Thermal imaging · thermographic survey · condition survey
Thermal imaging for maintenance – find faults before they stop work
A loose connection, a worn bearing or a clogged cooler heats up before it fails. A thermal imaging survey shows these faults in time – while the equipment is running and without touching it. We use a FLIR thermal camera that reliably detects very small temperature differences, as small as 0.1 °C, and collect the findings in a report with thermal and visual images and priority ratings. We work throughout Finland and, by arrangement, abroad and on board ships.
Measurement work 149 €/h excl. VAT (min. 2 h) · report included · Finland, abroad and ships by arrangement
What does a thermal imaging survey show?
A thermal camera measures the infrared radiation emitted by a surface and turns it into an image in which temperature differences appear as colours. In maintenance, what matters is not a single reading but the anomaly: a connection that is clearly warmer than the adjacent phases, or a bearing end hotter than the motor frame. Our thermal camera reliably detects very small temperature differences, as small as 0.1 °C, so a developing fault is visible before it becomes dangerous.
That is why the survey is carried out with the equipment running and under load. Thermal imaging does not require equipment to be stopped, and it shows where the fault is – so the repair can be planned before the equipment breaks down in the middle of work.
We use a FLIR thermal camera. Temperature readings are measurements of the surface, and their accuracy is affected by the surface material, reflections and distance – which is why the report focuses on temperature differences relative to reference points.
What we survey
Switchboards and connections
Loose or oxidised connections, overloaded cables and unbalanced loads heat up before they fail.
- Hot connections and busbars
- Fuses and circuit breakers
- Contactors and relays
- Phase imbalance
Electric motors, bearings and drives
A worn bearing, an incorrectly tensioned belt or an overloaded gearbox shows up as local heating.
- Motor bearing ends
- Belt drives and pulleys
- Gearboxes and couplings
- Fans and pumps
Compressors and dryers
A dirty cooler, poor ventilation or a worn screw element raises the compressor's temperature and energy use.
- Coolers and oil coolers
- Compressor overheating
- Motor and electrical connections
- Dryer operation
Hydraulics
Internal leakage and overload turn into heat – the thermal image shows the hot pump, valve or cylinder.
- Pumps and motors
- Valves and internal leakage
- Oil coolers
- Hydraulics on cranes, lifts and mobile machinery
Heating and pipework
With the heating on, pipe routes, blocked radiators, underfloor heating circuits and insulation defects show up in the thermal image.
- Underfloor heating pipe routes
- Locating leaks in warm pipes
- Radiators and heat distribution
- Boiler and pipe insulation
Vehicles and mobile machinery
A dragging brake, a hot wheel bearing or a clogged radiator stands out in a thermal image after a test drive or work cycle.
- Dragging brakes
- Wheel bearings
- Radiators and intercoolers
- Heaters and exhaust system
On ships: main and emergency switchboards, MCCs, reefer sockets and exhaust insulation – see marine acoustic and thermal imaging.
How the survey works
Preliminary information and estimate
Tell us what to survey: for example the number of switchboards, motors and compressors. We estimate the survey time and send a cost estimate.
Survey during operation
We survey the equipment in normal operation and under load. Opening switchboard covers is agreed in advance and done in line with the site's electrical safety arrangements.
Findings photographed and recorded
For each anomaly we take a thermal image and a visual image and record the location, the temperature difference to the reference point and the load conditions.
Findings report
You receive a report with the findings in priority order 1–3 and recommended actions, in English or Finnish. The report is included in the price.
Repair and follow-up survey
In Finland we can repair electrical, compressor and equipment faults ourselves (Tukes-registered electrical contractor, S2). Elsewhere the report is written for your own maintenance team or contractor. A follow-up survey verifies the repair.
Outside Finland · ships · mobile sites
Acoustic and thermal imaging abroad and at sea
Our acoustic and thermal imaging surveys are not limited to Finland. By arrangement we travel with the cameras to sites in the Nordic and Baltic countries, elsewhere in the EU and beyond – and to mobile sites such as ships and vessels, offshore and work vessels, ports, mines and mobile machinery fleets.
- Factories and process plants abroad
- Ships during port calls or riding along
- Ports, terminals and shipyards
- Offshore and onshore industry
- Mines and quarries
- Mobile machinery fleets and depots
How it works abroad
- Same hourly rate: measurement work 149 €/h excl. VAT (min. 2 h), report included.
- Travel quoted per job: travel, accommodation and travel time are agreed before you order.
- Report in English: findings with images, severity or priority and recommended actions.
- Your site rules: we follow your permits, safety induction and – on ships – the master's instructions.
- Honest limits: no Ex/ATEX areas, no class approval, no certified thermography.
Findings report
Every survey comes with a findings report in PDF format, in English or Finnish. The report is included in the price.
- Thermal and visual image. Both images side by side for every finding, so the location is easy to find.
- Location and finding. Where the finding is (e.g. switchboard, outgoing circuit, equipment) and what the image shows.
