Industry Solutions

Providing compliant monitoring for various critical industries and sectors.

Warehouse Monitoring

GxP compliant continuous monitoring solutions for warehouses.

Some companies tend to overlook the importance of maintaining the right climate in warehouses, only to face unexpected costs when stock gets damaged. This article provides a quick overview of why climate monitoring is crucial for proper storage and how wireless monitoring systems offer a practical solution.

How Can Humidity Cause Damage?

The ideal humidity level in warehouses should be between 40-50% RH. If humidity levels are too high, it encourages mould growth, corrosion, rust, and condensation on walls, ceilings, and floors—creating the perfect environment for pests. Businesses may also face additional insurance claims due to mould and mildew damage.

During the day, humidity may drop to 30% or lower, which can be misleading because at night, it can spike up to 70-80%. That’s why 24/7 monitoring is necessary to maintain stable conditions.

What’s the Link Between Temperature and Humidity in Climate Control?

Relative humidity (RH) is directly affected by air temperature. When warehouse temperature rises, RH decreases, and when temperature drops, RH increases. However, RH does not measure the actual amount of water vapour in the air but indicates how close the air is to saturation.

For a complete understanding of warehouse conditions, both temperature and humidity must be monitored together.

What’s the Best Way to Monitor Humidity and Temperature?

An effective monitoring system should be cost-efficient, easy to install, low-maintenance, and capable of 24/7 monitoring.

If that’s what you’re looking for, then wireless monitoring systems are the way to go! These systems provide a reliable and efficient solution for tracking warehouse climate without raising costs or risking damage to stored goods.

Most solutions include a base station and wireless sensors that measure environmental parameters. These devices are portable, energy-efficient, and can operate for up to 10 years without battery replacement.

The best options on the market currently offer an impressive 3km (1.9mi) line-of-sight connectivity range between sensors and the base station. On top of 24/7 monitoring, they also send alarm notifications when humidity or temperature exceeds set thresholds.

A key feature of wireless monitoring systems is data analysis tools. With advanced software, businesses can access real-time data from anywhere, at any time, on any device. This is especially beneficial for companies managing multiple warehouses or operating across different locations.

New technologies are transforming the industry, and having a smart climate monitoring system will be a significant competitive advantage in the future. To embrace the future today and explore wireless monitoring solutions

Contact Us or explore our range of specialized monitoring solutions today!

Pharmaceutical Safety

Key Takeaways:

• The World Health Organization confirms that monitoring humidity at every stage of pharmaceutical production is crucial to ensuring product safety and quality.

• If humidity is not properly controlled, product quality can deteriorate, shelf life may be shortened, and companies might face regulatory issues.

• Proper humidity regulation leads to better pharmaceutical quality, compliance with regulations, cost savings, and improved working conditions.

• Tight control of temperature and humidity is necessary to avoid problems that affect product efficacy and safety.

The Consequences of Inadequate Humidity Control in Pharmaceuticals

If humidity levels in pharmaceutical environments are not managed properly, the consequences can be quite serious. Here are some of the main issues:

1. Degradation of Active Ingredients

If pharmaceuticals are stored in places with high humidity, they may absorb too much moisture, which can cause active ingredients to break down and even become toxic. On the other hand, if humidity levels are too low, static charges can build up, making solid and powdered medicines dry out, stick together, or crumble.

2. Reduced Shelf Life

When exposed to excessive humidity, many pharmaceutical products break down faster, resulting in a shorter shelf life. This means more frequent stock replenishments, leading to financial losses due to increased product wastage.

3. Manufacturing Disruptions

Excess moisture in the air can cause particles to form in powders and create bubbles in injectable solutions, leading to inconsistencies in product formulation. If these problems are not addressed, they could result in costly recalls and loss of consumer trust.

4. Regulatory Non-Compliance

The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated, and precise humidity and temperature control measures are required. If a facility fails to comply with these regulations, it may face heavy fines, product recalls, or even closure.

The Importance of Humidity Control in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Since uncontrolled humidity can create serious problems, pharmaceutical companies must use high-tech monitoring systems. Here are the key benefits of effective humidity control:

1. Protecting Product Quality

Keeping humidity at the right level prevents medicines from becoming too wet or too dry, which can affect their effectiveness and safety. Solid medications, like tablets and powders, are especially sensitive to humidity changes.

Advanced monitoring solutions like the 2c\temp-LCD Temperature and Data Logger from Marathon Products can provide precise temperature and humidity readings, allowing real-time tracking and improvements in pharmaceutical production and storage.

2. Smoother Manufacturing Process

The production of pharmaceuticals involves chemical interactions that require stable humidity conditions. Devices such as the Temperature & Humidity Logger help maintain a controlled environment, ensuring consistent product quality and preventing unwanted chemical reactions.

