Our Intelligence channels offer market intelligence, technical reports and deep-dive analysis of key industry motivators, technologies, materials and impactors. WTiN Intelligence provides detailed analysis of important high-growth areas of the textile and apparel industry. WTiN’s expert team of analysts and network of researchers go beyond the what and the why to look at what might come next, what businesses need to contend with in an evolving global supply chain, and how they can take advantage of the opportunities on the horizon.
Industry insight, market information, and the connections you need to examine and evaluate market trends in the roll-to-roll digital textile printing sector.
By Joseph Link
Market and technical intelligence essential to the activewear and athleisure textile and clothing industries.
By Cara Dudgeon
By Jessica Owen
By Jessica Owen
By Jessica Owen
In-depth intelligence about textiles used in outdoor sportswear, footwear and equipment, as well as textile applications that require protection from external environments - such as workwear and PPE.
By Cara Dudgeon
By Adrian Wilson
By Jessica Owen
By Jessica Owen
In-depth intelligence on the materials, manufacturing technologies and application areas of smart textiles.
By Jessica Owen
By Victoria Nickerson
By Jessica Owen
By Lutz Walter
Providing investors and decision makers in the textile and apparel value chain with in-depth analysis and insight into the digitalisation of manufacturing processes and smart business models.
By Cara Dudgeon
By Otis Robinson
Our WTiNews channels take a look at global textile and apparel industry innovation, businesses, technology and markets, provided by WTiN’s in-house team of journalists. WTiNews is set apart from basic news content as it discerns the importance of changes and developments in the supply chain. WTiNews doesn’t only tell you ‘what’ has happened, it also covers impact, the bigger picture and the industry’s response to trends, events and more.
A viewpoint on both natural and manmade fibres and yarns, as seen through the eyes of manufacturers, growers, processors and spinners, with a mix of technical articles, analysis and product innovation news.
By John Scrimshaw
Analysis and manufacturing technology updates for the global fabric manufacturing industries and their supply-chain partners.
By Keith Nuthall
By Cara Dudgeon
News, analysis and technical information on the important realms of dyeing, finishing, printing (both screen and digital) and coating.
By Joseph Link
News, market insight, analysis and product development updates from the fast-growing markets in technical textiles, covering all applications and end uses.
By Jessica Owen
By Cara Dudgeon
By Cara Dudgeon
By Jessica Owen
Unrivalled coverage of the manufacture and uses of engineered polymer and fibre ‘non-textile’ products.
By Jessica Owen
By Cara Dudgeon
By Cara Dudgeon
Your instant window on the global raw materials prices, trade movements, resources and manufacturing costs that can affect the profitability of your textile products.
By Nitin Madkaikar
By Paul Deane
By Nitin Madkaikar
Digital Textile is the world’s only journal dedicated wholly to textile applications in the rapidly developing field of digital printing.
International Dyer & Finisher is the unrivalled world leader in the delivery of vital sector-specific information for textile dyers, finishers, printers and coaters.
Knitting International is uniquely placed to give a worldwide perspective to manufacturers and retailers in the ever-more globalised and diversified knitting industry.
Nonwovens Report International (NRI) keeps you up-to-date with the latest developments across the nonwovens market. With its team of technical and industry experts, NRI makes use of its close ties with associations, research institutes and market-leading businesses to bring you international reporting that covers areas all over the world.
Previously known as IoTex, the newly relaunched Textile 4.0 journal delivers vital insights into the burgeoning transformation of the textile and apparel value chain. It covers a spectrum of content, from technologies enabling the personalisation trend to supply chain transparency, the latest in fabric gripping robotics, smart clothing and much more.
Twist is read across the textile supply chain, from early stage processors to retailers, with its primary focus the provenance of fine natural fibres such as wool, cotton, silk, linen, cashmere and mohair, as well as rare and speciality fibres.
Predictive maintenance is often the gateway to Industry 4.0 for many companies. It is an easy point in which to start digital transformation as it is relatively cheap, can be used on existing technologies and return on investment (ROI) can be easily and quickly observed.
ABB is a global technology company at the forefront of Industry 4.0, delivering systems that drive efficiency and savings, as well as offering multiple other benefits to support operators in an ever-competitive energy landscape. Pier Vittorio Rebba, global technology manager, Power Generation and Water, and Will Leonard, product manager, Asset Performance Management from ABB’s Energy Industries team explain the untapped potential of a digital maintenance strategy across all verticals.
Predictive maintenance monitors the performance and condition of equipment in real-time. It predicts the future failure point of a machine component so that the element can be replaced, based on a digital maintenance strategy, before it fails. In doing so, equipment downtime is minimised and the asset lifetime is maximised, according to ABB.
The company works on predictive maintenance and asset management across many industries and sectors, including power and water, oil and gas, process industries, marine and robotics. Wherever there is a critical machine that is performing a task via a process, you can consider applying predictive maintenance, such as in the textile industry. In essence, ABB can use predictive maintenance across all industry sectors.
Rebba and Leonard say: “The challenge rests in the question: ‘Can we solve the biggest industrial challenges by applying predictive maintenance solutions that may involve smart sensors, real-time monitoring and advanced analytics?’ This often depends on the current strategy adopted, the age and residual life of an asset, and of course, the maintenance strategy of the company in question.”
