Enerpac Heavy Lifting Technology is working with Lloyd’s Register (LR) to develop remote witnessing of overload testing at its Hengelo manufacturing facility in the Netherlands.
Overload testing is a mandatory requirement for all new equipment and is part of Enerpac’s factory acceptance testing procedure prior to delivery of all new lifting systems.
Typically, the overload test is witnessed on site by an independent third-party surveyor. The new remote inspection system will allow for overload testing to be inspected remotely, via real-time camera streaming by smartphone, says Enerpac.
Remote witnessing will reduce the time and cost of surveyor’s visiting Hengelo and give customers a live video stream of the surveyor’s remote witnessing.
As part of the proposed process, Enerpac sends the test protocols and drawings to the LR surveyor before testing. During the remote witness test, an Enerpac test engineer is in contact with the surveyor via a smartphone and Bluetooth headset, allowing an interactive dialogue during testing, says Enerpac.
After completion of the test, the surveyor sends Enerpac a remote witness certificate and signed test drawing.
Following successful trials, LR's remote inspection platform is now available to Enerpac customers as a part of its factory acceptance testing procedure.
“Lloyd’s Register’s remote inspection capabilities are an important and welcome addition to our factory accepting testing procedures,” said Mart Hinnen, general manager at Enerpac. “Also, remote witnessing makes it easier to schedule testing more quickly and therefore allows us to reduce delivery times.”
