A six-monthly Vibration Analysis (VA) solution from SKF, in collaboration with Authorised Distributor, West Cape Bearing & Transmission, has improved the reliability of a longstanding Western Cape customer’s fishing vessel fleet, helping to improve uptime and productivity.
SKF, together with West Cape Bearing & Transmission, has been supplying the customer, who is a blue chip company in the local fisheries sector, with bearings, drive products and Condition Monitoring (CoMo) since 2015. “Over the years, we have also been conducting VA services on various vessels in the customer’s fleet on an ad hoc basis,” says Jonathan van Rooyen, Senior RDC Analyst at SKF.
“The success of our VA services in improving engine reliability, which has increased vessel uptime and subsequently production, has led us to now conduct the VA on a six-monthly basis on each of the customer’s nine vessels,” continues Van Rooyen. “This allows for the collection of vibration data on a regular basis as well as for the implementation of any required maintenance when the vessels are in the harbour. The resultant increased frequency of data collection and subsequent early detection of potential issues greatly reduces the risk of bearing failure. It also enables the customer to plan and budget for equipment maintenance, repair or replacement and, importantly, to avoid potential breakdowns at sea.”
Read the full press release here.
