When working in manufacturing process situations, ensuring that plant and equipment have the right level of identification is vitally important. Here, John McGee, product manager for identification products at HellermannTyton, looks at some of the latest identification and tracking techniques and how these can be applied to ensure the best result
As accountability becomes more of an issue across all areas of industry these days, the need for effective and accurate labelling and marking becomes an important part of the process. This can include use in sectors such as electrical installations and manufacturing, through to shipbuilding, oil & gas, petrochemical, rail, power generation and aerospace.
Keeping track of equipment as well as recording when and where important actions, including essential service and maintenance, have taken place has become an everyday requirement for those responsible for the tracking of assets, such as production and operations personnel.
One of the latest developments in tracking technology are special tags that enable users to manage equipment or assets requiring periodic inspections on site, while recording when the activity is executed.
An example of these products is the ‘Tracker Tag’ which features a specifically designed fixing head and provides simple and quick fastening of the tags to themselves and to the item requiring identification. Not only can the tags be custom printed, they are also offered in a range of colours to allow for easy recognition.
Compliant with building regulations, these tags are manufactured from a low smoke, zero Halogen LSOH polyolefin, enabling their use in building and process situations, including areas used by the public. The material is durable enough to withstand any vibration, movement or impacts in a manufacturing environment yet flexible enough to manage any potential for damage to assets.
Another latest development is the permanent laser marking of cable ties manufactured from stainless steel, which as well as offering excellent durability and tensile strength, ensure identification is not easily removed. These ties can be used for securing and marking equipment in specialised or hazardous environments.
Selecting a stainless steel embossing system offers many benefits, including the marker itself which is highly durable and because the lettering is embossed into the steel, there is no chance the code, wording or message will rub off or fade over time. If the application is for a particularly aggressive environment, this can prove to be invaluable.
An example of such a system is the M-Boss Lite, particularly when used with MBT ties. The embossing process is carried out via a special marking machine which can be situated in a workshop or factory and can easily be transported to a different section of a manufacturing facility or even to a different site altogether. The computer driven machine is able to emboss characters directly onto the stainless steel markers, which are then secured to the equipment that needs identifying.
Finished marker plates can then be tied in place and it is normally recommended that a proper cutting tool is used to correctly tension and cut the ties, leaving no sharp edges.
Although there will probably always be a need for human readable identification, machine readable solutions have become more and more popular. From the humble barcode to the 2D data matrix, technology moves on. New RFID chips are now small enough to encapsulate within cable tie heads or even label tags, making data collection and asset management more efficient than ever.
As saving installation time is becoming increasingly important, printing identification markers off site at another area of the business can be a major advantage. The use of thermal transfer desk and bench top printers enable all markers to be produced as and when required, avoiding trips back and forth to obtain the required labels. Having the use of an onsite printer also enables last minute work to be completed, or changes can be accommodated at short notice. This will help to reduce waste and any downtime and will also save money.
Often the simplest ideas deliver the most effective technical solutions and many recent product developments provide time saving, quality answers to the production or operations managers’ problems. Working with equipment manufacturers and suppliers to find the right tools for the job will pay dividends in the long run.
HellermannTyton
T: 0161 945 4181
