ABB launches new condition monitoring for predictive maintenance of conveyor belts

ABB Ability Condition Monitoring for belts collects and tracks data from conveyor belts to provide real time information about the health of the equipment, enabling planned and timely maintenance

ABB has launched ABB Ability Condition Monitoring for belts, an advanced digital service to enable mine and steel plant operators to track speed, misalignment, damage, thickness and wear, slippage and temperature of conveyor belts in real time, and therefore anticipate maintenance, avoid unplanned downtime and improve belt reliability and lifetime.

Belt damage can cause significant production time loss in mines and steel plants with in-person inspections typically carried out to determine the condition of conveyor belts. The new ABB Ability Condition Monitoring for belts offers a complete overview of the assets’ condition through continuous monitoring of belt health, generating alarms and warnings in the event of deterioration. By moving from preventative to predictive maintenance, it enables operators to avoid the costly failures that can occur between physical inspections and personnel can be removed from dangerous areas.

The technology is based on sensors installed in strategic points of the conveyor belt equipment and is specifically designed to withstand harsh environments while monitoring asset health and condition.

ABB Ability Condition Monitoring for belts provides easy access to informative dashboards. Fault trend analysis, event alarms, data logs and reports can be monitored for single or multiple conveyors and by remote connection, SMS text message and email.

"Real time monitoring of the actual belt performance prompts the necessary corrective actions ahead of failure or further and more costly damage," said Eduardo Botelho, Global Material Handling Service Product Manager, ABB. "With equipment condition continuously assessed, operators can plan necessary maintenance only when certain indicators give the signal that the equipment is deteriorating, and the probability of failure is increasing. It will consistently catch misalignment or speed issues online, long before failure, and pre-empt issues such as falling material, energy waste, excessive belt wear, rupture or fire."

The solution can work as a stand-alone option or can be integrated into any control system, being interoperable with existing maintenance tools and infrastructure. KPIs can be customized, based on customer's needs or pain points.