Howler Alert Technologies specialises in automated predictive maintenance using unique, in-house developed online monitoring technology. Predictive maintenance can enable early fault detection in machines, improving productivity and saving money by avoiding unplanned breakdowns. The company's aim is to provide entire plant automated reliability services for every rotating machine or machine component. Entire plant monitoring has the potential to eliminate all rotating machine breakdowns enabling maximum reliable production.
Online vibration monitoring systems are one of the best solutions for reliable and early fault detection. Good systems however, are very expensive and in the majority of cases are only used for monitoring the most critical machines. On the other hand, cheaper systems do not collect quality data to allow advanced vibration diagnostics, which is required for failure and changeout predictions. An online system without human confirmation is unlikely to be effective, especially for slow speed applications such as conveyors.
Howler Alert Technologies provides entire plant automated reliability services and products for rotating machinery. This allows for the earliest detection and trending of faults, so defective components can be replaced or repaired during shutdowns. Entire plant monitoring has the potential to eliminate all rotating machine breakdowns and increase reliability of rotating components, leading to maximum reliable production.
The company was founded as Wheel Alert Technologies in 2015, with the primary goal of developing a world first heavy vehicle wheel condition monitoring sensor. With the help of a government grant, multiple field trials, and investor pitches, the sensor was on the path to commercialisation, that was until the pandemic hit.
Like many businesses, Wheel Alert Technologies had to pivot to remain operational. Today Wheel Alert Technologies is known as Howler Alert Technologies and specialises in predictive maintenance services and products. However, the truck wheel sensor has not been lost, with the technology being transferred to the latest in-house designed and built online vibration monitoring systems.
The company’s customisable and comprehensive complete plant online monitoring solutions use state-of-the-art hardwired and wireless technology to continuously monitor any and every asset of a plant.
Data can be accessed via the Howler Alert Technologies secure portal, where senior vibration analysts diagnose and report upon the data and customers can view the condition of their plant. This has the benefit of comprehensive monitoring combined with expert diagnostics to provide the ultimate solution for plant reliability.
Howler Alert Technologies is currently developing 3 online monitoring systems as well as its own vibration data collector:
The original truck wheel sensor. This unique sensor is designed to monitor road truck wheels, from ridged trucks, right through to road trains. It detects bearing, brake and tyre issues live during the vehicle’s journey and immediately alerts both driver and headquarters of any issues.
Hardwired online vibration monitoring system. The system uses permanently mounted accelerometers wired into an online monitoring system where the machine is constantly monitored to give the highest possible protection.
Wireless online vibration monitoring sensor. These are wireless sensors that periodically collect high-quality data to allow online monitoring of many machines. They are a lot cheaper than a hard-wired system, so customers can monitor every bearing location to provide the ultimate coverage and reliability of an entire plant.
Vibration data collector. This collects very high-quality data and utilises already existing display units (mobile phone, tablet etc) to keep the price extremely affordable. The data collector utilises the same cloud software as the online systems therefore avoiding expensive software purchases.
The company also has several sensors in the development pipeline:
Mining heavy vehicle wheel and component sensor. This is similar to the truck wheel sensor but with some extra features to monitor mining heavy vehicles such as dump trucks.
Train wheel sensor. A sensor to allow every wheel bearing to be monitored live as well as simultaneously monitoring the track condition that the wheels run along.
Conveyor roller sensors. A cheap sensor to online monitor conveyor rollers.
The company’s focus is not only to provide outstanding reliability services and products to help customers prevent premature failures of their machines, but to build meaningful and lasting relationships. Where a solution does not already exist, Howler Alert Technologies will find a way to solve it. Howler Alert Technologies is bridging the gap between current reliability services and products to the cutting edge world of complete plant automated reliability.