They continue: “Increasingly, operators are challenged to build infrastructure and make investments that last for future generations. This often means examining how to maximise the performance and efficiency of operations for a facility set to run for the next 20 years.”
As a result, operators are consistently looking upfront for “how to employ best philosophies for maintenance and switching from a time-based maintenance program to a condition-based predictive one. With rapid improvements in technology and operations, a facility can even pave the way for predictive, prescriptive or even autonomous operations,” according to Rebba and Leonard.
Digital technologies are driving innovation and predictive maintenance has been labelled as the ‘biggest driver behind digital transformation’. Rebba and Leonard say this is because predictive maintenance has “untapped potential.” They add: “Most operators are still using a time-based maintenance system, even though studies show most equipment failures or maintenance issues are not, generally, a result of time-based conditions.
“Predictive maintenance allows operators to monitor, in real-time, the condition of their assets, and therefore accurately predict possible problems before they happen, avoiding costly and unplanned shut-downs and downtime. This added reliability can have a substantial impact on OPEX [operating expense], with maintenance savings of between 15-30% achievable.”
Moreover, with improved visualisation of assets and their performance, operators can make informed decisions about how to create efficiencies and implement energy management programs that reduce fuel consumption and emission levels, while not affecting production yields. “This is another driving factor in adopting a predictive maintenance strategy,” Rebba and Leonard comment.
Also, as the ageing workforce reaches retirement, which is particularly true of the textile industry, a digital maintenance strategy can help ensure plants continue to run smoothly and ensures knowledge transfer from peer to peer, therefore future-proofing facilities for the long-term.
When it comes to machine monitoring, more than one approach is needed to get the most out of the solution. “What is increasingly powerful now is a combination of data-driven analytics with a model-based approach,” Rebba and Leonard say. They explain: “A simple mathematical approach using data and statistics is good for early warnings, but not so good for identifying the behaviour of specific components or the causes of failure. Deep machine learning, where neuro learning is utilised, enables the network to continually improve and recognise anomalous behaviours, by leveraging physics-based models that are reliant on knowledge of specific products and systems that change from plant to plant.”
Ideally, a combination of intelligent systems is the best approach to get the most out of a monitoring solution. “That way, not only can anomalous behaviour be identified and warned, but it can also provide actionable recommendations,” Rebba and Leonard continue.
Advanced analytics with the use of data are enabling experts to provide insights into predictive maintenance and asset management, which positively impacts business, improves risk management and avoids long-term problems. “Put simply, quicker and better insights drive competitive advantage,” say Rebba and Leonard.
Asset management allows manufacturers to get the best out of their machinery, increasing operational efficiency. It is therefore a critical part of digital optimisation.
Today is the right time to invest in technologies such as predictive maintenance, machine monitoring and asset management. The maintenance market is more accessible than it has ever been with product maturity. “The technology architecture and predictive maintenance and asset management systems are here and ready to be deployed,” say Rebba and Leonard.
“Industrial operators have always been aware that it was a big area for improvement, but with more and more focus on reducing cost, risk, improving reliability and in the drive to become more sustainable and efficient to compete, it must become a key component of operational strategies,” they continue.
This is where ABB’s technology comes in. Using machine learning, ABB offers innovative predictive maintenance solutions utilising sensors, data and advanced analytics to constantly assess the real-time condition of assets, identifying when they might need repair or replacement well ahead of potential failure.
“Our ABB Ability Asset Performance Management (APM) software helps companies to more accurately predict and prevent/reduce equipment and infrastructure failures, enabling more efficient planned maintenance practices through predictive maintenance,” Rebba and Leonard claim.
However, predictive maintenance needs a holistic approach. “It is not just about addressing one issue or providing one solution in isolation,” say Rebba and Leonard. “Operators need to look across the entire plant. It requires full integration within a whole system – it’s about monitoring all processes, components and people and interconnectedness with other critical plant systems and IT like, for example, the Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) process.”
More than ever, operators are being challenged to maintain high asset availability, reliable capacity and safety with the financial pressures caused by ageing infrastructure, and the limited capital for maintenance or replacements. “Implementing a solution that combines an asset management system with asset performance data and a comprehensive workforce management solution for dispatching crews helps companies achieve a proactive approach to maintenance,” Rebba and Leonard add.
And it is not just about technology. A culture shift and the education and training of people are also required to embrace a change in process around infrastructure management and maintenance.
Also, Rebba and Leonard comment: “Understanding what an organisation’s digital strategy is, and where they are on their digital journey, is very important. When it comes to maintenance, is an organisation reactive or proactive? Are they preventative, predictive or prescriptive? How reliable are they? What is the next step for them in the process to becoming world-class in asset performance management?”
ABB helps its customers to get value from data. The company invests in R&D – nearly US$1.5bn every year – and has the expertise to work with its customers to find digital solutions that meet their potential problems, lowering risk and reducing capital and operational costs by 20-30%.
“Asset performance management is one of ABB’s key areas of business, where we are helping our customers transform routine maintenance to predictive maintenance by making better decisions and understanding risk and failure. This is an approach that is revolutionising monitoring and maintenance,” Rebba and Leonard conclude.
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