Ludeca designed the VibXpert II balancer to "provide the exact mix of features our customers need in an easy-to-use device" while offering a "growth path to maximize their investment as future needs change," Trent Phillips tells New Equipment Digest.

In the VibXpert II balancer, Ludeca Inc. condition monitoring manager Trent Phillips sees "a very attractively priced yet highly upgradeable path for our customers," Phillips explains in an interview with New Equipment Digest. 

NED: Why did Ludeca decide to develop this product?

TP: Companies need a means to maximize the ability to grow and adapt the tools they need today to their needs as they change in the future. All of this must be done in a way that is easy for their employees to learn and use.

The VibXpert II balancer was designed to provide the exact mix of features our customers need in an easy-to-use device, meet initial value requirements yet provide a growth path to maximize their investment as future needs change.

NED: How is this device different from similar products?

TP: The VibXpert II balancer is a high-performance measurement device for field balancing of rotating machinery. Additionally, the VibXpert II Balancer provides additional vibration-measurement capabilities to support the diagnosis of imbalance and other machinery problems.

NED: What problems did you encounter during developments?

TP: No significant problems were encountered.

NED: How long did it take from conception to final production?

TP: It required 12 to 14 months to develop the VibXpert II Balancer. This included the development, and alpha and beta testing processes required to ensure the essential functionality and quality that was delivered to our customers.

NED: Did cost factors play a role in changing the final design of the product? And, if so, in what way?

TP: Not as one might expect. The VibXpert II balancer has been designed to offer a very attractively priced yet highly upgradeable path for our customers. This will not only allow our customers to obtain the initial features they require for their balancing needs, but also provide them a growth path for the future.

NED: Who do you consider your target audience to be and what benefits will they realize from using this product?

TP: Almost every company that has equipment that requires periodic balancing to keep it operating in an optimal state will benefit from our VibXpert II.

Additionally, many companies that provide field balancing as a service to their customers will find it to be a lucrative revenue-generator. The VibXpert II balancer was designed to meet the needs of those that require an intelligent balancing system and provide a growth path to maximize the investment over time.

NED: Please add any other information you may feel is pertinent.

TP: The VibXpert II is based upon the VibXpert condition-monitoring platform that has provided end users with proven and sophisticated functionality enabling them to identify equipment problems that affect the routine operation of plant machinery.

The VibXpert II balancer and entire VibXpert platform enable companies to significantly improve equipment reliability. A few of the benefits of improved equipment reliability are a reduction in unscheduled downtime, reduced operating costs, increased production, better production quality, a safer working environment and increased profits for stake holders.