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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Henkel Adhesive
Technologies strengthens its capabilities for maintenance, repair and overhaul
(MRO) solutions by investing in Feelit, Haifa, Israel, said Chemweek.
The
start-up has developed a unique sensor technology for predictive maintenance for
various applications in manufacturing. With the investment Henkel aims to
further expand its leading MRO portfolio for its broad customer base in
industrial markets.
"As part of our venturing activities we are looking
for novel and scalable technologies complementing our existing portfolio in
adhesives, sealants and functional coatings”, explains Paolo Bavaj, Head of
Corporate Venturing, Adhesive Technologies. “We also focus on digital business
models that help innovating our traditional businesses towards the increasing
demands for novel and efficient industrial IoT solutions. The investment in
Feelit perfectly fits to our business strategy and underlines the value of our
long-standing engagement in Israel as a major global hub for materials and
technology start-ups."
Henkel Adhesive Technologies is a leading provider
of MRO solutions in more than 800 different industry segments. Adhesives and
sealants under the well-known Loctite brand improve the maintenance of
production machinery and equipment for example in steel mills, car factories,
mining equipment or power turbines around the globe. The products are designed
to help manufacturers limiting cost-intensive unplanned production line
stops.
"As a global leader in the MRO markets we aim to implement
Industry 4.0 solutions to expand our offering beyond materials,” adds Michael
Honne, Head of MRO 4.0 at Henkel Adhesive Technologies. “The global market for
predictive maintenance is expected to significantly grow over the next years as
digital technologies have a huge potential to further reduce unplanned asset
downtime and help preventing serious damages across multiple industries. Based
on our leading market position and expertise of our Loctite portfolio we aim to
leverage the technology of Feelit to develop innovative solutions providing
additional value to our customers improving the day-to-day life of maintenance
professionals."
Founded in 2017, Feelit has developed a highly sensitive,
flexible, printed nanomaterial sensor that is applicable on static and rotating
machinery parts. This sensor can measure strain in ultra-high resolution, as
well as other parameters such as temperature, vibration, and pressure. Based on
an industrial IoT platform for real-time remote sensing of structural changes in
mechanical assets, the system serves as an ‘electronic skin’ that alerts on
critical structural and operational anomalies in advance. With a 50 times higher
sensitivity compared to current standard market applications it allows condition
monitoring and predictive maintenance of industrial assets, like valves, pipes
and pumps, and prevents unplanned and cost intense downtimes of
machineries.
"We consider this a major leap in our ongoing financing and
strategic efforts,” says Feelit CEO Gady Konvalina. “Henkel is an exceptional
strategic partner, and this collaboration is sure to yield significant
opportunities for both companies. With Feelit’s growth potential and Henkel’s
industry expertise and market reach, our unique nanotechnology will be able to
benefit a broad relevant client base. The partnership has already begun opening
up new opportunities in the oil and gas industry and working with Henkel’s MRO
unit will help us to develop even more verticals and applications."
As
MRC informed
earlier, Henkel has provided a business update for the third quarter and
says that, based on preliminary figures, its adhesive technologies business unit
achieved positive organic sales growth of 1.3% in the quarter. All business
areas in adhesive technologies showed a recovery in demand compared with the
second quarter, the company says. Henkel notes that in the first nine months of
2020, adhesive technologies recorded a 6.8% decline in organic sales.
We
remind
that Russia's output of chemical products rose in November 2020 by 9.5% year
on year. At the same time, production of basic chemicals increased in the first
eleven months of 2020 by 6.6% year on year, according to Rosstat's data.
According to the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation,
polymers in primary form accounted for the greatest increase in the
January-November 2020 output. November production of polymers in primary form
rose to 896,000 tonnes from 852,000 tonnes in October. Overall output of
polymers in primary form totalled 9,240,000 tonnes over the stated period, up by
17.1% year on year. |
