Industrial filters manufacturer and supplier Mann+Hummel offers the world’s first solution for precise monitoring of the filter status of various applications.

Enabling monitoring of the filter status can reduce unplanned downtime as well as lower the total cost of ownership. Algorithms provide key figures for predictive maintenance in existing telematics systems to allow for this.

Information on the status of vehicles is a valuable asset for the fleet operators of agricultural machines, construction machines and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. The smooth operation of fleet operators’ vehicles is only possible if the vehicles are properly maintained.

Previously, operators had to rely on their experience or fixed intervals to determine the right time to service the filters installed in the vehicle. With its comprehensive software solution including sensors, Mann+Hummel is the first filter manufacturer globally, which offers a solution for precise monitoring of the filter status.

This proactive monitoring offers many advantages over common reactive measures. Until now, fleet operators have had to determine the filter status by time-consuming visual inspection, which could lead to an incorrect assessment, or alternatively fixed servicing periods.

With the new solution from Mann+ Hummel, fleet operators can now view the exact status of their fleet at any time and ensure that the filter is always changed at the right time. In addition, maintenance times are precisely matched to the machine schedule, unplanned downtimes are reduced and the risk of exceeding the service life can be eliminated. This has a positive effect on the efficiency of the vehicles and thus reduces the total operating costs.

Various sensors monitor the load status of air and cabin air filters, oil, hydraulic oil and transmission oil filters as well as fuel pre-filters and main filters. Further, the status of the engine oil, hydraulic oil and fuel can be observed. The measured data is transferred from the respective vehicle to the original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) cloud where it is anonymised and then passed on to the Mann+Hummel cloud.

Algorithms analyse the data of the individual sensors and determine precise key figures for predictive maintenance. This information is prepared and returned digitally to the OEM, which makes the information conveniently available to end customers, fleet operators and users in the telematics system or through an app.

Mann+Hummel has been collecting experience on predictive maintenance since 2017 when the company introduced the Senzit air filter monitor as a retrofit solution for agricultural and construction machines.

The experience gained in the development and practical use of Senzit enabled the integration of predictive maintenance into a wider range of filters.