Tag Archives: Uptake

Uptake bolts on ShookIOT for improved analytics in asset-intensive industries

IoT, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining software, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Uptake has acquired Edmonton, Alberta-based ShookIOT, a leader in cloud-native data integration and integrity, strengthening its capabilities, it says, to accelerate digital transformation in asset-intensive industries.

Bridging the data gap between operational technology and information technology, the ShookIOT and Uptake combination simplifies data migration for easy deployment of Uptake’s Industrial AI applications, it said.

“The chemical, oil and gas, and process industries can now cost effectively clear the primary obstacle in the pursuit of digital transformation: the liberation of clean time-series data from individual assets to the cloud enabling advanced analytics and augmented decision making,” Uptake said.

Uptake recently partnered with Symboticware to provide mining companies with an end-to-end, integrated artificial intelligence (AI) and data science solution to increase the productivity of mobile mining equipment.

“For AI to make good on its promise to the industrial world, operators must be able to unlock data from disparate sources to support frontline decision making with simple, actionable, and secure software,” Kayne Grau, President of Uptake, said. “Integrating ShookIOT software within Uptake’s applications optimises the preparation of industrial data for precision analytics. By combining forces, we advance our leading position in this vital software-as-a-service category, enhancing the speed with which we deliver greater reliability, safety, and productivity to industrial operators.”

ShookIOT was founded by Leanna Chan and Dr Dave Shook, two former Matrikon (now a part of Honeywell Advanced Solutions) executives who led the development of data ingestion software for asset-intensive industries.

Responding to the opportunity of the cloud for industrial connectivity, ShookIOT specialises in data collection for enterprise-wide digital workstreams, providing data management and industrial intelligence software to global process companies, Uptake said.

Dr Shook, who is taking on the role of Chief Data Officer at Uptake, said: “Data portability and integrity are the foundation of Industry 4.0, yet many companies – solution providers and operators alike – have struggled to unlock the power of their data, limiting the future value of industrial intelligence through restrictive pre-modelling, drawn-out implementation, and poor cybersecurity.

“We are excited to join Uptake and expand our impact in empowering data integrity and adoption of Industrial AI for asset-intensive companies around the globe.”

The combined offerings of Uptake and ShookIOT are available via direct deployment or through the Microsoft Azure marketplace. Products include Uptake Fusion Powered by ShookIOT, enabling scalable cloud data historian capabilities, as well as Uptake Connectors and Uptake Elevate for easy connectivity and integration.

Uptake Lenses, a vendor-neutral object model that organises, unifies, and contextualises industrial data, is also offered as a supporting component of Uptake Fusion.

Uptake added: “Empowering organisations to move industrial data from one site to many, and operational data from many sites to one, the combined offerings provide company-wide visibility into performance at the component, asset, process, plant, and enterprise levels. Once in the cloud, data is prepared for operational applications, including Uptake’s Industrial AI, to assure production levels and quality, prevent unplanned downtime, and mitigate operational risk.”

The acquisition of ShookIOT comes soon after the news of Uptake’s partnership agreement with RCI to strengthen reliability-centred maintenance for asset-intensive industries.

Flexco and Uptake devise new predictive analytics tool for conveyor belts

Bulk handling, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining software, , , ,

Flexco says it has introduced a new innovative, real-time monitoring system that harnesses the power of predictive analytics so mining, aggregate, and cement operations can remotely gather critical insights to optimise belt conveyor productivity and heighten operational efficiencies.

Flexco Elevate™ Belt Conveyor Intelligence™ is a wireless platform that transfers data insights to an intuitive cloud-based dashboard via edge technology, allowing remote monitoring of belt cleaners, according to the company. With intelligence that grows over time, this easy-to-use platform is designed to simplify and accelerate belt maintenance using its powerful, data-driven engine, Flexco says.

Chip Winiarski, Vice President of Marketing at Flexco, said: “Flexco has a 110-year history of innovation, working alongside our customers to deliver solutions that are in alignment with their operational goals. We are proud to introduce Flexco Elevate. It’s the first technology solution of its kind and will quickly bring increased efficiencies and improved productivity to our customers’ operations.”

Created in partnership with Uptake, an industrial AI and IoT data science leader, Flexco Elevate reduces the need for on-site inspections and allows operations to access real-time insights remotely from an intuitive dashboard, so users are able to quickly address belt conveyor performance issues and minimise unexpected downtime.

“The insights pipeline begins by installing a state-of-the-art Flexco Elevate i3 Device to the end of each Flexco belt cleaner where cutting-edge analytics are immediately aggregated and processed,” Flexco says. “The information is then wirelessly transferred to the Flexco Elevate Dashboard where operations have immediate, remote access to action-oriented insights and service information for all of the Flexco cleaners throughout the operation.”

