Austrian bearing manufacturer NKE Fersa and Canadian predictive maintenance specialist Nanoprecise have launched a condition monitoring system for wind turbines.

It combines a six-in-one wireless sensor with an AI-driven cloud-based platform. This continuously monitors critical functioning parameters in wind turbines, such as vibration, temperature, humidity, acoustic emission, speed and magnetic flux, providing broad and precise insights into the application’s performance.

At the heart of the system lies Nanoprecise’s patented energy-centric condition monitoring, which is composed of a gen-AI powered platform and an edge AI-equipped six-in-one sensor. Combined with NKE Fersa’s expertise, it delivers predictive maintenance information tailored to the needs of wind farm operators.

“Our partnership with Nanoprecise represents a fusion of NKE Fersa’s deep understanding of wind applications and Nanoprecise’s innovative maintenance option,” said Fersa’s CEO Rafael Paniagua. “This collaboration allows us to offer wind farm operators a comprehensive option that not only detects potential issues before they impact energy production but also significantly extends the lifespan of the equipment.”

The condition monitor can provide comprehensive monitoring of wind turbine drivetrain applications, predictive maintenance capabilities, a quick and easy installation process, improved turbine performance, reduced downtime, and extended equipment lifespan.

“Bearing faults are responsible for the majority of a wind turbine’s planetary gearbox downtime,” said Sunil Vedula, CEO of Nanoprecise. “With our patented wavelet neural network enabled algorithms, we are able to diagnose faults on individual components in a gearbox. This means we aren’t just monitoring the health of the turbines, but providing actionable insights that can dramatically reduce downtime, increasing the availability of wind turbines, and making green energy more affordable.”

Initially focusing on North American and European markets, the two firms have plans for global expansion. The system will soon be available for wind farm operators worldwide, backed by technical support that combines application knowledge, tribology and vibration analysis expertise.

“This launch represents a significant step forward in wind turbine maintenance and efficiency,” said Hugo Santos, chief business development officer of Fersa. “We’re not just offering a product, we’re contributing substantially to the growth and optimisation of the renewal energy sector.”

Established in 2017, Nanoprecise (nanoprecise.io) specialises in integrating AI and industrial IoT technology to provide energy-centred maintenance for a wide array of industrial machinery.

NKE Fersa (industry.fersa.com), headquartered in Steyr, Austria, is a manufacturer of bearings. With a legacy dating back to 1996, the company has established itself as a pioneer in precision engineering. As part of the Spanish multinational Fersa group since 2016, it has a presence across 19 countries and a workforce of more than 850 employees.