Mikan Services Ltd. provides a specialized maintenance service for Forest, Mining, Pulp & Paper and Utility Industries.

About Mikan Services

Mikan Services Ltd. was started in 1982 to provide a specialized maintenance service for Forest, Mining, Pulp & Paper and Utility Industries. Our service area is a 300 mile (500 km) radius from Prince George. We make every effort to schedule our work so that travel expenses are shared by clients. We have two service trucks with enough equipment on-board to provide all of our services.

If you would like any Mikan Truck

more information about our services, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Mikan Services LTD.
P.O. Box 487
Prince George, B.C.
V2L-4S6

PH: (250) 614-4446
FAX: (250) 564-3858
CELL: (250) 960-8017

E-mail Us

** Please note: Sorry we can not answer service questions for those outside our 300 Mile Radius service area **

Dynamic Balancing

Unbalance is the most common source of machine faults in rotating masses (i.e. fans, pumps, motors, chippers and stranders). Field balancing is the most economical method to correct unbalance in a completely assembled machine. Occasionally rotating equipment goes out of balance. Either through wear, stress relieving or loss of original balance weights, the vibration will increase. VibrAnalysis is available to rebalance equipment in the field. Machines that have excess to the rotating assembly can often be balanced with a little or no disassembly. Accurate alignment is essential towards prolonging the life of a machine. Misalignment overloads bearings, causes excessive vibration and is hard on machines.

The advantages of field balancing are;
a) life expectancy of a machine is maintained
b) disassembly and transport of rotors is not required
c) mountings and operating aspects are taken into account once on site.

Mikan Services Ltd. uses CSI 2120 two channel analyzer/ balancing instruments to balance all types of rotating equipment. Machine history can be referred to and from our database for a complete vibration analysis before balancing. Four accelerometers are used to record vibration amplitude at both arbor bearings (horizontally and vertically), and a phototac provides phase information. Weight correction (amount and location) are calculated from the internal FAST-BAL II program. Trial weights are replaced with welded weights and a final vibration analysis is done to insure precise balance.

Blower Fan Hog

Infra Red Scanning

Thermography, or thermal imaging as it is sometimes called, is a condition monitoring technique that measures the radiant heat pattern which is emitted from a body, such as machinery, electrical boxes or plant equipment, to determine regions or points of increased, or reduced, heat emission, which can indicate the presence of a fault in the mechanism's body.

Infra-red, as it is commonly called, is an extremely versatile and powerful condition non-contact thermal monitoring tool. Heat levels can be recorded, quantified, and diagnosed as either normal or abnormal, based on specific parameters established by equipment manufacturers and industry standards. This process requires no contact with, or the shutdown of, equipment thus allowing detection of any problems at the earliest stages. Infra-red scanning has consistently proven itself by reliably identifying trouble areas, avoiding costly, or even catastrophic, equipment failures.

Infra-Red scanning works by revealing invisible thermal patterns that correspond directly to reliability problems. Normal current flow through a loose or corroded connection, or by an otherwise failing electrical component results in abnormal, elevated temperatures. Before it is hot enough to cause an outage or other problems, the abnormal heating patterns are quickly and easily detected by infra-red scanning.

A FLIR Systems

Thermacam P65 infrared camera is used to capture a real time image, which is stored on a removable PCMCIA card. A 24 degree integral lens is used on the Infra Red Camera to provide resolution from 12? to infinity. A single point temperature measurement is used on peak hold, recording the maximum and minimum temperatures (usually phase to phase). The image stored on the Camcorder is later processed via computer and various graphics programs to produce individual thermograms for each reported HOT-SPOT. IRWIN 5.3 is used to generate the report, which includes a SUMMARY of INSPECTION as the last page. The report also contains the field notes, which further detail the hot spot location of each thermogram. A spreadsheet of items inspected, location, component, temperature, and repairs can also be provided for trending.

Diagram 1 ( Digital Picture ) Diagram 2 ( Thermogram )

( Enlarged Picture of Diagram 2 )

(the circled white area is the hot-spot, the other circle is for comparison)

Laser Coupling Alignment

Apart from unbalance, the second most common sources of machine failure are misalignment and coupling errors. These can be overcome by laser alignment, increasing the efficiency and lifetime of the machine.