Flexco Elevate alters the way operations are run and the solution’s multi-faceted benefits streamline internal processes, according to the company. They include:

  • Increased Productivity: the Elevate solution makes it easy to manage belt cleaner service;
  • ROI from day one: data insights are immediately transferred to the dashboard so operations realise operational efficiency from day one;
  • Improved safety: the Flexco Elevate solution reduces the need for dangerous physical inspections along beltlines;
  • Asset management: digital mapping of installed Flexco cleaners provides visibility of assets for more efficient resource planning;
  • No guesswork: the operations team knows exactly what, when, and where service is needed;
  • Leverages existing assets: the Elevate platform works with existing Flexco belt cleaners – no additional investment in cleaners is required; and
  • Remarkably easy: installation and activation in as little as five minutes for a user-friendly experience.

Uptake, Symboticware to provide miners with predictive maintenance solution

Communications in mining, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, , , , , , ,

Uptake says it has partnered with Symboticware to provide mining companies with an end-to-end, integrated artificial intelligence (AI) and data science solution to increase the productivity of mobile mining equipment.

The joint solution combines Symboticware’s SymBot® device, which provides data capture from mining fleets, and Uptake’s Asset Performance Management (APM) software, Asset IO, which applies AI to surface predictive insights from the data.

The combination of the two, according to Uptake, arms users with:

  • Data-driven cost reductions: For an average medium-sized mining site, Asset IO can save as much as $2.5 million/y in haul truck maintenance, fuel and tyre costs alone. Additionally, operator and fleet productivity is optimised with the help of benchmarking and informed decision-making;
  • Actionable insights for continuous improvement: Asset IO quickly turns data into actionable, AI-driven insights. The software deploys AI models that are pre-trained to drive greater performance, reliability and availability of the mobile mining fleet; and
  • Greater visibility into assets: collect data from sensors, store time-stamped values in an internal database and seamlessly transmit data for AI analysis.

Ash Agarwal, Director of Mining at Uptake, said: “Optimal machine health and performance is critical to getting the most out of investments in equipment, and to achieving a high return on capital employed. Performing regular maintenance on haul trucks can be labour- and time-intensive, with the added cost of unplanned downtime having a significant impact on throughput and operating expenses.

“This integrated solution provides the best of industrial IoT and AI to reduce downtime, minimise operating expenses and aid in the development of a comprehensive maintenance program.”

Kirk Petroski, President and CEO of Symboticware, said industrial data is only as good as the insights that can be gleaned from it. “This solution delivers predictive insights that are both accurate and actionable, providing users with sufficient lead time into maintenance issues so they can be ahead of the curve. That ability to proactively mitigate maintenance problems yields a proven, measurable increase in productivity,” he said.

Codelco looks to Uptake’s AI solution for equipment maintenance gains

Base metals, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , , , , , ,

Uptake says it and the world’s largest copper producer, Codelco, are working on an artificial intelligence (AI) solution to monitor the health of mining equipment and ensure operations run efficiently and maintenance needs are predicted.

The agreement, part of Codelco’s digital transformation plan, includes mining and processing equipment at Codelco’s Division Ministro Hales (DMH) mine in Calama, Chile. In addition, Uptake will monitor grinding mills, roasters, crushers, pumps, haul trucks, and other machines with a view to creating a comprehensive and enterprise-wide Asset Performance Management solution across all of the company’s operating mines.

In 2017, the company’s DMH mine produced 215,086 t of copper alongside more than 126 t of silver.

Jaime Rivera, Codelco General Manager of the Andina Division, said: “Deploying artificial intelligence will allow Codelco to make best use of our operational data and allow us to reach our goals of boosting mining productivity, reduce costs and maintain safe machine operations through the predictive capabilities of Uptake’s Asset Performance Management (APM) software.”

Jay Allardyce, Uptake Executive Vice President of Industry, Product and Partnerships, said: “Codelco is the world’s leader in copper production and we’re pleased to support their digital efforts to make operations and maintenance expenditures more efficient by increasing visibility into the real-time and future health of mining machines.

“We are excited to partner with Codelco given their forward thinking to accelerate not only their operations, but the industry. With their data first approach coupled with our AI leadership, the transformation impact is outstanding and with leaders like Codelco it sets the tone for what is possible.”

Uptake’s APM software solution improves operational efficiency by leveraging AI to create business value from operational data, according to Uptake.

“Traditional asset management only covers routine maintenance tasks and fails to anticipate and adjust to the ways industry operates its business,” Uptake said. “Today’s asset-intensive environments require a new approach with industrial data science generating OEM (original equipment manufacturer)-agnostic insights, predictions and recommendations for any asset.”

By deploying Uptake APM, industry can unlock new operational efficiencies by making proactive maintenance decisions based on predictive insights, the company said. “Our industrial AI and machine-learning engines detect asset anomalies and help predict and prevent problems before they happen. Industry can also leverage the data analytics to understand how to drive more financial outcomes that impact business.”