• Introduction to Greg Secord and his role at Fluke Process Instruments
• Overview of infrared imaging and its industrial applications
• Discussion on the latest infrared camera technologies from Fluke
• Real-world examples of infrared applications in industries like food processing, steel mills, and more
• The importance of differential temperature detection and monitoring
• Insights into Fluke’s product development and customer-driven innovations

Dominick DeLuca:
Welcome to In The Loop, a New England Temperature Solutions Podcast. In today’s episode, we have Greg Secord, the Northeast Regional Sales Manager at Fluke Industrial Process Solutions, joining us to discuss infrared applications. Greg has been with Fluke Raytek and Eron since 2009, bringing extensive technical and management experience in the industry. Without further ado, here’s Greg helping you get in the loop.

Dominick DeLuca:
Hello, welcome to our podcast In The Loop. Today, we’re here with Greg Secord from Fluke Process Instruments. Greg, could you tell us a little about yourself?

Greg Secord:
Hey, Dom, thanks for having me. I’m the regional manager for the Northeast for Fluke Process Instruments. We sell primarily fixed infrared temperature solutions for monitoring production processes within Fluke.

Dominick DeLuca:
Where do you live?

Greg Secord:
I’m in New York State.

Dominick DeLuca:
Did you feel weird coming into Patriots territory? Although, we’re starting to feel weird about being in Patriots territory ourselves nowadays.

Greg Secord:
As you know, I’m a Bills guy, so it’s usually hostile territory. But I’m feeling better about it every year.

Dominick DeLuca:
We’ll be nice to you. There’s a TV in our new podcast studio, and it has a box right there with a Chargers logo on it. We probably should’ve caught that before buying the TV. So, tell me a little about your family.

Greg Secord:
They’re getting up there in age. I’ve got a son in college and a daughter in high school. I’ve been with my wife for 24 years now.

Dominick DeLuca:
Wow, and you still have all your hair!

Greg Secord:
Still with Fluke, still have my hair—though it’s getting a little gray.

Dominick DeLuca:
How long have you been with Fluke?

Greg Secord:
I’ve been with Fluke for about 26 years, with Fluke Process Instruments for the last eight.

Dominick DeLuca:
What product line do you cover for Fluke Process Instruments?

Greg Secord:
We cover thermal imaging, line scanners, and fixed spot infrared temperature sensors. We also have a new product called a sonic imager, which helps detect high-frequency noises, usually indicating leaks. We offer both portable and fixed versions of this tool.

Dominick DeLuca:
And your territory?

Greg Secord:
I cover the Northeast, from Virginia to Ohio, and all the way up to New England.

Dominick DeLuca:
Apologies to our audience—you forgot the bagels today! You were supposed to bring bagels from New York.

Greg Secord:
Yeah, I forgot them. I guess that’s a reason to come back!

Dominick DeLuca:
Today, we want to talk about infrared imagers. They’re a bit different from spot sensors, right? We have one here to discuss.

Greg Secord:
Absolutely. This is our latest thermal imager. It looks and acts like a camera, but the image you’re seeing is actually a temperature map. Instead of getting a single temperature reading like you would with a spot sensor, you get a whole matrix of temperatures. This model has a 640×480 resolution, meaning it provides over 300,000 different temperature readings at once.

Dominick DeLuca:
So, why would someone use an imager like this?

Greg Secord:
The main reason is to monitor an area for temperature differences or hotspots that you don’t know the exact location of. It’s used in various industries—plastics, food, anywhere you’re monitoring a moving stream of product or looking for potential hotspots.

Dominick DeLuca:
Right, and I know it’s used in the food industry too. For example, if something wasn’t stuffed with the correct material, it would show up as a different temperature.

Greg Secord:
Exactly. It’s great for detecting differential temperatures across a 2D image. As you can see in the picture here, we took an image of a heater, and you can see the coils and the temperature behind it.

Dominick DeLuca:
There are two imagers that we sell, and actually, three if we include the scanner. Let’s talk about the scanner. What’s the difference between a scanner and an infrared imager?

Greg Secord:
To make it simple, we have devices that give you temperature readings in three formats: point, line, and area. The thermal imager gives you an area reading. A line scanner uses a rotating mirror to scan a line of temperatures across a moving process, like a conveyor belt, and builds up a 2D image of temperatures. The key difference is that a line scanner requires motion of the product to create a full 2D image, while a thermal imager gives you a 2D image even if the process isn’t moving.

Dominick DeLuca:
Got it. So, with a scanner, the only way to see a full 2D image is if the product is moving, whereas with a thermal imager, you always see a 2D image.

