United Utilities trials Samotics’ AI-based smart monitoring system
August 6, 2021 | By Maryam Farag
Samotics has been selected for a 12-month trial by United Utilities Group PLC, a U.K.-based water and wastewater companies, to improve the reliability and efficiency of its operations.
The trial emerged from United Utilities’ CEO Challenge initiative, in which teams of graduates in different business areas work together to find innovative solutions to business issues, such as maintenance excellence and minimizing environmental impact.
Samotics’ SAM4 system analyzes current and voltage data from electric motors using a technique called electrical signature analysis (ESA). The system’s sensors install in the motor control cabinet, rather than on the machine being monitored, enabling the reliable capture of detailed health data regardless of the machine’s location and exposure to hazards.
“United Utilities has a deep commitment to resilient, environmentally responsible water management, and we’re delighted to play a part in helping provide its customers with the best possible service at the lowest sustainable cost,” said Jasper Hoogeweegen, CEO, Samotics. “Pumps pose a major maintenance challenge in industries like water management. With SAM4, operators can access more insights than ever before and in near real time, empowering them to act instead of react to upcoming challenges and ensure pumps continue to run efficiently and effectively.”
The SAM4 system will be installed on 25 pumps at eight locations, testing a variety of pump types and processes, over 12 months before being evaluated.
“Monitoring the health of powered assets was a key priority in our CEO Challenge project as our team of graduates was tasked to find ways to optimize asset health understanding and monitoring. Samotics’ capabilities intrigued us due to its non-invasive approach to asset condition and performance monitoring and the possibility of developing real-time pump curves. We are excited to see how the trial proceeds and the insights we could gain to ensure we continue providing customers with great service because of strong operational performance.” said Nathanael Pattison, Graduate Team Member, Samotics.