The need and value of precision laser alignment and calibration is simple: Proper alignment of your equipment improves production efficiency. Period! All production equipment must be precisely aligned in order to deliver accuracy and quality - and to minimize wear and tear on your machinery. With time, the effects of heat, vibration, foundation movement, and routine repair work will inevitably cause even properly positioned machinery to become misaligned. Thus, periodic corrective alignment becomes a necessity.

Today's state-of-the-art laser alignment equipment is very sophisticated, and those who know how to properly use it - and decipher its results - are few and far between. The cost of bringing both the equipment and technical staff on board is cost prohibitive for most companies, even though such services are critical to their bottom line.

The most effective solution to this dilemma is to hire a company that utilizes the most advanced equipment and provides the most experienced laser technicians to perform its precision alignment & calibration services. Mikan Services Ltd. is that company.

Before Mikan Services Ltd. balances coupling driven equipment, our technicians clamp on our Opti-line laser alignment equipment. It then takes about 15 minutes to get the initial measurements, and balance can be corrected within an hour or two.

Benefits:
a) Eliminate catastrophic failures due to improper alignment.
b) Increase the life of bearings, seals, rotor, and couplings.
c) Reductions in Real Power consumption. (kilowatt/hours)

Oil Analysis

Oil analysis is the evaluation of the oil itself and any contamination that is present. Oil Lab

The information derived from analysis reveals different types of wear and contamination. Each test looks at a different aspect of the oil. This is the reason for the different tests.

Mikan Services Ltd. focuses exclusively on industrial oil analysis. We analyze and test lubricants from stationary, and mobile equipment. Patented particle counting methods and detailed wear debris analysis are used to provide accurate analysis.

Our patented Trivector Lab, which examines the three essential aspects of oil analysis which include wear, contamination, and chemistry, is designed to handle industrial oils used in gearboxes, pumps, hydraulics, compressors, etc.

List of oil tests.
Sample mini lab report (pdf)
Information file on Tribology (pdf).

Non Destructive Testing

We use a variety of Nondestructive Testing methods and Technologies to identify cracking in the early stages to prevent catastrophic failures. Before testing we evaluate whether the sample is magnetic (non-ferrous), surface or subsurface. Also we pre-clean each area before testing. Nondestructive Testing (NDT) technicians and engineers define and implement tests that locate and characterize material conditions and flaws that might otherwise cause planes to crash, reactors to fail, trains to derail, pipelines to burst, and a variety of less visible, but equally troubling events. NDT industrial inspections are similar, and are every bit as sophisticated as the technology used in the medical industry, but are applied to non-living animated and inanimate objects. NDT

On this basis, NDT may be seen as a:
a) Predictive/Preventative Maintenance
b) Means of failure prevention
c) Mechanism for assuring safety

Mikan Services Ltd. offers four
non-destructive testing procedures, Magnetic Particle Inspection, Ultrasonic Testing, Liquid (Dye) Penetrant and Visual Inspections which are primarily used as preventative maintenance services.

Vibration Analysis

Vibration analysis is used to determine the source of abnormal machine vibration. Vibration analysis is a diagnostic procedure used on rotating machinery to evaluate changes in vibration response, critical speeds and stability of a machine; vital parts of mechanical maintenance programs. Early detection and correction of abnormal vibration is vital to the longevity of machinery, preventing expensive overhauls or replacement.

Vibration Data-collector/Balancing Instrument

The Model 2120A features embedded expert intelligence, fast data collection, dual-channel analysis, advanced bearing detection via PeakVue technology, reliable slow speed measurements with SST, cascade analysis for transient data, and advanced cross channel capability for structural analysis. Optional programs for: balancing, laser alignment, real-time transient analysis, wireless monitoring, and software/accessories for motor monitoring.

Please click here for information on Spectrum Analysis.

Typical problems that could affect rotating machinery are:

Unbalance
Misalignment
Vibration Analysis

Eccentricity
Bent shafts
Shaft cracks
Mechanical looseness
Journal bearing faults
Rolling element bearing faults
Rotor rub
Cavitation
Electrical motor problems
Gear faults
Bent shafts
Worn bushings and bearings