Thermal imaging keep delivering for Royal Mail
A
Flir Systems product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jun 29, 2000
At the Royal Mail, all critical systems in every sorting office throughout the UK are checked every month, using FLIR Systems thermal imaging equipment
The loss of its monopoly on small items is the ultimate penalty if the Royal Mail fails to meet the Quality of Service targets imposed by the Government.
Mail throughput is one of the main yardsticks but there are several other criteria.
Currently 95% next-day delivery is being achieved for first class post throughout the UK.
This takes into account post from rural area to rural area as well as city to city.
To maintain this high level of efficiency, the Royal Mail must have reliable plant and equipment.
It naturally operates a TPM programme which incorporates condition monitoring of all systems involved in the handling and sorting of the post.
"All critical systems, in every sorting office throughout the UK are checked every month," confirms Consultant with Automation Management, Terry Callahan.
"And it's FLIR Systems thermal imaging that allows us to predict any problems without disruption." Terry and his team are based at the Royal Mail Technology Centre in Swindon.
The site is responsible for researching and specifying new technology as well as providing technical support for the whole of UK.
"The beauty of using thermal imaging is that it allows us to inspect a machine without having to stop it," continues Terry Callahan.
"We can do a complete health check of a system without compromising throughput." System efficiency is at its most critical at two peak time periods, between 9.30pm and 10.30pm when the day's mail is received from the post boxes and between 3am and 6am when deliveries are being sorted.
Any breakdown during these peaks would clearly have a catastrophic effect on throughput targets.
Included in the regular condition monitoring programme is the Mail Rail system, a mini train network under London.
The main PM requirement is to check for high resistance on the dc connectors as an early indication of potential power failure.
Again such an occurrence would have serious consequences as Mail Rail is responsible for the transportation of a third of the capital's mail.
As well as playing a key role in the maintenance of the Royal Mail's automation systems, the FLIR systems cameras are also used to monitor the integrity of Royal Mail buildings.
Looking for heat loss is one important application, so too is pinpointing damp ingress.
This is particularly important at the Swindon site as it holds stocks of all manner of equipment from consumables and components to Royal Mail bicycles! Royal Mail's recent order of a FLIR Systems Agema 570 brings its camera fleet to three.
"And we will definitely be ordering more in the very near future," concludes Terry Callahan.
"The cameras are simple to use and easily portable, a factor that is very important given the nature of our work." Investment in the third camera will allow Royal Mail to base the cameras more strategically to enhance logistics.
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