ERA

TECHNOLOGY

Mechanical Plant and Equipment Forensic Engineering

ERA Technology provides a fast and efficient failure investigation service aimed at identifying the mechanism and cause of plant failure
ERA has a proven track record of failure investigation based on experience over many years and covering a wide range of plant and equipment. When mechanical equipment fails ERA Technology provides a fast and efficient forensic engineering service to identify the cause of the failure, and recommends effective actions to reduce the risk of further occurrence. Each failure investigation is divided into three phases, the collecting of evidence, the analysis to determine the mode and cause of failure, and the reporting.

ERA
TECHNOLOGY
ERAs investigation teams typically comprise experts in mechanical engineering, high temperature plant, metallurgy and polymeric materials as appropriate. Their expertise covers a wide range of mechanical equipment including: Turbines Pipework and boilers High temperature petrochemical processing equipment Vehicle components Aircraft structural components Building cladding and structural components Low temperature cooling equipment Drilling equipment and rotating shafts. Where required a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with EDX analysis is available to examine failed samples in microscopic detail. ERA also has a dedicated metallurgical laboratory where metallurgical samples can be prepared for investigating issues such as grain structure, morphology and crack propagation. Replication and other NDT techniques can also be carried out on site to provide further information on the condition of other equipment similar to that involved in the failure.

Mechanical Plant and Equipment Forensic Engineering

Expert witness services Our technical experts are trained in providing expert witness consulting for litigation and civil arbitration cases. We are used to working as independent experts in technically challenging cases and to acting as a joint expert to the court. Capturing all of the evidence It is beneficial if a thorough, impartial investigation is undertaken as soon as practicable following a failure. Important clues to the mechanism and cause of failure can be identified if investigations are carried out without undue delay. ERAs experts can travel to sites at short notice where vital evidence can then be collected before the failed equipment is removed or repaired. Eye witnesses can also be interviewed while the details of an incident are still fresh in their minds. The experts will also include in their investigation other sources of information, as appropriate, such as design documents, installation records, condition assessment reports, operating procedures and any previous failure reports.

Framework agreement Whilst this investigation service can be requested when a failure occurs, companies with a significant investment in plant and equipment will benefit from a failure investigation framework agreement arranged in advance, for emergency support when necessary. This will ensure an appropriate failure investigation team responds within an agreed timescale and pricing structure. There is no charge for setting up such an agreement.

Image above shows stress corrosion intergranular cracks in a copper-brass alloy.

ERA Technology provides specialist technical consultancy to owners and operators of high-value capital assets and systems; assisting clients in areas of safety, efficiency and resilience. ERA has built an enviable reputation for its standard of technical excellence in the delivery of its services to the Defence, Energy, Industry, Infrastructure

and Transport sectors. Formed in the 1920s as a research association, a foundation of collaborative research has provided a basis for todays world-class international consultancy business. ERAs vision is to be the technical consultancy of choice, with an expansive global presence; closer to our clients operations and needs.

For further information please contact: ERA Technology Ltd Cleeve Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7SA UK Tel: Fax: Email: Web: +44 (0)1372 367345 +44 (0)1372 367359 info@era.co.uk www.era.co.uk

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