Laboratory Innovation Gives Rapid & Accurate Ferrous Wear Debris Testing

Kittiwake Developments (UK), a global provider of asset protection technology, has launched the ANALEXpqL, a completely new PQ instrument that halves measurement time and maximises accuracy when testing for ferrous wear debris.

Designed specifically for used oil analysis laboratories, the widely used pqM and pqA instruments will be replaced with the ANALEXpqL Ferrous Debris Monitor, which has been developed with new hardware, upgraded firmware and boasts the most accurate means to date of detecting and measuring ferrous wear debris in lubricating oils, hydraulic oils and greases.

Reporting ferrous debris levels is an essential part of used oil analysis and critically, can prevent potential significant downtime and expensive capital equipment replacement in case of the catastrophic failure of machinery.

PQ testing is used extensively in used oil analysis laboratories serving the marine market to assess scrapedown oils for ships that have not already adopted Kittiwake’s online solutions. The timeframe from submitting samples for testing to receiving results can typically span several weeks, however the ANALEXpqL can help to speed this process up, halving measurement cycle time.

Martin Lucas, managing director at Kittiwake, commented: “The ANAELXpqL will raise the standard in PQ testing at a time when costs are higher, oil prices are rising and the industry is still recovering from recession; in other words condition monitoring and asset protection is more important than ever, and we are very pleased to be bringing this innovation to market.”

Achieving consistent accuracy in PQ testing has historically presented challenges for used oil analysis laboratories, but the ANALEXpqL can achieve this even at low-end measurements and is unrestricted by particle size or distribution.

The PQ is a sensitive magnetometer that measures the mass of ferrous wear debris in a sample and displays this as a PQ index. This unit-less number is quantitative and can be trended with acceptable linearity over a wide range of ferrous debris concentrations and particle sizes. The ANALEXpqL identifies worn components at an earlier stage and ensures that they can be replaced before any serious damage occurs, enabling customers to maintain productivity, extend machinery lifespan and realise a greater return on capital investment.

Martin Lucas, managing director at Kittiwake, added: “Ferrous wear testing is a crucial assessment and our PQ products are used by the majority of used oil analysis laboratories in the world, so it was essential for us to develop a new product that could set a new standard by delivering the most accurate results. As PQ products are exclusive to Kittiwake, we were able to draw on the latest manufacturing methods to successfully create a new instrument that halves measurement cycle time and offers improved reliability and durability, as well as a reduced footprint.

“In addition, the backwards data compatibility, USB ports and connectivity options for PCs and via Ethernet mean that the ANALEXpqL fully meets the expectations of today’s laboratories.”