FLIR Systems Ltd

It has been reported that eight of the ten worst environment polluting buildings in the UK are hospitals which on average emit 4089 tonnes of CO2 per institution per year. And although through the Private Finance Initiative new, purpose-built facilities are being established many hospitals still comprise legacy buildings whose fabric contributes to their energy inefficiency. This is where FLIR thermal imaging really comes into its own. It’s the ideal method of detecting the faults that compromise as building’s thermal performance, whether it is new or old.

It’s all about economies of scale. The FLIR i5 troubleshooting infrared camera has proved such a success worldwide that manufacturing volume has risen considerably in the last twelve months. And naturally the more cameras FLIR produces the lower the unit cost it can achieve.

Medite is the leading European brand of medium density fibreboard, a construction material that is more commonly known as MDF. It is manufactured by Medite Europe Ltd. at its production plant in Clonmel, Ireland, where FLIR thermal imaging is an important part of its predictive maintenance programme.

The benefit is clear, the greater the thermal sensitivity of a thermal imaging camera the more detail the thermographer can see. And the more he or she can see, the more accurate and comprehensive the inspection. For this reason FLIR has now upgraded its top-of-the-range plant maintenance cameras in line with its policy of continuous development.

Never before has infrared been more affordable and one of the sectors benefiting from this accessibility is building science. The technology is a perfect fit for an industry so highly focused on the prevention of energy loss. As a result more and more infrared cameras are being sold to those involved in implementing the latest legislation.

Although the UK has expanded its commitment to renewable energy, in the short term the emphasis remains firmly on maximising energy conservation and efficiency to meet carbon reduction targets. And this is where FLIR thermal imaging really comes into its own. It is the perfect technology for detecting energy loss and identifying its source.

FLIR thermal imaging is proving indispensable for the early detection of electrical and mechanical faults as well as energy loss. Cameras are easily portable and year on year FLIR is developing the technology to provide better image quality and the necessary software tools to make the job easier, quicker and more efficient.

Around the world, in virtually every area of construction, marine and manufacturing industry, Kawasaki Precision Machinery (KPM) provides quality power and control solutions. Wherever there is a need for lifting, pumping, moving, steering, winch control or regulating, there is potential for KPM hydraulic or electro-hydraulic technology.

FLIR is renowned for pushing the boundaries of infrared and with the introduction of its new FLIR A615, the company has done it again. This is the world’s first 640x480 focal plane array, uncooled infrared camera to be fully compliant with both GeniCam and GigE Vision protocols. This combination makes this high resolution, high frame rate camera instantly ready for quick and easy network installation, enabling the user to take full advantage of plug-and-play with machine vision software from National Instruments, Cognex, Matrox, MVTec, Stemmer Imaging and many more.

Infrared thermography is a powerful and non-invasive technique to monitor and diagnose the condition of buildings and is a brilliant method of providing an instant snapshot of energy loss. It also has an important role to play in air tightness testing where an image can provide tangible evidence of the non-visible air leakage paths.

Infrared is the perfect technology for spotting and stopping energy loss, and there is now a wide choice of cameras on the market for the purpose. However, what’s really starting to differentiate world leader FLIR from the rest is its focus on making its infrared cameras smarter. As well as improving hardware performance FLIR is committed to the parallel development of software and communication technology. The result, as FLIR will demonstrate at the Energy Event, is a range of solutions that allow inspections to be conducted quicker, easier and with greater intelligence than ever before.

Once the preserve of the few, thermal imaging is now the technology of many. And the good news is that it has never been more affordable. Technology leader FLIR has actively driven this trend. High demand for its cameras across diverse markets has allowed the cost benefit of volume manufacturing to be passed onto the customer.

FLIR, has created a new UK Manager’s post and filled it with someone who really needs no introduction to the industry. The man chosen to head the UK sales operation is Andy Baker who has just completed 20 years in the industry.

The FLIR SC655 is the world’s first high-resolution uncooled infrared camera to provide high-speed windowing modes, digital control of image flow and recording in FLIR ResearchIR R&D software. This high resolution camera is eminently affordable and its performance enables it to be used for a much wider range of dynamic applications. And this increased scope promises quicker return on investment.

Business for The Revival Company is the recovery of domestic property and equipment following fire and flood, particularly in the high net worth segment. Its sister company in the Revival Group, Arepa, is focussed on the recovery of technical equipment following a disaster. Scientific, AV and IT equipment as well as manufacturing plant are typical examples. And both companies are now benefiting from the addition of thermography to its range of detection techniques.

Software benefits are hard to convey in printed matter so FLIR Systems has posted on its website an introductory video tour of its new FLIR BuildIR for the advanced analysis of building structures. This package is suitable for use with any FLIR infrared camera, from the compact i-Series right through to the sophisticated B- and P-Series models. It is designed to make image evaluation quicker and easier as well as more thorough.

With the outcome of the Copenhagen Summit, the need for better energy conservation and management has never been more pressing. The building sector now accounts for 40% of EU energy requirements and presents a huge potential for savings.

When value for money is expected and with the energy efficiency message uppermost in everyone’s minds, craftsmen need to embrace new technology. Infrared is a great investment in this regard and in Germany a painting company relies on a FLIR i5 infrared camera to add value to its customer service.

There’s more to FLIR than industry-leading infrared cameras. It also owns EXTECH, the manufacturer of test and measurement instruments. And now it has launched Meterlink™, an industry-first wireless connection between the two so that meters can ‘talk to’ cameras. This means those involved in electrical and building inspection will be able to work quicker, easier and more intelligently than ever before.

Selling blue chip technology has been the focus of Chris Brown’s career. He has worked in the medical, electronics, aerospace and manufacturing sectors so brings a considerable spread of knowledge to his new post as Area Sales Manager with the leader in thermal imaging, FLIR Systems.