- Temperature difference and conditions. Temperature difference to the reference point (e.g. adjacent phase or similar equipment) and load at the time of the survey.
- Priority 1–3. 1 = monitor; 2 = repair as planned; 3 = repair immediately.
- Recommended action. What to do – for example check and tighten the connection when de-energised, or replace the bearing.
Price
Sites vary a lot, so pricing is based on time spent.
| Measurement work (minimum 2 h) | 149 €/h |
|---|---|
| Report (English or Finnish) | included |
| Travel in Finland | Zone-based in Southwest Finland and Kanta-Häme, elsewhere in the estimate |
| Outside Finland and on ships | Travel, accommodation and travel time quoted per job |
Prices exclude VAT. VAT is applied according to the applicable rules (for example, the reverse-charge mechanism may apply to VAT-registered business customers in other EU countries) and confirmed in the quote. You receive a cost estimate before ordering.
It pays to survey all switchboards and machines on the same visit – and, if you wish, compressed air and gas leaks with the acoustic camera.
Who is thermal imaging for?
- Industry and engineering workshops: Switchboards, motors, drives, compressors and hydraulics.
- Ships and vessels: Main and emergency switchboards, MCCs, motors, pumps, exhaust insulation and reefer sockets.
- Ports, terminals and mines: Switchgear, crane drives, conveyors and mobile machinery fleets.
- Vehicle workshops and inspection stations: Switchboards, compressors, lift motors and hydraulics.
- Farms: Dryer and feeding system motors, switchboards and compressors.
- Transport companies: Fleet brakes, bearings and cooling, and depot electrics.
Combined condition survey
Thermal and acoustic imaging on the same visit
The thermal camera finds overheating electrical and mechanical faults, the acoustic camera finds compressed air, gas and vacuum leaks. When both are done on the same visit, the findings are collected in one report and travel is paid only once.
Cost estimate
Request a cost estimate – thermal imaging
Tell us what to survey – for example the number of switchboards, motors and compressors – and where (country, city or port). We usually send a cost estimate on the same or the next working day.
+358 43 211 0516Mon–Fri 8:00–16:00 (Finnish time)
Frequently asked questions
How small a temperature difference can the thermal camera detect?
Our thermal camera reliably detects very small temperature differences, as small as 0.1 °C. In maintenance the key is the anomaly relative to a reference, such as an adjacent phase or similar equipment, and even small differences show clearly in the image.
What can a thermal imaging survey find?
Faults that produce heat: loose and oxidised electrical connections, overloaded cables and protective devices, worn bearings, incorrectly tensioned belts, dirty coolers, internal leakage in hydraulics, and defects in heating pipework and insulation.
Is your thermography certified or accepted by insurers?
No. We carry out thermal imaging as a maintenance condition survey, and the report is a maintenance findings report. If your insurer requires electrical thermography by a certified thermographer, it must be done by one – we do not hold a thermographer certificate. Our reports are not class-approved, and thermal imaging does not replace statutory inspections of electrical installations.
Does the equipment need to be stopped?
No – quite the opposite. Faults only show when equipment is running and under load, so the survey is carried out during normal operation, ideally at high load. For switchboards a common recommendation is at least about 40 % of rated load.
Are switchboards opened for the survey?
Connections can only be seen reliably with the cover open. Opening a live switchboard is work near live parts, so it is agreed with the person responsible for electrical safety on site (on a ship, the chief engineer or electrical officer) and done in line with the site's safety arrangements. If opening is not safe, we survey with the cover closed and note this in the report.
Do you carry out thermal imaging outside Finland?
Yes, by arrangement – in the Nordic and Baltic countries, elsewhere in the EU and beyond. Measurement work is charged at the same hourly rate, and travel, accommodation and travel time are quoted per job. Reports can be delivered in English.
Can you survey a ship's switchboards and engine room?
Yes. We survey switchboards, MCCs, motors, pumps, compressors and exhaust insulation during port calls or, by arrangement, while riding along on a voyage. The work requires the owner's or master's permission and the ship's safety induction.
Can thermal and acoustic imaging be done on the same visit?
Yes. In a combined condition survey the thermal camera finds overheating electrical and mechanical faults and the acoustic camera finds compressed air, gas and vacuum leaks. The findings are collected in one report.
How much does a thermal imaging survey cost?
Measurement work is 149 €/h excl. VAT, minimum 2 hours, and the report is included. In Finland, travel costs are zone-based in Southwest Finland and Kanta-Häme and quoted elsewhere. Abroad and on ships, travel, accommodation and travel time are quoted per job.
How often should thermal imaging be done?
In maintenance, thermal imaging is often done once a year, and more often for critical equipment. It is also worth doing after repairs and modifications and whenever you suspect a fault.
See also: acoustic imaging, ships and marine, electrical installations in Finland (S2) and compressor service in Finland.
Quality and environmental management
Our management system has been built in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. It is self-declared and has not been certified by a third-party certification body.