SDT Ultrasound Solutions focuses on providing ultrasound-based predictive maintenance solutions for various industries, including manufacturing, energy, automotive, and more. Their technology helps companies identify potential equipment issues before they escalate into costly failures, thus improving overall operational efficiency and reducing downtime.
Interview with Benoit Degraeve, Director & General Sales Manager at SDT Ultrasound Solutions.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Benoit Degraeve: The main areas of activity for SDT Ultrasound Solutions include:
- Providing ultrasound equipment for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance.
- Offering training and certification programs for professionals in the field of ultrasound-based maintenance.
- Developing software solutions for data analysis and reporting to support predictive maintenance strategies.
E.E: What’s the news about new products/services?
B.D: This April, SDT released a new automatic bearing lubrication solution called LUBExpert ON-GUARD. Featuring SDT’s LUBrain algorithm, it uses ultrasound measurement technology to precisely deliver the right amount of grease to bearings. This ensures optimum performance and reliability, helping to maintain machine efficiency and longevity. Thanks to its intuitive web interface and automated operation, the LUBExpert ON-GUARD simplifies maintenance tasks, minimizes workload and reduces grease wastage. With a focus on safety and flexibility, it offers remote control capabilities and customizable lubrication strategies.
E.E: What are the ranges of products/services?
B.D: SDT Ultrasound Solutions offers a variety of products and services tailored to different maintenance needs and applications:
- SDT340: This is one of our flagship ultrasound devices, designed for versatile condition monitoring across various industries. The SDT340 is utilized for detecting issues such as bearing lubrication, compressed air and gas leaks, and electrical faults.
- Vigilant: The Vigilant is a specialized monitoring solution that provides continuous monitoring of critical assets, enabling early detection of abnormalities and potential failures.
- LUBExpert: LUBExpert is a solution aimed specifically at bearing lubrication. It helps maintenance professionals optimize lubrication practices by ensuring proper lubrication levels and identifying potential lubrication-related issues.
- Checkers Range: The Checkers range consists of portable ultrasound devices tailored for specific applications, such as leak detection, steam trap inspection, and valve condition monitoring.
These products serve various purposes, including but not limited to bearing lubrication, compressed air and gas leaks detection, electrical fault detection, steam trap inspection, and valve condition monitoring.
In addition to their hardware offerings, SDT Ultrasound Solutions also provides training and certification programs to equip maintenance professionals with the necessary skills to effectively utilize ultrasound technology in predictive maintenance strategies. This includes the Level 1 training for foundational knowledge in ultrasound inspection techniques and the LUBExpert Implementation Master Class for in-depth training on bearing lubrication optimization using the LUBExpert solution.
E.E: What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
B.D: The market for predictive maintenance and energy optimization is growing fast. At SDT Ultrasound Solutions, we’ve been at the forefront of this sector since 1975, constantly innovating and adapting to changing needs. There is a strong demand for advanced condition monitoring solutions, driven by a growing awareness of energy efficiency and the crucial role of preventive maintenance in modern industry. Our cutting-edge technologies not only meet this demand, they also help establish new benchmarks in the sector.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
B.D: One of the most significant trends we’re seeing is the shift towards proactive lubrication in maintenance strategies. Our research, along with various root cause analyses and FMEA studies, shows that around 80% of equipment failures can be attributed to lubrication problems. This finding played a key role in the development of our approach. Our LUBExpert ON-GUARD, a portable, on-line system, powered by robust algorithms, is a game-changer for the industry, setting new standards for proactive lubrication.
E.E: What estimations do you have for the beginning of 2024?
B.D: As we advance into 2024, SDT Ultrasound Solutions’ ambitions are high. We are ready for significant growth, especially with the launch of our latest innovation, the LUBExpert-On-Guard. This intelligent, condition-based ultrasound lubrication system is revolutionizing maintenance technology. We expect it to make a substantial contribution to our growth, tapping into growing market demand for intelligent, data-driven maintenance solutions.