Greg Secord:
Exactly. With the thermal imager, you’re always looking at a 2D image, and you can monitor that entire image for changes.

Dominick DeLuca:
Let’s talk about the new TV30 series camera. What does it do for us?

Greg Secord:
The TV30 series includes models like the T33 and T36, with different resolutions. Compared to our previous models, the new camera is smaller, more affordable, and still offers a feature set on par with what we had before. One of the most attractive aspects is the standalone camera, which can be connected directly to a PLC without needing a computer or external software. Everything is driven by the camera itself.

Dominick DeLuca:
What I like about this compared to the older models is how quickly you can set it up. We set up this picture in just five minutes. The camera runs off a web browser, so you can easily switch it to another computer without needing special software.

Greg Secord:
That’s right. As long as you have a browser and the camera’s IP address, you can access it. The camera’s firmware handles everything, with no special software needed on the computer.

Dominick DeLuca:
So, the claim of an imager is to detect differential temperatures from point A to point B or across an area. What features allow you to do that?

Greg Secord:
The geometry involved is key. You can set up different geometries on the screen, like a line to graph data or look at all the pixels along it. You can monitor things like maximum, minimum, and average temperatures within an area and compare different areas for differences. You can also apply math to compare boxes or areas on the screen.

Dominick DeLuca:
Right, you can trend a point, draw a line to get max, min, and average temperatures, or trace an area like we did with the heater. It’s pretty cool.

Greg Secord:
Absolutely. You can even monitor the entire screen for changes, but drawing areas of interest lets you focus on specific spots, like hotspots that might be problematic.

Dominick DeLuca:
Plus, you can adjust the range to make the picture more detailed.

Greg Secord:
Yes, and you can set different limits for each area on the screen, which allows for more precise monitoring.

Dominick DeLuca:
And this data is available offline, correct?

Greg Secord:
Yes, you can retrieve data in multiple ways, including directly from the camera via a 12-pin connector that acts like a relay. If a certain area exceeds a set temperature, you can trigger an alarm through a PLC or another system. The camera can also connect directly to a PLC without needing a computer, making it a much more streamlined solution.

Dominick DeLuca:
I’ve seen setups where the image is displayed on an HMI or PLC alongside the data, which helps operators quickly identify issues visually.

Greg Secord:
Yes, and we have accessories that allow the camera to pan and tilt, covering a larger area with fewer cameras.

Dominick DeLuca:
Now, let’s discuss some of the applications you’ve encountered over the years with infrared imagers.

Greg Secord:
I recently visited a facility producing foam, where they needed to monitor temperature differences across a wide strip of material. Thermal imagers are also used in processes like drywall manufacturing or in lamination processes to detect bubbles or delamination, which show up as different temperatures on the image.

Dominick DeLuca:
Right, and emissivity can sometimes work in your favor, highlighting issues like smudged print or delaminations.

Greg Secord:
Exactly. Emissivity differences can actually help identify problems in certain applications, making the technology even more useful.

Dominick DeLuca:
It’s interesting how many applications you find in places like steel mills or the food industry, where you wouldn’t initially think of using thermal imagers.

Greg Secord:
Yes, it’s surprising how many different industries can benefit from this technology. For instance, in steel mills, it’s used to monitor the integrity of containment structures and detect hotspots before they become a serious issue.

Dominick DeLuca:
What’s the weirdest infrared application you’ve encountered?

Greg Secord:
One unusual application was monitoring the filling of liquid chocolate into molds. They wanted to ensure the molds were filled correctly, and the thermal imager could instantly detect any issues.

Dominick DeLuca:
That’s pretty cool. My strangest experience involved trying to count moose in Maine using infrared from drones. We even spent a night in a nature preserve looking at bear footprints in the snow. Unfortunately, the project didn’t go very far, but it was certainly interesting.

Greg Secord:
That sounds like an adventure! It just goes to show how versatile infrared technology can be.

Dominick DeLuca:
Definitely. The technology can be applied creatively in so many ways. Any final thoughts about Fluke and the technology before we close?

Greg Secord:
At Fluke, we aim to offer a wide range of solutions, from compact, low-cost sensors to high-end two-color ones. Whether you need imaging or line scanning, with or without software, we have the tools to meet your needs. We’re here to help with any thermal process challenges you might have.

Dominick DeLuca:
Thank you, Greg, for taking the time to join us today. And we’ll be expecting those bagels tomorrow! Thank you to our listeners for getting in the loop with us. If you need assistance with anything in the thermal process industry, feel free to reach out to us at 848-NETS (6387) or visit our website at www.nets-inc.com. We’d love to hear from you if there are any topics you’d like us to cover on the podcast. Have an awesome day, every day.

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