According to Jonas Spoorendonk, Digital Portfolio Manager at ABB, 80% of bearing failures are caused by lubrication, and a "hot running" bearing could indicate insufficient lubrication. As part of the 'Condition Monitoring for the Drive Train' portfolio, the smart sensor technology will provide early indications of potential problems by analyzing the bearing condition based on vibration and temperature data - using state-of-the-art algorithms to analyze, manage and ensure the performance of the components. This will make it possible to avoid downtime in applications such as bulk material handling systems, which are frequently used in mining, aggregate and cement production as well as in applications in the food and beverage industry.

Jonas Spoorendonk, ABB: "Bearings are critical components in conveyor systems and are often the first indicator of a system problem."

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In the standard setting, the battery-powered Smart Sensor records relevant data once an hour and archives it in its memory for up to one month. Depending on requirements, the data can either be transmitted wirelessly to a smartphone manually or automatically via a Bluetooth gateway to a corresponding cloud portal for analysis. Several smart sensors can also be connected to the gateway within a radius of around 50 meters.

The sensor, which will be available from mid-February, is mounted on the warehouse using a screw connection. According to Spoorendonk, new bearings from the Dodge brand, which has been part of the ABB Group since 2011, will already have a corresponding threaded hole. For older bearings or bearings from other manufacturers, there is also the option of unscrewing the grease nipple and fitting an adapter grease nipple in its place, which then also accommodates the Smart Sensor. A third option is to subsequently cut a threaded hole in the bearing to accommodate the Smart Sensor.