Valmet launches a new monitoring application to secure bearing lubrication in fiber processing equipment

Valmet Oyj’s trade press release on October 12, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. EET

Valmet launches a new application, Valmet Oil Monitoring, to remotely monitor oil lubrication in fiber processing equipment.

As various rotating machinery throughout the fiberline perform under extremely harsh and demanding environments, it is often difficult to manually retrieve oil samples. Maintaining an adequate surveillance of lubrication properties against harmful effects can prove very challenging.

“Valmet’s oil monitoring system provides constant remote lube oil condition monitoring visibility through its novel sensoring and data acquisition technology,” says Heikki Kettunen, Senior Manager, R&D, Rolls and Workshop Services, Valmet.

The damages in rotating equipment bearing are mostly related to insufficient bearing lubrication. Typical failure modes such as bearing vibration and elevated temperature are normally only observed when the failure has already progressed. With Valmet Oil Monitoring, upcoming failures can be foreseen through changes in lubrication oil quality. The solution enables corrective actions before the actual failure arises, reducing unplanned shutdowns and the need for subsequent repairs.

First application in pulp washing machinery

The Valmet Oil Monitoring application was first installed to follow roll bearings’ oil lubrication in a TwinRoll wash press in a European pulp mill. The application detected contamination in the bearing oil circulation unit. This observation was flagged, and the machine operators were able to react quickly with corresponding maintenance actions.

Valmet Oil Monitoring, together with the specific applications for chip feeders in continuous cooking and TwinRoll presses in pulp washing, form the offering of Valmet’s modular reliability monitoring platform. The platform is intended for fiber processing equipment and was introduced in 2022.

Valmet’s reliability monitoring applications are part of the Valmet Industrial Internet offering and provide powerful tools for fiber producers to secure equipment availability and improve process performance.

Valmet Oil Monitoring system can forecast deterioration before the first signs of bearing failure and, thus, improves process reliability.

VALMET

Corporate Communications

For further information, please contact:
Juha Ruotsi, Global Technology Manager, Fiber Workshop Services, Services business line, Valmet, tel. +358 40 5194 280
Carlo Marrocco, Director, Fiber Workshop Services, Services business line, Valmet, tel. +1 514 262 9203

- Valmet’s new reliability monitoring systems boost predictive maintenance in fiber processing equipment

Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. With our automation systems and flow control solutions we serve an even wider base of process industries. Our 17,500 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers’ performance forward – every day.

The company has over 220 years of industrial history and a strong track record in continuous improvement and renewal. In 2022, a major milestone was achieved when the flow control company Neles was merged into Valmet. Valmet’s net sales in 2022 were approximately EUR 5.1 billion.

Valmet’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and the head office is in Espoo, Finland.

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