FAIRLAWN, Ohio—Continental A.G.'s ContiTech business acquired Advanced Imaging Technologies PTY Ltd., a Pinetown, South Africa-based producer of x-ray and magnetic imaging-based systems used for early detection of damages in fabric and steel cord conveyor belting.
In a statement, Hans-Juergen Duensing, who is responsible for the ContiTech division on the Continental executive board, said the move expands ContiTech's services to the conveyor belt industry with technical sensing knowledge and research and development competence for predictive maintenance.
It also establishes a strategic cornerstone to enlarge service capabilities in industries such as mining, Duensing said. Price of the purchase was not disclosed.
Advanced Imaging, which was founded in 2004, has specialized in developing solutions to scientific and technical challenges in the large and small-scale industry and commerce markets. Continental said it has partnered with Advanced Imaging for past projects.
Advanced Imaging offers products and services in the areas of image and signal processing, hardware and software development, advanced data analysis, x-ray imaging, embedded systems and system integration. All seven of Advanced Imaging's employees will remain with the company, Continental said.
Advanced Imaging's technology uses magnetic sensing technology which has been validated by x-ray imaging measurements. It provides continuous online condition monitoring of steel cord-reinforced convey belting and reduces the risk of belt failure by providing data that is used for timely planned maintenance, reducing downtime. The technology provides a high-resolution magnetic image of damaged or broken steel cords for the verification of potential alarm conditions. It also gives operators real-time web-interactive access to review the damage locations and their severity. In addition, the splice integrity and damage severity can be monitored over time.