EFD Induction, Skien, Norway, used remote commissioning for a new Compact Weldac tube welder ordered by a major steel products manufacturer in the Middle East. The move allowed both parties to complete the purchase without delay caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Remote commissioning solved our problem when we couldn’t go to the customer,” says project manager Pål Haugerud at EFD Induction. The order, which arrived in April, originally included commissioning and start-up by an EFD Induction service engineer who would spend three days on-site.
“Because of the new wave of Covid, we realized we may run into problems sending a service engineer from Norway,” Pål says. “So, we alerted the customer and agreed it would be better than an engineer from EFD Induction India should do the job.”
However, as the Covid situation in India quickly evolved into a full-blown crisis, travel restrictions became ever stricter, particularly for people from India. Ultimately, national borders were closed completely.
“It was actually the customer that suggested we do remote commissioning,” Pål says. “And, as we had already done this successfully on several occasions earlier this year, we thought it was a good idea.”
First, there were two video conferences so that both parties could present their requests and agree on which preparations had to be done before the commissioning could take place. When the date was set, the customer’s team knew exactly what to do and who to call if they had any questions.
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