Improved fluid management makes world cleaner
Techenomics features in World Mining Magazine
As the world emerges from the unprecedented times brought about by COVID-19, it will be a different place with increased focus on hygiene, online communication and business will be the new norm, and there will be an increased push for a cleaner and greener Earth.
The latter has seen increased interest due to the cleaner air experienced during the virus as transport and industry slowed dramatically, with individuals, communities and lobby groups putting more pressure on governments to come up with renewable energy, lower emission transport and cleaner industrial solutions much sooner.
Techenomics is well-placed to help create a ‘cleaner and greener’ world, particularly in mining, transport and industrial operations, with its services and products aimed at ensuring lubricants work more effectively and last longer.
In a feature in World Mining Magazine, editor Martin Ashcroft explains what makes Techenomics tick. He spoke to CEO Chris Adsett and Australian Operations Manager Jason Davis and asked them how Techenomics helps customers extend the life and improve the efficiency of their equipment.
The World Mining article states:
Mining is a capital intensive business and in order to maximise their returns on investment, miners continually strive to improve the performance of their machinery and equipment. Downtime is expensive, not only for the intrinsic cost of maintenance or repairs, but the consequential loss from a piece of machinery being taken out of production.
Techenomics is dedicated to helping its customers maximise equipment performance by resolving lubrication problems. “We’ve been in business for 30-odd years,” says CEO Chris Adsett. “Our core business is condition monitoring, based on oil analysis and fluid analysis.”
Condition monitoring and fluid analysis help miners optimise assets, and consequently save money, by highlighting lubrication problems which can cause equipment to underperform or even fail altogether.
Oil analysis provides a detailed picture of the lubricant’s properties, including measurements of any suspended contaminants and wear debris. The oil carries tell-tale signs of potential problems or failures, but so too do the coolant, grease and fuels.
The company has traditionally focused on the mining industry, but its reach stretches further. “The type of equipment employed varies from sector to sector and from mine to mine,” says Jason Davis, “but our customers include anyone who uses high volumes of oil.
“We recently acquired a large contract with a bus company which has a fleet of about 2000 buses. It can be anything from locomotives to tug boats, passenger cars up to mining equipment, drag lines or large ships.”
Techenomics uses a number of testing methods and procedures to analyse lubricants and this work provides accurate information on the condition of the machine. To maximise the potential of condition monitoring and fluid analysis, you must provide more than a simple set of results. If you can interpret them and offer solutions, you can help the customer understand what to do next.
“Traditionally, an oil analysis laboratory will produce a pathology report,” says Adsett, just like when you have a blood test. We put a lot of emphasis on the interpretation of those results, because nobody has a blood test for the sake of doing it. You’re looking for a maintenance platform, either in the human body or with your machinery. So, it’s the interpretation that’s important, rather than just handing the results over.”
To evaluate an oil sample, Techenomics’ laboratory chemists investigate and report on the lubricant’s fundamentals and ability to perform its duties. Results and comments are then viewed by the chief chemist and evaluated by the mechanical failure analysis team. Once they are in agreement, a report is sent to the client via email. This is then uploaded to the company proprietary online software platform, Blue Oceans, where clients can view historical data anytime they like.
This process provides clients with highly detailed insight information into the sample results that can reduce downtime on their equipment, achieve a higher and more effective availability rate and save companies large amounts of money.
Techenomics has been spreading geographically, too, over the last few years. “We’re very well represented in Australasia and we’re now operating in South East Asia, Northern Asia and are just beginning to open up in Africa,” says Adsett.
“We don’t necessarily need to be down the road. The closer we are, obviously, the faster the turnaround. We aim at a one to two day turnaround but if it takes us a day or two to get the sample it means turnaround time’s a little bit longer.
“The message is, we are very active in the fluid analysis, condition monitoring space, we’ve been there a long time and we’re developing new online tools to enable the customer to get more than just a set of results.”
For more information about Techenomics International visit www.techenomics.net or contact Chris Adsett, c.adsett@techenomics.com; in Indonesia Freddy, freddy@techenomics.com; in South East Asia Siti, siti@techenomics.com, in Mongolia Tumee, tumee@techenomics.com, in Australia Jason Davis, jason.davis@tecehenomics.com, or in Africa Chris Adsett, c.adsett@techenomics.com.