The compact Multilog IMx-8 from SKF offers sophisticated yet highly cost-effective, fit-for-purpose condition monitoring for a multitude of industrial applications.

This latest 8-channel unit forms part of SKF’s highly popular IMx-16 and -32 channel machine health monitoring platforms.

Initially targeted at the offshore wind and marine sectors, the versatile and easy-to-use IMx-8 brings affordable machine health monitoring to a much wider industrial user base. The system is ideally suited for mechanical and fluid power train applications while the combination of an 'Event Capture' feature will appeal to machine tool users who require a cost-effective crash-detection capability.

Taking up less cabinet space compared to the 16 and 32 channel variants, the compact DIN-rail mounting 8-channel IMx-8 is easily installed into instrument cabinet enclosures, often alongside existing instruments. Suitably housed, it also serves space-restricted applications such as small-size marine thruster pods or direct-drive wind turbines where instruments often need to be located as close as possible to the monitored machinery.

Ethernet power and communications and the app-based configuration interface make installation of the IMx-8 is extremely easy; most users can set up the system with little or no previous experience.The greatly enhanced internal memory of the IMx-8 (4GB as opposed to the 8MB of previous models) enables stand-alone monitoring and logging of large amounts of data which is particularly beneficial for remote applications where routine site maintenance visits are infrequent. Moreover, following a critical event, data can be easily accessed for analysis.

Freddy Hernandez, SKF ‎Product Line Manager, Surveillance Systems, comments: "Customer feedback confirms many applications require less than the 16 channels offered by our existing Multilog IMx solutions. The IMx-8 now offers a more compact, versatile means of monitoring rotating machinery and this cost effective, reduced channel online system fills a large gap in the market, offering new features, functionality and flexibility not available anywhere else."