depends on understanding the relationship between multiple machine parameters in real time. Pressure, temperature, flow and hydraulic power measurements plus real time CAN messages all contribute to the overall picture of machine performance during fault-finding, commissioning, preventative maintenance and workshop testing. To support this, Watchlog Connect includes live value tiles, dual-axis trend charts, min/max tracking, alarm thresholds and configurable channel layouts designed to provide immediate visibility of machine behaviour during testing. The software also incorporates calculated channels, allowing users to derive new values directly from live sensor data. Having external sensor data plus CAN bus messages, all on a unified timeline gives valuable real-world insights. In practical terms, this allows engineers to compare pressures, calculate differentials or monitor hydraulic power dynamically as operating conditions change. Rather than exporting data to external tools for post-processing, many calculations can be handled directly within the live monitoring environment. “The idea behind Watchlog Connect was to give hydraulic engineers one simple, modern software environment for test and monitoring work,” says Richard Price, Managing Director of Hydrotechnik UK Test Engineering Ltd. “By bringing Bluetooth, USB, Medium range Wireless and analogue inputs together in one cross-platform application, we are making it easier for customers to capture data, understand machine performance and produce professional results wherever they are working.” The ability to move rapidly from live measurement to documented results is becoming increasingly important as service teams are expected to diagnose software environment, Watchlog Connect gives engineers the ability to view command signals and machine response together in real time, rather than piecing together information from separate instruments and software packages. For many hydraulic engineers, the appeal of Watchlog Connect will not necessarily be the number of features alone, but the fact that it reduces the amount of software, hardware interfaces and manual handling involved in day-today testing. Whether carrying out fault-finding, commissioning machinery, workshop testing or producing customer reports after a service visit, engineers are increasingly expected to move quickly from live measurement to documented evidence. Bringing monitoring, recording and reporting together into one platform simplifies that process considerably. Rather than replacing existing hydraulic test methods, Watchlog Connect appears aimed at making them easier to manage, particularly for service teams and engineers working across multiple machines, sensor types and operating environments. For further information please visit: www.hydrotechnik.co.uk problems quickly while also delivering clearer reporting to customers and OEM support departments. Hydrotechnik has therefore placed strong emphasis on reporting and recordkeeping within the platform. Users can record data at rates ranging from 5 mS using USB sensors up to 10-second intervals, depending on the application. Test sessions can be annotated, compared side by side and exported into branded PDF reports containing charts, statistics, alarm events and notes. CSV export and re-import functionality is also included to support further analysis and long-term review. Another feature aimed directly at practical field use is the platform’s visualisation page. This allows live sensor tiles to be positioned over photographs or schematics of the machine or system under test, creating a more intuitive representation of complex multi-channel setups. In hydraulic applications where several pressure and flow measurements may need to be monitored simultaneously, that visual context can simplify both testing and communication of results. Hydrotechnik is also expanding the platform beyond conventional hydraulic sensing. A forthcoming addition will introduce support for 4–20 mA, 0–10 VDC and -10 to +10 VDC signals via the WLBAN Bluetooth transmitter. The addition also broadens the platform’s scope into applications where hydraulic and analogue electrical measurements need to be monitored together. Many machines continue to rely on analogue signals alongside hydraulic measurements, particularly in proportional control testing, analogue signal verification and electro-hydraulic systems. By allowing analogue and hydraulic data to be monitored within the same 34 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS July/August 2026 www.hpmag.co.uk DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
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