April 2021

Focus on: Condition Monitoring Maintenance Matters April 2021 www.pwemag.co.uk Plant & Works Engineering | 13 way for companies to use the Internet of Things (IoT) to monitor the condition of both hard and soft assets. That is to say, everything from the GPS location of and temperature inside the refrigerated vehicles that deliver the food to the probes that continuously measure the temperature inside food stored frozen, refrigerated or at ambient temperatures. Wireless sensors transmit encrypted data over low band long distance radio frequencies to 4G/WiFi gateways that in turn update an external portal, providing full visibility to registered users from any device. The sensors are quick to install which means replacing legacy technology to comply with food safety regulation becomes significantly easier. Companies are assured they are providing the best quality products in the most sustainable way. The monitoring of assets allows businesses a complete picture of their performance using real-time data to make certain that their machines are working at optimum performance. Equipment such as ovens, refrigerators, freezers, and even rooms can be monitored for problems ranging from humidity, temperature, and power supply to leaks and pest control. Staff are alerted to underperforming assets and remedial action can take place immediately. This ability to protect assets in real-time means safer food and less waste. It also means that staff can focus on their jobs and maintenance visits are pro rather than re-active. Communication Workers collaborating effectively is key when it comes to unlocking productivity and efficiency across food production sites. And with greater automation resulting in an increase of lone workers, an effective communication solution can help maintain high production standards and volumes while most importantly, complying with health and safety standards. Therefore, technology that provides both effective mobile communication and lone working functionality within a single platform is essential for food production companies to adopt. Solutions that also incorporate panic buttons and tilt sensors on the handsets with the functionality to escalate alarms to response teams are also critical for ensuring the safety of lone workers. The additional benefits of allowing responders to receive machine alarms on their preferred device, whether that be a smartphone or radio handset allows for organisations to remain dynamic within their communication. Companies can be secure in the knowledge that their lone workers are safe and connected, especially with the increase in automation used in production lines. Conclusion As food production companies adopt more automation within their processes to keep up with the changing times and make sure their output is as efficient as possible, organisations will need to employ technologies to maximise real-time information to support this. With condition monitoring and communication tools, companies can ensure their assets are performing optimally and their employees are safe and secure at work. The rise of the machines is inevitable and food manufacturing companies must adopt up-to- date technology so that production is as smooth, safe and productive as possible. *Chris Potts is marketing director at ANT Telecom