Supporting Sulzer with the development of new performance testing software

Sulzer is a global leader in fluid engineering. The company specializes in pumping, agitation, mixing, separation and application technologies for fluids of all types. Sulzer’s customers benefit from the company’s commitment to innovation, performance and quality and from their responsive network of 50 world-class manufacturing facilities and 100 service centers across the globe. Sulzer’s business is divided into four divisions: Pumps equipment, Rotating equipment services, Chemtech, and Applicator systems.

Sulzer produces turbo compressors at their factory in Kotka, Finland. These compressors are tested through a performance testing software. Sulzer wanted to update this system to ensure regulatory compliance and increase productivity of the testing process. Etteplan was chosen as a partner for the development project due to our extensive expertise in LabVIEW, our history with Sulzer and the proximity of Etteplan’s local Kotka office to Sulzer’s Kotka based factory.

Working closely in cooperation with Sulzer, Etteplan has updated and combined multiple software into Sulzer’s performance testing system. Experts from Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology took part in the project as well. In more detail, Etteplan combined Siemens data collection interface and MATLAB functions to the LabVIEW data acquisition application. The system is used to test Sulzer’s HST-compressors. This turbo compressor is widely used in wastewater treatment plants and in low-pressure industrial processes.

The result is an intuitive and cost-effective system

The project started with a preliminary study of the customer’s challenge. Next, Etteplan provided Sulzer with recommendations on how to develop the system to best serve their needs. Regulatory standards and requirements dictated the scope of the project in a strict manner. The two companies have worked closely to tailor make the system to fit Sulzer’s specific needs. The result is an intuitive and cost-effective system that guarantees the quality of Sulzer’s turbo compressor.

This new software supports all global performance testing codes and standards. Also, metric and imperial thermodynamical units are supported allowing Sulzer to serve customers all over the world according to their specific needs.

“This will also increase our operation excellences and productivity. All of the needed information and attributes for the testing process comes into software directly from our ERP-system without any manual work. The test record, log files and testing certificates will be generated automatically, when the individual testing steps are completed successfully.”

Tommi Ratia

Production Development Manager at Sulzer