AMETEK Spectro Scientific, one of the world’s largest suppliers of oil and fuel analysis instrumentation and software, has released a unique portable oil analysis laboratory that has delivered proven operational benefits for the US Military.
Image Credit: AMETEK Spectro Scientific
Rugged, compact, and lightweight, the FieldLab series offers a comprehensive and detailed oil and particulate analysis that enables quick and effective maintenance decisions to be made. A highly reliable asset for customers operating mobile fleets, FieldLab dramatically shortens analysis turnaround times by providing rapid, accurate results within minutes. This immediately solves challenges where access to remote laboratories is expensive and results can take weeks to be returned, a problem that greatly reduces effectiveness.
Extensively trialled in the field by the US military, FieldLab “M” series success resulted in multi-year supply contracts with the US Marine Corps for $8.7m, followed by a $39.9m contract to supply FieldLab 58MA to the US Air Force. FieldLab’s reliable and consistent performance for the US Military enables Spectro Scientific to release the FieldLab “C” series for use in commercial applications.
The only fully portable, lab-quality oil and particulate analysis product available, it is a reliable tool for customers where access to laboratories is expensive and results typically take weeks to be returned – a problem that greatly reduces program effectiveness.
Building on a successful track record of usage by the US Military, the FieldLab is now available for commercial sale to customers across a range of industries including power generation, commercial aviation, mobile service teams, heavy equipment, marine vessels, race teams and upstream oil and gas production.
FieldLab offers a swift and inexpensive method to gauge potential machine wear by determining the condition of the oil and the presence of metallic wear particles. By measuring oil condition via molecular and viscosity analysis, FieldLab enables customers to extend service life of lubricants used in their applications, optimize labor resources, and minimize disposal costs and environmental impact.
Samples can be collected from machines such as gas-powered turbines, generators, diesel engines, gearboxes, pumps and hydraulic systems and immediately tested onsite. The results are available within minutes, allowing potential customers to make near immediate time- and cost-saving decisions.
User-friendly with minimal set-up time and no routine calibration required, FieldLab produces easy-to-understand results and diagnostics within minutes in eight different languages. Comprehensive analysis is provided via an x-ray fluorescent system, Infrared grating spectrometer and kinematic viscometer. The unique mobile system is battery-operated for instant oil analysis using the touch-panel controller. FieldLab integrates with Spectro Scientifc’s class-leading TruVu 360 expert system and data management software.
Robert Wopperer, Senior Director, Business Development, said: “We have already seen the success of FieldLab in military markets translate to our commercial customers, extending the service life of lubricants, optimizing labor resources, and minimizing disposal costs and decreasing environmental impact.”
Randi Price, Product Manager, said: “This one-of-a-kind ruggedized, portable laboratory will benefit those who have offshore, remote or mobile assets where routine access is limited. It also helps maintainers reduce time spent on equipment maintenance by providing fast and reliable results and ultimately increasing asset uptime.”
For more information about the FieldLab series – Portable Oil Lab, visit: www.spectrosci.com/fieldlab