Technical Articles

Want to Stay Competitive? Then Train Your Workforce

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It’s a scenario we’ve encountered all too often… In an effort to stay competitive, manufacturing companies have jumped on the “big data bandwagon.” They’ve invested enormous amounts of money to optimize their plants with the latest and greatest digital technologies: digital sensors, advanced robotics, data analytics, 3D printing automation and the Internet of Things (IoT). Soon, however, not only do they find themselves drowning in mountains of data they don’t understand, but they also realize that the employees they’ve relied…

6 Qualities That Make a Good Vibration Analyst

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What makes a good vibration analyst these days? It used to be that all you needed to enjoy a successful career in the manufacturing industry were dexterous hands, a strong back, and a committed work ethic. Generation after generation of workers used these hands-on skills and the American manufacturing industry soared. However, technology is profoundly changing the face of manufacturing. As automation, big data, robotics, and AI continue coming on fast and furious, the qualities and skills that companies are…

Soft Foot: What is it? What Should You Do About It?

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Soft foot is one of the most prevalent issues we encounter with rotating equipment when in the field. Also known as machine frame distortion, soft foot is a complex condition that can result in a wide range of mechanical and quality problems including misalignment, high vibration levels, accelerated wear and tear, premature bearing and seals failure, metal fatigue and distortion, and increased power consumption. While not considered a critical situation, the consequences of ignoring the symptoms of soft foot can…

Torsional Issues: The Big Blind Spot

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Torsional issues can exist in a wide range of machinery with rotating components causing a variety of machine failures, operational instability, and product quality issues – all of which can have a huge negative effect on a company’s bottom line. An all too common mistake that many process engineers and other professionals make is in assuming that measuring motor current will provide an excellent analysis of torsional characteristics. However, relying on the motor current measurements for an indicator of actual…

Drowning in Data? You Could Be Sitting on A Treasure Trove of Valuable Information

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It’s hard to go to a trade show or pick up an industry publication these days without reading something about Industry 4.0, “smart” factories, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), AI, data analytics and cloud computing – just to name a few. Manufacturing companies have taken advantage of these digital technologies to reduce waste and variability in their production processes and significantly improve product quality and performance. With the help of Salesforce, more companies are getting a better grasp of…

Stay Competitive and Profitable

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Stay Competitive and Profitable by Integrating Process and Condition Monitoring Manufacturing companies wanting to remain competitive and profitable in today’s global economy are fast realizing the pivotal role that data and analytics play in improving operational efficiency and effectiveness. Integrating process and condition monitoring while harnessing the resulting data is a necessary first step in developing a strategic approach to decrease downtime and increase productivity. Earlier this month, IVC had the opportunity to co-present a case study on this very…

Keeping the Quality Triangle Intact While Keeping Machines Running Smoothly

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When it comes to asset condition management, getting as much quality data in the least amount of time possible allows vibration analysts to focus on advancing plant reliability rather than waiting for data collection. Enter VIBSCANNER 2 The VIBSCANNER 2 is a high-end data collector with the ability to multitask and collect more than one channel of data simultaneously. In fact, it can collect up to three channels at the same time. It is PRUFTECHNIK’s newest condition monitoring device which…

New Partnership: IVC Technologies and PRUFTECHNIK Inc.

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As announced recently, IVC Technologies has teamed up with PRUFTECHNIK North America to form PRUFTECHNIK Condition Monitoring Services. We look forward to the exciting opportunities this new partnership brings, not only to our respective companies but especially to our customers – both new and existing. New Partnership provides more options for customers At IVC Technologies, we’ve always strived to stay ahead of the condition monitoring curve by investing in both people (continuing education/training) and state-of-the-art technology to help our customers…

Press Release: Industry Leaders Join Forces to Serve US Manufacturing

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PRUFTECHNIK Inc. and IVC Technologies, both long-time leaders in the condition monitoring industry, have joined forces to provide a comprehensive condition monitoring solution for clients throughout North America. PRUFTECHNIK Condition Monitoring Services powered by IVC Technologies combines the strengths of PRUFTECHNIK’s suite of high-quality alignment and condition monitoring tools and IVC Technologies 30+ years of providing extensive condition monitoring services to industry. Bringing together these two industry innovators will enable manufacturers to boost their maintenance organizations’ reliability performance. “IVC…

Bearings Failing Prematurely? Improper Mounting Could Be the Problem

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In theory, roller bearings can outlive the machinery in which they perform. In reality, however, bearings fail prematurely for a myriad of reasons such as lubrication failure, contamination, and misalignment. As analysts, one critical reason we encounter frequently is improper mounting. In fact, an estimated 16 percent of all premature bearing failures can be attributed to poor fitting. This is often due to using brute force during installation and lacking the knowledge of correct fitting tools. The main objective…