November/ December 2021

www.hpmag.co.uk HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS November/December 2021 43 “Today, just about every compressor manufacturer offers its own on-board remote monitoring system package – whether via a phone line or Sim card. This type of convenient, on-board monitoring is now perceived to be the norm from a preventative maintenance perspective.” Asset management Gunter considers that over the past few years there has certainly been a drive towards more asset management to better optimise the testing of hydraulic hoses and fittings. “With the right software, companies can have better visibility of not just the testing but also of the age of hoses, their use patterns, maintenance history, when they are due to be re-tested and when they are due to be replaced,” he explains. “In this way, users and OEMs can more effectively avoid expensive, unnecessary unplanned downtime of plant and equipment.” Gunter points out that the basic standards and procedures related to the testing of hoses are largely unchanged from several years ago, although there has been a move towards companies wanting their test certificates available online within a short timeline following tests. “Now, the greater traceability of data from test rigs means hose test certificates can be produced easily, stored in the cloud on an asset management system and made easily available when required,” he says. Countering the contamination issue MP Filtri UK’s managing director, Phil Keep, observes that during the 25-year lifespan of Hydraulics & Pneumatics magazine, our industry has seen a remarkable period of changes, opportunities and growth. “At the time of the magazine’s launch, MP Filtri UK acted as the distribution arm of its Italian parent company concentrating solely on retail – steadily building market share in the hydraulic filtration sector,” explains Keep. “The arrival of a new generation of increasingly complex hydraulic systems brought with it greater risks for system builders and machine manufacturers, with up to 80% of hydraulic failures being caused by particle contamination.” Keep and his team sensed a tremendous new opportunity – seeing the need for an accurate and portable particle counter that could bring the key functions of the laboratory out into the field. Work began in 2000 to develop a twin laser particle counter, leading to the creation of the LPA2, what MP Filtri considers to be the most advanced mainstream device of its kind. “The device weighed in at less than 8kg and delivered a comprehensive hydraulic health check – offering accurate, repeatable contamination results reported in a variety of international standards,” explains Keep. “The time between sampling and analysis took as little as six minutes – overcoming the delays with lab testing which could see results take days.” As a result, Keep maintains that the LPA2 has revolutionised the way customers dealt with contamination in hydraulic systems and paved the way for the company’s highly successful ICM inline contamination monitors which are mounted within systems for constant real- time monitoring of cleanliness levels. Keep points out that the LPA2 has recently been succeeded by the release of the new LPA3 LED particle analyser, which offers a suite of new features including a 10.1 inch display (256mm), 100ml sample sizes, and full 8-channel measurement. “Originally, the market for such devices was seen as being largely limited to the mobile and construction industries,” says Keep, “but their simplicity, affordability and accuracy saw a growing demand from such diverse sectors as maritime, construction, industrial, aviation and agriculture.” Ultimately, Keep saw there was a market for portable, accurate products that would pay for themselves many times over by safeguarding performance and protecting machines working in applications where downtime is incredibly costly and where maintenance costs are expensive. “The key to the company’s long-term expansion has been our ability to combine a trusted, traditional core product range of high-performance hydraulic filters with state-of-the-art contamination monitors,” says Keep. “This enhances machine and system lifespans, extends service intervals, and reduces costs and consumption.” Keep adds that the increasing drive within the industry to use precision components has increased the need for improved filtration and more efficient hydraulic systems. “Mobile and industrial applications are now using 3um and 6um absolute filter rating units and new standards for contamination monitoring such as ISO 11171 have had to be introduced,” he explains. “The growing demand for accurate, real-time information on the cleanliness of systems, accessible anywhere in the world from a computer or mobile device has seen the success of the ICM 4.0 wifi-enabled contamination monitor – designed to meet the needs of Industry 4.0.” Exploring new markets In terms of new target markets, a few years ago Jubilee Clips started to focus on the sewage water treatment space. “This was largely new to us but is becoming an increasingly important sector for the application of hose clips and clamping products,” says Löffler. “Within this sector, we have been enjoying a growing customer base in northern Europe and the UK where people are renovating sewage systems. Hose clips are also used a great deal for both underground sewage systems and in buildings for renovation. We’ve seen considerable growth in this market over the past 10 years globally. Additionally, we have seen increasing interest in places such as the Middle East within the construction and oil & gas sectors, and within the aftermarket vehicle and plumbing markets in Africa.” Strategic market move Custom Fittings Ltd recently made the decision to move into the aerospace industry. “We knew we had the capability to make top-quality products that would serve a demand,” says Crowther. “Now, alongside the vast range of hydraulic hose end fittings and adaptors we now hold a comprehensive stock range of aerospace- specific adaptors. Customers in the aerospace sector from the USA to the middle East know our products and that they are made from material of European origin and are manufactured in the UK – in our factory in West Yorkshire – to the highest quality. This proved to be a sound decision. In fact, we’ve just been awarded AS 9100D, the quality assurance standard for the aerospace industry. Achieving AS 9100D was a major investment for us and was two years in the making, but the move was more than justified to show to the industry that Custom Fittings’ manufacturing practices conform to the highest standards when providing adaptors and connectors for testing to OEM flight parts. Whether it be Beam Seal, flareless and flared connectors, we are able to provide a solution that conforms to all the relevant standards, including AS, ABS, AMS, DGS, DHS, MS and NAS.” Education, training and employment With regard to employment and the Meltem Middleton-Duff, UK director, Hertz Kompressoren UK.