Industrial solutions provider Magnet Group’s newly established division – Magnet Electrical Projects (MEP) – offers a critical thermal imaging service to all industries in the electrical and instrumentation sectors, in addition to its solutions for hazardous environments.

“Although Magnet Group has provided a service to support electrical equipment, industrial instrumentation and automation throughout the country for over 20 years, increased demand for expert solutions has led to the establishment of Magnet’s new formalised division,” says MEP training and site inspection manager Johan Roets.

The new division comprises four specialist solutions sectors, including panels, automation, metering and on-site services.

Roets says the division’s on-site services encompass power quality analysis, electrical compliance auditing and power factor correction, as well as on-site electrical installations and the retrofit of air circuit breakers. One of the diagnostic tools used to carry out these services is thermal imaging.

“Magnet’s thermal imaging service has been designed to reduce plant breakdowns, minimise costly repairs, optimise the production process and improve safety in the workplace,” Roets comments.

As thermal imaging is capable of detecting irregularities that are invisible to the naked eye, it allows corrective action to be taken before costly system failures or fires occur. Therefore, thermal imaging is one of the most valuable diagnostic tools for industrial applications.

Magnet’s thermal imaging service forms part of a condition monitoring programme to determine when and where maintenance is needed in electrical and mechanical installations and components. By using reliable, noninvasive thermal imaging instruments – which are able to scan and visualise the temperature distribution of entire surfaces of machinery and electrical equipment quickly and accurately – preventive action is taken. Significantly, Magnet is able to perform inspections, even when systems are under load.

This specialist service encompasses the provision of a full image of each situation and accurate temperature data during the monitoring of high-voltage equipment, low-voltage cabinets, motors, pumps and high-temperature equipment, as well the detection of insulation losses.

A small electrical problem can have far-reaching consequences. As the efficiency of the electrical grid becomes low, more energy is used to generate heat. If left unchecked, this heat can rise to the point where connections start to melt and this can result in a devastating fire.

MEP is able to identify and locate a fault before costly problems occur and also advise exactly what needs to be fixed. This thermal imaging service – which extends from the examination of a fuse box, to the inspection of a large industrial installation – ensures cost savings, reduced downtime and improved safety standards.