05.2024
Intelligence in Fire Prevention
What is required to reinvent an established component while creating additional value for clients? This article illuminates the innovation management at Fagus-GreCon by the case of the Intelligent Extinguishing System, the GreCon IEM.
Traditional extinguishing components in spark extinguishing systems bear a definitive mandate: they activate upon the detection of an ignition source and deactivate after successful extinguishment. Their monitoring capacity is confined to whether water is flowing or not.
To ascertain the quality of water flow or the conditions thereof, operations had to be manually, on-site, and time-consumingly handled hitherto.
This is where the innovation management of Fagus-GreCon comes into play, having tasked itself with advancing proven fire prevention solutions - to suffice the continuously increasing demands of modern production environments and persist in setting benchmarks in the realm of fire prevention.
Precise Monitoring
GreCon IEM transforms the tap into a smart component
For over 50 years, Fagus-GreCon in Alfeld, Lower Saxony, has been developing systems for fire prevention. True to the company’s creeds, "Innovation is our tradition" and "Protecting life and values", the research and development department endeavours to create new, improved products from customer requirements, guidelines, and hidden potentials.
In daily practice, it becomes clear: The company creeds are not mere lip service but rather a call to action, a commitment to enhancing existing GreCon products while simplifying usage for operators. This is evident in the case of extinguishing, as: In addition to the reliable detection of ignition sources, the quality of extinguishing and monitoring relevant parameters have proven essential for scheduling maintenance in a timely manner. This includes monitoring whether and how well water flows during the extinguishing process.
Therefore, the development team's task was to digitalise the traditional tap using modern technologies. At the end of this development process stands the intelligent extinguishing system, GreCon Intelligent Extinguishing Module (shortly, GreCon IEM), which now complements our proven spark extinguishing system with the latest in sensor technology and 'Predictive Maintenance'.
In specific terms, this means: GreCon IEM transforms the traditional tap into a smart component that not only precisely monitors the extinguishing process but also detects blockages and wear on nozzles and valves, as well as automatically reports leaks. The module signifies an important step in the evolution of GreCon fire prevention technology, enabling efficient and effective monitoring, thus enhancing the safety of the systems.
Continuous Monitoring Enhances Maintenance Cycles
Critical facilities such as spark extinguishing systems must be inspected and maintained at defined intervals to ensure reliable operation. With the new extinguishing system, blockages and wear are detected early on to guarantee the optimal availability of the spark extinguishing system.
Based on the data collected by the intelligent extinguishing system, maintenance intervals can henceforth be precisely adjusted according to wear patterns. These individually tailored, dynamic maintenance cycles not only increase the operational safety and lifespan of the monitored components but also ensure that avoidable downtimes due to unnecessary maintenance become a thing of the past.
In Search of the New Tap
The amalgamation of numerous development steps
The development of a new extinguishing technology for already proven fire prevention solutions is a meticulous process, not accomplished by mere decision. In the initial phase, various approaches were evaluated to define the features of the next generation of extinguishing technology. Experiences from the development, installation, and maintenance of spark extinguishing systems, combined with a myriad of methods for capturing and assessing customer needs and technical requirements, played a crucial role.
A key technique in this process was Quality Function Deployment (QFD), which distinctly separates customer desires from technical solutions and visualises them in a so-called "House of Quality". The outcomes of this process facilitated the creation of a list of priority characteristics for development. For example, an integrated heating cartridge that prevents the extinguishing system from freezing by heating the metal up to the nozzle was a new product feature incorporated through QFD.
QFD proved not only to be an effective tool for structuring requirements but also a perfect platform for communication between all parties involved – from the planning team to customer service. Moreover, valuable insights from additional projects and cooperation with universities were incorporated into the development - benefiting the advancement of the entire GreCon product range.
Informed Decisions Based on Qualified Data
The requirements for spark extinguishing systems are constantly evolving, driven not only by changes in customer production processes and the use of new materials. Over the decades, production performance and process optimisation have progressed unstoppably. Additionally, the growing interest in Big Data applications has amplified the need to effectively utilise data. This necessitates the optimisation of spark extinguishing centres as data collection and analysis nodes within the extinguishing system. Analysing the data, including the detection of spark events, can reduce risks and optimise production workflows.
GreCon clients derive numerous benefits from these data, making informed decisions based on the analysis of events such as the number of sparks detected. Such information allows for the early identification of potential risks, such as increased spark flight, and provides detailed insights into the efficiency of current processes. This is just one example of how actions derived from a trend can lead directly to improvements.
The Conclusion:
Spark Extinguishing Systems as an Integral Part of the Production Infrastructure
The effectiveness and integration of spark extinguishing systems in the production process increase with the quality and quantity of data they provide for analysis. As a result, they become an integral part of the production infrastructure, significantly contributing to Big Data strategies aimed at improving the efficiency of customer processes.
Therefore, the intelligent extinguishing system - like the smart spark detector DLD 1/9 - contributes to the digitalisation of established processes. As digitalisation also changes work organisation, it alters the end-user's interaction with the spark extinguishing system. The need for less personnel at control stands and the ability to work from any location require access to data from anywhere, eliminating the need to physically be at the central control room or stand. This increased flow of information also plays a growing role in the information security of the systems and data.
Looking to the future - solutions for today!
Our innovation management team designs solutions for the future. It's best to opt for smart, state-of-the-art technology for the problems of today! Proven fire prevention from the experts - Fagus-GreCon!
Unsure? Don't hesitate - make an appointment with our fire protection experts now and get comprehensive advice!
