is even more important to introduce an effective condition monitoring (CM) regime that enables engineers to keep their machinery running efficiently," says Ian Pledger, field service engineer for Schaeffler UK, who will be the first speaker of the learnShops programme.

Pledger continues: "We talk to many industry professionals who are considering CM for their facility but who are not sure at first how best to go about it, or feel that CM may be too complicated or costly. With actual case study examples, we can demonstrate that it is possible to start off slowly with a few techniques and then develop them over time to suit their plant equipment and their maintenance budgets." Elsewhere, Dean Whittle of Reliability Maintenance Solutions will be discussing 'Demystifying the spectrum: How does the vibration spectrum indicate fault conditions?'Whittle explains: "In this presentation we will reveal why vibration changes as the condition of the machine changes. Supported by 3D animations that highlight the source of the vibration, every attendee will come away with a clear understanding (and belief) that the spectrum can reveal the nature and severity of fault conditions in rotating machinery." Partial discharge testing Dr Lee Renforth from High Voltage Partial Discharge, a specialist within the field of on-line PD testing and monitoring technology, will be discussing on-line partial discharge case studies for cables, switchgear, generators, motors and transformers.

Dr Lee Renforth comments: "The presentation will discuss experiences from over 15 years of on-line partial discharge field testing and monitoring of medium voltage and high voltage; cables, switchgear, transformers and rotating machines. The presentation will include a summary of the different economic drivers which apply to both public utility and industrial networks. I will share some of the techniques used by our engineers through an interesting range of project case studies from around the world."

Health and safety Health and safety is another topic that will be discussed over the three days. Ian Dormer, managing director at Rosh Engineering, who will be speaking on health and safety issues, comments: "Ensuring your organisation has a positive health and safety culture is better than having rigorous rules and regulations. A positive culture not only improves staff loyalty but improves profitability." Luke Barnes, marketing manager at Reactec, will be discussing the dangers of Hand Arm Vibration across a multitude of industries in the UK and the prevention measures that companies can undertake in order to protect their workforce from the crippling condition. He comments: "The most significant is the award winning HAVmeter system that can automatically record the amount of vibration exposure when an operative is using power tools. The information gathered can be transformed into reports analysing employee exposure and tool usage protecting entire organisations through accurate monitoring and reliable auditable management."

Wireless systems Talking all things wireless will be David Stefanowicz, technical manager - ITEC, Technical Services, The Electrical Contractors' Association. He says: "Wireless systems are fast becoming mainstream and are also a maintenance team's dream window into the production process. I will reveal how they work and what pitfalls are to be avoided." Staying with the wireless systems theme, Paul Sacker, from Crimson Industrial Vision will be discussing 'remote visual inspection.' He comments: "I will be speaking about the latest advances in minimally invasive inspection using video endoscopes and inspection cameras - and sharing some of the experience gained form a wide variety of applications.Where users can reduce the need to strip down equipment for maintenance through using remote visual inspection techniques, significant benefits can be delivered in speed of turnaround and reduced maintenance-induced faults."

Remote monitoring Robin Buller, who joined KRR ProStream in 2011, will be talking about remote services, with his presentation 'Maintaining optimal performance in power generating plant'.

The company's 'performance tracker' service allows the experienced engineers at KRR ProStream to monitor critical plant data remotely. Buller explains: "I'll be discussing the cycle of analysis and activity that KRR ProStream adopts in order to deliver this service, including an insight into which parameters should be monitored in the different areas of a plant and an overview of the indications and trends that can be used to determine when intervention is required."

Threats to business Other speaker highlights include Brian Back, managing director at Radio Data. He will be discussing the major threat to business facilities from pollution and, in particular, firewater. He will also be introducing low power radio and the LPRA trade association - explaining the virtues of wireless technology as a safe tool for use in hazardous areas for data communications and monitoring.

Customer service Graeme Coyne, business development manager at Siemens, will also be speaking at the show, focusing on the value of customer service to your maintenance operations. He comments: "Our business is based on 24 hour, 7 days a week availability of highly skilled engineers who support clients either on site, or remotely, to help them to improve their plant availability and increase operational effectiveness." Software And finally, if you're looking to reduce your asset downtime, then SRO Solution's presentation is not to be missed. Keith Boststock from the company, and who has been providing software systems to improve productivity and reduce costs in the process and manufacturing industry worldwide for 20 years, will be discussing how asset management software can provide benefits for most maintenance organisations.

HAZEX Sira Test & Certification (a CSA International company) has announced it is supporting HAZEX, the new specialist hazardous area event being run as part of easyFairs MAINTEC 2012. Sira has been at the forefront of hazardous area issues and training for more than 25 years.In the UK it is a leading Notified Body for Ex Product Certification (ATEX & IECEx), and says that it has issued more IECEx certificates than any other certification body. Sira's endorsement of HAZEX reflects the event's commitment to bringing the UK's top hazard prevention experts under one roof.

Adam Garner, marketing coordinator at Sira says: "We see this as a golden opportunity for us to explain our full range of services to engineers, contractors, industrial clients and the many supply organisations we can help. We're very excited to be involved in the show." In addition to promoting its services Sira will run a learnShops seminar at the show designed to demystify the IECEx Certification of Personnel Competence Scheme. As the first organisation to issue an IECEx personnel competence certificate, Sira is an acknowledged expert in this field.

This newly launched scheme is believed to be a world first in providing companies with independent proof that a person holding an IECEx Certificate of Personnel Competence has the knowledge and skills necessary to implement the international Ex Standards. This can be especially important for contracting staff. Sira will explain what the scheme is about, its benefits to industry and how individuals can achieve certification.

Matt Benyon, MD at easyFairs UK & Ireland, says: "We're thrilled to have Sira on board. Their involvement in HAZEX brilliantly illustrates how we're giving those working in hazardous areas and handling hazardous materials the opportunity to learn from experts, catch up with latest developments and legislation and hear about all the products and services they need."