Monitoring & metering
GOOD QUALITY PROBES DO NOT HAVE TO BE THROWN AWAY…
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The measurement technology company Vaisala and the logistics services provider
H.Essers have cooperated to develop a bespoke monitoring solution for multiple sites across Europe, with a focus on sustainability.
n addition to protecting the environmental conditions experienced by goods throughout the supply chain, the monitoring solution also allows for humidity and temperature probes to be reused. By helping to ensure sustainable consumption and production, the project seeks to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12. “This is an important development,” explains Vaisala’s Patrick Hoevenaars. “At Vaisala our central purpose is: ‘Taking every measure for the planet’ so we are constantly looking for ways to improve sustainability, and one of the ways we can do this is by reducing waste,” he adds. “The solution starts with product design, because probes can only be reused if they are robust and reliable in the long-term.” However, Hoevenaars is also keen to emphasise the importance of ongoing calibration and maintenance. “Reliability and sustainability cannot be optimised under a ‘fit and forget’ scenario, so we worked closely with
H.Essers to develop an ongoing program to ensure that sensors are maintained in optimal condition.”
BACKGROUND
Founded in Belgium in 1928,
H.Essers remains a family-owned business, but with more than 7,500 people at 89 facilities in 18 countries, the company has grown to become one of Europe’s leading logistics services providers for industries such as chemicals, healthcare, and infrastructure. With services including pharmaceutical logistics, dangerous goods storage, and temperature-controlled storage, the business has a significant requirement for multi-site environmental monitoring and control. Strategically,
H.Essers aims to build long-term client partnerships with a strong commitment to its people and sustainability. This philosophy is reflected in the company’s relationship with Vaisala, which was established to create a cost-effective, accurate and reliable long-term monitoring solution across multiple sites. In addition, key objectives
included the development of a system that would be quick and easy to operate.
“From the start, our relationship with
H.Essers focused on building a solution for the long-term,” explains Hoevenaars. “The main aim, with our consultative approach, was to help
H.Essers choose/configure the right continuous monitoring system (CMS) for their business, supported by lifecycle services that ensure longevity and sustainability. At Vaisala, we want to be a complete solution provider; a partner delivering other services such as training and calibration, rather than simply being an equipment supplier.”
CONTINUOUS MONITORING TO MEET THE STRICTEST REQUIREMENTS
H.Essers’ multi-client warehouses provide a one-stop-shop service that meets the strict requirements of customers, providing safe, compliant, high-quality storage. Monitoring therefore performs a critically important role, and the internal environment at the company’s facilities benefit from Vaisala’s viewLinc CMS with humidity and temperature probes (HMP115) with VaiNet wireless access points (AP10).
“The movement and storage of goods within the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors is strictly regulated,” Hoevenaars says. “
H.Essers therefore has to be able to demonstrate that all products have been kept in exactly the right conditions throughout the entire supply chain. This demands precise, reliable measurement of humidity and temperature.”
A PARTNERSHIP APPROACH The key to the success of this process, was to develop a system that would continue to deliver benefits in the long-term. This necessitated a partnership approach, including a clear strategy for the maintenance and calibration of the hundreds of measuring devices used across
H.Essers’ warehouses. “Calibrating and maintaining measuring equipment on this scale is
April 2025 Instrumentation Monthly
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