From the beginning of the project until now, there are many results that deserve being highlighted. In a few words the most important one is that we’ve obtained real images of defects that have been detected with eddy current testing. It means a significant improvement because the quality inspectors won’t need to inspect the final products directly. Attaching images to the ET signals will improve the most important processes related to the quality assurance such us:
- Will increase the analytic capabilities that will be directly related to process and product global improvement.
- Will increase the company knowledge about the defects and their causes.
- Will reduce claims and returns through the improvement of the quality sorting.
- Will reduce energy and labor costs related to reprocess bad or returned products.
- And the most important one: will help to detect 100% of defects including longitudinal ones.
There are many aspects that need to be improved in the short term which conclusions are detailed in this report:
- Until now, we’ve developed basic software functions, especially those related to image capture and screening, but we need to improve the user experience, report management and alarm management.
- We’ve researched different optics and electronics, but in the future, we need to adapt the specifications to each customer segment.
- We’ve obtained good quality images, but in the future, we need to optimize the resolution in order to reduce processing times and storage.
- We’ve adapted the EDDYEyes to hot rolling mill shops, but in the future, we need to develop also cold versions, because lightning, vibrations, access to the surface, etc., are quite different from “red hot” products that “grey cold” ones.
From the market point of view:
- We’ve confirmed that the solution is coming to fill a big gap between ET signals and real defect shapes.
- We’ve confirmed that vision solutions working in stand-alone mode are not enough to be considered as main detector. The risk of losing defects with only vision is high; however, with the ET system working together the customer will have two different methods in just one pass.
- We’ve performed a deep market research which main conclusion is that in addition to hot rolling customers, we must address our future developments also to some specific cold segments.
In summary, until now, our project has confirmed that it is going to produce a high value solution that will solve one of the most common compelling reasons to act: having real time graphic and electronic information will help to improve terrifically the process and product improvement that is the way to face off the challenge of get high quality products at a reasonable price.
Until now, from the Technical point of view, the most remarkable results are:
- We can obtain and attach real images from cameras to eddy current signals.
- We’ve defined and tested the main elements such us: cameras, lightning sources and electronics.
- We’ve developed the basic software functions to show the information.
- We’ve defined the ways for future development and improvement.
- We’ve got a wide technical knowledge.
And from the sales and distribution:
- We’ve performed a deep market research.
- We’ve segmented the customers to be addressed.
- We’ve defined our competitive position
- We’ve modified our preliminary scope to include also cold producers.
- We’ve settled our value proposition and main sales strategy.
These results already obtained have been disseminated through five major channels:
- We’ve modified our web page to include EDDYEyes.
- We’re participating in social networks spreading the basic information.
- We’ve performed more than 20 customer face to face meetings.
- We’ve prepared our key business partners to identify new opportunities
- We’ve given technical keynotes in the most important fairs and events until now: Dusseldorf Tube 2016 (Germany); Aistech Pittsbourgh (PA-USA) and Fabtech Las Vegas (NV-USA.
And the exploitation of results is being doing by several ways, such as:
- We’ve modified our sales presentations and papers.
- We’ve created a customer network of knowledge.
- We’ve obtained a prototype for cold that is being used in demo processes.
- We’ve included the information and results in our technical keynotes and training courses.
The main confirmation of our success is that most of our competitors are moving fast to create a similar value proposition, but the only way to be successful is to be a leader in eddy current technology.
