ABI-Showatech, India

Remote Start-Up

Triplex Systems, Inc. Model TRX-1250CAM Combination Automatic & Manual High Pressure Waterjet Casting Cleaning Center.

First High Pressure Waterjet Cleaning Trial, performed during the remote equipment commissioning: Two minute automatic cleaning cycle, operating pressure 20,000 PSI, 100% clean. Photo courtesy of ABI-Showatech, India

Triplex Systems, Inc., is the leading manufacturer of High Pressure Waterjet Casting Cleaning Centers for investment casting foundries in the world. Triplex Systems equipment is in service at aerospace, space technologies, defense and commercial investment casting foundries worldwide. Triplex Systems, Inc., knowledge of the investment casting process and in particular, techniques for fast efficient removal of hard shell materials, revealing the complex near net shape metal parts, using high pressure waterjets only. With over 35 years of experience and hundreds of installations worldwide, our equipment has evolved into standard product lines, distinguished by investment casting size ranges.

In 2019 it was business as usual, with multiple contracts from our USA customers and several international customers. In fact by the end of 2019 it was one of our best years, with exponential growth we opened a second manufacturing facility in Centerville Minnesota. Then in early 2020 the COVID 19 pandemic hit. During these uncertain times, we immediately initiated health and safety protocols to the recommended guidelines. Fortunately, our company was designated as an Essential Critical Manufacturer, because we manufacture equipment for the aerospace and defense industry, and we were not forced to shutdown. Now that we have two facilities we were able to have engineering at our St. Paul facility and manufacturing at our Centerville facility. This strategy along with health and safety protocols, help us to isolate and protect our employees, while keep our manufacturing running at full capacity.

ABI-Showatech, in India is one of our international customers, that purchased a Model TRX-1250CAM, Combination Automatic and Manual High Pressure Waterjet Casting Cleaning Center in 2019. We shipped the project on schedule, but concerns of equipment start-ups amidst travel bans and the growing worldwide pandemic, were going to need to be addressed. In anticipation of travel bans, Triplex began the process of developing a detailed step by step start-up / commissioning document to address the event of no start-up technicians at the manufacturing site. This process has resulted in a 40 page document, with photos and detailed procedures to assist ABI-Showatech in step by step start-up procedures. Along with the several hundred pages of Operations Manual, we were anticipating remote start-up of the equipment over the internet.

ABI-Showatech, took the remote equipment commissioning experience to the next level using Real Wear online supporting tool in conjunction with Microsoft Teams. From Real Wears Website: “Remote Mentor is hands-free collaboration and telepresence for first line workers on the RealWear HMT-1. The HMT-1 is equipped with a high-definition camera, powerful audio and unmatched noise cancellation capabilities, enabling workers in the field to get assistance from experienced technicians (“mentors”) via an enhanced two-way video call experience where the expert can remotely see and hear from the worker’s point of view”. ABI-Showatech’s investment in this technology, provided our technicians in the USA a birds eye view and two way communications with engineers in India in real time. This allowed Triplex technicians to walk ABI through the complex commissioning process. Once the equipment was fully operational, we were able to remotely assist running casting cleaning trials and remotely train operators on running and maintaining the equipment. We are genuinely pleased that ABI-Showatech has accepted our equipment start-up and training and is very pleased with our equipment. The Real Wear support tool will be a valuable resource in the future.

Triplex Systems and ABI-Showatech’s collaboration during these trying times has resulted in a great and successful remote equipment start-up experience and the start of a great new customer service relationship. For more information on Triplex Systems, Inc., visit our website and view our systems: www.triplexsystems.com