Worldwide machine condition monitoring market

During the course of the 20th century, maintenance strategies have gone through many changes. Currently, predictive and proactive strategies present the maximum benefits at minimum expenditure. However, the preventive or scheduled maintenance approach is the most widely used strategy, particularly among the SMEs.

Now trending

A trend that has helped to boost market growth is the integration of IoT machine condition monitoring. Recent advances in sensor technologies, such as wireless sensor nodes, can be integrated with wireless networking protocols such as ZigBee and Wi-Fi or industry-grade Bluetooth among others. When integrated with these frameworks, wireless sensing can monitor machine and equipment condition and can also decode every machine’s individual pattern and behavior via software and learning mechanisms. Prototypes of monitoring systems with IoT called Machine 4.0 prototypes, developed by companies, such as Deckel Maho Pfronten and Schaeffler, have been launched at multiple global exhibitions and are in successful trials. 

According to the report, a key growth driver is the shift from preventive maintenance to predictive maintenance. To increase the longevity of machines and equipment and prevent breakdown during operations, preventive/scheduled maintenance strategies were deployed earlier. Preventive strategies comprise pre-planned periodic shutdown, disassembly, thorough inspection, and replacement of damaged parts in anticipation of breakdowns.

Though this strategy is efficient, it is however expensive, as critical machines are often shut down and systems are interrupted for inspection purposes, leading to loss of production. It is difficult to determine the correct periodic interval between two inspections as long intervals between maintenance may lead to breakdowns and unnecessary short intervals are expensive.