Electrical engineering company ACTOM and continuous thermal monitoring technology company Exertherm have announced an original-equipment management partnership to provide predictive maintenance solutions for electrical systems and advance these capabilities within the electrical and industrial sectors.

These technologies enable early detection of potential issues, enhance performance through actionable insights, and offer scalability to meet diverse operational requirements, aligning with Industry 4.0's emphasis on adaptability and intelligence.

Integrating the companies' technologies enables more precise monitoring, early identification of potential problems and optimised system performance, thereby enhancing reliability and efficiency.

“The solutions integrate advanced data-driven thermal monitoring technology with ACTOM’s engineering expertise,” said ACTOM Smart Technologies Protection and Control product manager Wesley Vorster.

“The predictive maintenance solutions enable real-time insights and proactive decision-making in electrical systems. This is part of the evolution of smart industrial solutions, and ensures that both companies are creating connected, intelligent systems for the future,” he said.

Both companies are committed to fostering innovation and developing predictive maintenance solutions that deliver significant value to industries worldwide, the companies added.

“The partnership between ACTOM and Exertherm, bolstered by [power management company] Eaton's acquisition of Exertherm, brings advanced predictive maintenance technologies to the forefront, and addresses the unique challenges and opportunities within Africa’s industrial and electrical sectors,” says Exertherm Central and Eastern Europe and Africa regional sales leader Athol Hankey.

“By introducing the latest predictive maintenance technologies, our collaboration aims to support the continent’s transition towards smarter, more sustainable industrial systems, aligning with global Industry 4.0 trends while meeting local needs.”

The companies are providing a highly flexible solution and compatible with existing supervisory control and data acquisition (Scada) systems for centralised, real-time monitoring or functioning independently.

Their standalone solution leverages machine learning (ML) to analyse historical and real-time data, enabling predictive maintenance by identifying patterns, anomalies and potential failures before they occur.

This dual approach ensures industries can adopt advanced maintenance solutions, regardless of their existing infrastructure, the companies said.

“Providing solutions that integrate with Scada or function independently using ML significantly reduces downtime, optimises performance and supports cost-effective maintenance strategies,” Vorster said.

Further, the partners are dedicated to advancing Industry 4.0-enabled technologies that prioritise connectivity, automation and data-driven decision-making. The partnership embodies a shared vision of pushing the boundaries of what is possible in predictive maintenance, and setting new benchmarks for the industry, they said.