Location
Belgium
Industry
Bottom ash recycling
Catch wear before it becomes failure
Vibration
monitoring detects insufficient lubrication and early bearing damage.
Targeted action
Measurements
show exactly what needs attention.
Maintenance you can plan and budget for
A detailed vibration report gives the maintenance team a clear, fact-based basis to schedule interventions.
Challenge
Keeping slurry pumps running in a bottom ash recycling environment is demanding. The media is abrasive, operating conditions are tough, and unplanned downtime is costly. For
the maintenance team, the question is
always the same: how do you know when a pump actually needs attention before it tells you by breaking down?
Waiting for failure means reactive repairs, unplanned stops, and higher costs. But opening up every pump at every maintenance interval, just to be sure, wastes time and budget on equipment that may not need it yet.
But there’s a smarter way.
Solution
Vaikon carries out vibration monitoring on pumps, measuring velocity and envelope values across the motor and pump bearings. The measurements cover multiple positions and directions, giving a clear picture of the machine's actual condition.
The analysis looks at lubrication quality, early-stage bearing damage, and overall vibration levels. Each assessed through dedicated filter bands suited to detecting different types of wear and failure.
In this case results showed the pump itself was running in good overall condition, with vibration levels on the pump bearings well within acceptable limits. The motor bearings told a different story: lubrication was insufficient, and while no significant bearing damage had developed yet, the early warning signs were there.
Rather than recommending an unnecessary full strip-down, Vaikon provided a targeted recommendation: re-grease the motor bearings at the next scheduled maintenance stop. No more, no less.
A complete vibration report was issued, documenting the current condition, measurement data, and the recommended follow-up actions, giving the maintenance team a solid basis to plan ahead.
Result
Vibration monitoring gives customers a clear, fact-based view of their equipment's condition, without opening up pumps unnecessarily.
When early warning signs are detected, like insufficient lubrication, maintenance teams can act in a planned, controlled way at the next scheduled stop. No emergency repairs, no unplanned downtime, and a maintenance budget that stays predictable.
The approach works the other way too. For equipment in good condition, monitoring confirms that no intervention is needed, saving time and cost on inspections that would have found nothing.
