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WHAT'S NEW IN AUSTRALIAN MINING

Condition monitoring sensor secures hazardous environment certification

condition monitoring sensor

A next-generation continuous condition monitoring sensor has received approval for use in hazardous coal mine environments under the IECEx Scheme.

The FitMachine EX solution is now IECEx certified for use in Queensland underground coal mines. The certification of the continuous condition monitor was gained through Ex Testing and Certification Pty Ltd.

Brad Parsons MOVUS CEO and founder said “We understand that there are extremely sensitive environments where equipment downtime directly impacts the bottom line. By providing the most advanced artificial intelligence-powered condition monitoring solution at a cost-effective price, FitMachine EX delivers a very compelling solution.”

The company believes that the IECEx Certification of the condition monitoring sensor will be an important extension of its existing intrinsically safe certification. FitMachine EX is an extension of the MOVUS FitMachine continuous condition monitoring solution that is designed and manufactured in Australia.

“Utilising best-of-breed sensors, communications, and artificial intelligence into a low-cost platform, FitMachine EX provides 24/7 digital oversight across a wide range of fixed rotating assets in the most hazardous industrial environments.”

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“Ask any mine site ConMon team and they’ll tell you that often as many as 10% of assets due for regular time or route-based inspections are missed because of operational or safety considerations. This is why the ‘continuous’ part of our solution is so important.

FitMachine EX condition monitoring sensor operates in those environments where its dangerous for humans to be so as to undertake an inspection or sample collection task. It acts as an early warning system for maintenance teams – detecting early-stage changes in condition that left unchecked may lead to unplanned downtime or machine failure. FitMachine EX gives your maintenance teams the opportunity to work smarter.”

According to the new IECEx certification, the equipment comprises two main parts. An FM Base (FMEX 3.0) is a cylindrical anti-static enclosure, with a single PCB encapsulated in the base/bottom part.

Only two leads fitted with a connector appear from the encapsulation to connect to the battery. The base is either mechanically secured or connected with a magnet to the machine/equipment it monitors. The housing has approximate dimensions of 90 mm diameter x 50 mm tall.

The battery (BAEX 3.0) consists of two primary cells and a protection PCB, all fully encapsulated inside an antistatic battery housing. The battery is secured inside the FM base and only two flying leads fitted with a connector protrude from the battery encapsulation to connect with the FM Base electronics. It has housing approximate dimensions of 76 mm x 67 mm x 25 mm high.

The battery supplying power to the condition monitoring sensor is also intrinsically safe in its own right and may be exchanged in a hazardous area.

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