SKF has developed a wireless system for online monitoring of machine condition in rotating equipment. The system is targeted for the pulp and paper, steel-making and machine tool industries and applications where condition monitoring is impractical because of machine access considerations or safety. It can, however, be used on almost any kind of rotating equipment.

Wireless transmission offers new possibilities for increasing productivity, especially in inaccessible applications or where cable installations are difficult or impossible. Another advantage of the wireless system is that it is quick and easy to move from one machine to another, making it an excellent online troubleshooting tool.

At the heart of the system is an SKF condition monitoring vibration sensor that is connected to a battery-powered unit. The vibrations from the running machine are converted into an electric signal by the sensor, processed in the unit and wirelessly transmitted to a base station. The base station is connected to a PC where the data can be further processed and analysed using SKF Prism software. This wireless system is available as a stand-alone package or as a complement to the SKF wire-based online system.