May 27, 2015 | Oryx Rotana, Doha, Qatar: Supported by the International Society for Condition Monitoring, the Condition Monitoring Forum opened today at the Oryx Rotana, Doha, Qatar. Organized by Fleming Gulf, the event is the first and only forum discussing the niche topic of Condition Monitoring, gathering maintenance and reliability leaders from across the Middle East region.

Inaugurating the event and delivering the opening remarks was event chairman, Leonid Gelman, Chairman of The International Society for Condition Monitoring. Vimalendu Tripathi, Head of Reliability, Qatar Petroleum, presented a keynote speech on best practices strategies to reduce machinery failures. He explained the challenges faced by industry professionals and the possible solutions on how to overcome these challenges via condition monitoring. Gelman also presented a keynote session on condition monitoring of rotating equipments; speaking about selecting the right condition monitoring techniques, mitigating the consequences of failure for rotating equipments and listing the criteria for evaluating the cost effectiveness of Condition Monitoring.

Dr. Bernhard Fruth, CEO, Quartzelec, discussed novel techniques for monitoring and diagnosis of electrical machines. A session on the principles of vibration was presented by Kareem Magdy, Condition Monitoring Expert, BAPETCO. Mohamed Kandil, Condition Monitoring Specialist, QAPCO, presented a case study on extruder gear box, for ensuring smooth running through condition monitoring, followed by a case study on the benefits of condition monitoring, by Nicolas Bleret, Global Business Director, WI – Care.

Post lunceon, a panel discussion on the Return on Investments (ROI) on condition monitoring was held, wherein the panelists were seen debating on the ROI justifications on condition monitoring, highlighting it as a cost effective and result oriented technique. Following the session, Faruq Khalifa, Team Leader Reliability, Saudi Aramco, delivered a session on managing the human variable, focusing on the most important aspect of any reliability program – skilled professionals. The forum also saw presentations on condition monitoring techniques such as aero derivative gas turbines and journal bearing analysis by Syed Nadem Ahmed, Maintenance & Reliability Expert and Kareem Zaghloul Mohamed Ibrahim, Sr. Condition Monitoring Engineer, Qatar Steel respectively.

The day ended with a session on condition monitoring of damaged bearings by vibration, presented by Dr. Sadok Sassi, Condition Monitoring Program Manager, Qatar University. He talked about the origin of bearings & vibration and discussing the changes in technology associated with bearing manufacturing.

Day two of the forum will feature workshops by leading solution providers, namely GeoChem and Laborelec. Workshop leader Dr. Sunil Kumar, Laboratory Manager, Geo-Chem Middle East will discuss techniques in implementing an oil analysis and lubrication program for cost effective long term reliability. Experiences with data analytics in condition monitoring will be discussed by workshop leader Koenraad De Bauw, Chief Technologist Vibrations & Mechanics, Laborelec, Belgium.

The event is sponsored by Gold Sponsor Quartzelec, Innovative Technology Partner Wi – Care, workshop Leaders GeoChem and Laborelec, Associate & Lunch Sponsor Vibrant Machines and Siemens and Associate Sponsor Barrak Al Fares.