“An increasing number of mines worldwide are now turning to Industrial Scientific for technology providing comprehensive and automated condition monitoring. Our customers continually told us that they hated to bump test, calibrate and perform maintenance on their gas detectors,” Americas marketing manager Chris Lange said of the software-based system.
“Our response was iNet, which provides automated management and continuous monitoring of their fleet data via the internet.”
When iNet logs a problem with a gas detector at a mine, a replacement is sent directly to the site. Units are docked so that calibration and bump testing can occur automatically. Information stored in each gas detector is then collected and logged within the system.
The iNet Control interface allows mine management to view variables such as equipment usage, alarm events and maintenance performance online. Staff can also see when sensors are near failure or if there are any potential problems underground.
Both Lange and mining global accounts manager Scott Myers said iNet remained the best solution for gas-monitoring management. To illustrate this point, Industrial Scientific is encouraging operators not to purchase gas detectors, saying that they receive far greater safety and cost savings by having gas detection as a service.
Rather than owning the gas detectors and other hardware, iNet operates more like a lease agreement. Operators receive the added benefits of automated maintenance and data analysis.
“There’s a better way to do gas detection,” Myers said.
“If you buy a gas detector, you’ll get a gas detector. But if you subscribe to iNet, you’ll get help from the Gas Detection People, cost savings and, most importantly, a safer workplace.”
The company-developed system is continually improved through customer feedback, and because iNet Control is hosted via the web, subscribers have instant access to the latest updates.
Myers said iNet had realized ongoing success over the past eight years. The benefits for mines, he says, come down to one primary factor.
“I would say the most common benefit for the mining industry is the ability to receive real-time documentation of calibrations and bump tests. Also, having reports about a gas-monitoring program’s status is a great benefit for customers,” he said.
“We have one customer that was spared an MSHA citation because of their accurate calibration records.” Having that peace of mind, he added, is contagious.
“In general, the feedback we get from our mining customers is that they have a greater sense of security with their gas-monitoring program. They feel iNet keeps them in compliance and gives them consistency.”
