ERA Technology provides a fast and efficient failure investigation service aimed at identifying the mechanism and cause of a failure and recommends prompt and effective action to reduce the risk of further downtime and potential damage. The company has a proven track record of failure investigation based on experience over many years and covering a wide range of plant and equipment.

ERA's failure analysis service is founded on the importance of fully understanding the mechanism and the causes of the problem in order to prevent its reoccurrence. ERA has the expertise and proven methodologies to conduct a thorough and effective investigation into the failure of most forms of plant and equipment. The evidence is drawn from a combination of operational and maintenance histories, eyewitness accounts and forensic analyses. The results are then promptly reported to the client. The report will clearly document the key findings, recommended actions and preventative measures.

ERA's experience covers a wide range of plant and equipment from many sectors including:

	Power generation
	Pharmaceutical
	Mechanical handling
	Transport
	Medical including prostheses
	Refinery and petrochemical
	Food processing
	Process plant rotating equipment
	Heating and ventilating

When a fault occurs in the plant or piece of mechanical equipment, ERA's failure investigation team's understanding of the interaction between the failure and the rest of the system is extremely valuable in establishing the sequence of failure and the diagnosis of its cause. The investigation teams can comprise specialists in mechanical engineering, materials and corrosion technology. Where required, optical and scanning electron microscopy is used to determine the failure mechanism and the chemical nature of materials' and residues. Our experience enables the comparison of microstructures with materials properties. In addition, a wide range of chemical analysis and materials testing techniques can be applied.

Minimising risks

In many instances, important clues to the possible mechanism and cause of failure could be misplaced or destroyed if investigations are delayed. Therefore, it is essential that a thorough, impartial investigation is undertaken as soon as practicable following a failure.

Companies with a significant investment in plant and equipment will benefit from ERA's failure investigation framework agreement arranged in advance, for emergency support when necessary. This will ensure an appropriate failure investigation team responds within previously agreed timescales and pricing structure. There is no charge for setting up these agreements.

Mechanical Plant and Equipment Failure analysis is a fundamental component of ERA's comprehensive asset management support package. An equivalent service is offered for electrical plant and equipment and electronic component failures.