3. Meeting Regulatory Requirements

Regulatory agencies require strict control of humidity and temperature in pharmaceutical facilities. The World Health Organization recommends keeping relative humidity around 50%. A good humidity monitoring system ensures compliance, reducing the risk of legal trouble and product recalls.

4. Better Working Environment

Humidity levels can affect employee comfort and productivity. High humidity can make workers feel tired and uncomfortable, while extremely dry air can cause irritation. Using monitoring tools like the Temperature and Data Logger helps maintain a comfortable work environment, boosting efficiency and staff well-being.

5. Lower Energy Costs

Excess humidity can make a room feel hotter, causing HVAC systems to work harder and consume more energy. With proper humidity control, companies can optimize heating and cooling systems, reducing energy costs.

Stay Ahead with Marathon Products' Humidity Monitoring Solutions

If pharmaceutical companies fail to manage humidity properly, it can lead to damaged products, financial losses, and regulatory headaches. Investing in cutting-edge humidity monitoring systems helps prevent these issues while improving quality, compliance, and workplace conditions.

Marathon Products specializes in advanced temperature and humidity monitoring solutions. Our high-precision data loggers provide real-time insights, allowing businesses to make proactive adjustments and maintain ideal manufacturing and storage conditions.

Want to improve your pharmaceutical humidity management? Contact Us or explore our range of specialized monitoring solutions today!

Semiconductor Control

Monitoring systems for semiconductor manufacturing compliance and precision.

Semiconductor Cleanroom HVAC
Due to extremely fine linewidths the manufacturing processes in semiconductor cleanrooms are very sensitive to temperature and humidity variations. Typical semiconductor cleanrooms require +1 degree Fahrenheit and +5% or 10% relative humidity. This requires dedicated air handler for each room with hot and cold elements. Most semiconductor cleanrooms have dedicated chiller and boiler to support the HVAC system.

In the realm of semiconductor and printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing, precision, accuracy, and quality control are of utmost importance. These industries operate within tight specifications, and any variation from these can lead to poor performance or even failure of the end products. One factor that plays a crucial role in maintaining these stringent standards is humidity control. This article explores the importance of humidity control in semiconductor and PCB manufacturing and how Moisture Cure can help optimise your production environment.

The Importance of Humidity Control in Semiconductor & PCB Manufacturing

1. Prevention of Electrostatic Discharge (ESD): In low humidity conditions, electrostatic discharge becomes a significant risk. These small discharges, while seemingly minor, can cause significant damage to sensitive electronic components. Proper humidity control helps to mitigate this risk by reducing the likelihood of ESD.

2. Material Integrity: Materials used in semiconductor and PCB manufacturing, such as photoresist materials and silicon wafers, can be affected by high or low humidity levels. Maintaining optimal humidity levels ensures the integrity and performance of these materials, leading to higher quality end products.

3. Adhesion and Conformal Coating Processes: Humidity can impact the adhesion of solder paste and the application of conformal coatings, two critical processes in PCB manufacturing. Too much humidity can lead to poor adhesion and ineffective coating, while too little can lead to drying out of materials.

4. Equipment Efficiency: Humidity control also helps to prolong the lifespan of manufacturing equipment and machinery. Corrosion and other humidity-related issues can be prevented, ensuring smoother operation and reducing the need for costly repairs or replacements.

Effective humidity control is a vital component in semiconductor and PCB manufacturing, contributing significantly to product quality and operational efficiency. At Moisture Cure, we are committed to providing robust, reliable humidity control solutions to meet your precise needs. Contact us today to find out more about our offerings and how we can enhance your manufacturing environment.

Data Center

Continuous monitoring solutions for secure data center environments.

Data center temperature and humidity monitoring is important to ensure the efficiency and longevity of equipment.

Temperature and humidity ranges

• The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends a data center temperature range of 64–81°F (18–27°C)

• The ideal relative humidity level is between 45% and 60%

Monitoring methods

• Temperature sensors

  Local temperature sensors monitor the temperature of a transistor's die, while remote digital temperature sensors monitor the temperature of an external transistor

• Monitoring systems

  Some monitoring systems include a communication module, wireless temperature data loggers, and a power chord

Monitoring benefits

• Automatic alerts: Set up automatic alerts to be notified if conditions exceed expected thresholds

• Web dashboards: Track conditions over time and spot opportunities for optimization

Monitoring challenges

• High temperatures: Can cause overheating, resulting in hardware failures, downtime, and reduced equipment lifespan

• Low temperatures: Waste energy and money

• High humidity: Can cause condensation to build up, which can damage equipment

• Low humidity: Can cause static electricity to build up, which can damage equipment

A Guide to Data Center Temperature Monitoring

Maintaining optimal temperatures in data centers has become increasingly important as power densities surge, global temperature climb, and energy consumption rises.

These challenges make data center temperature monitoring more essential than ever.

In this blog post, we’ll explain why data center temperature monitoring is important, what temperature your data center should be, common challenges in managing temperatures in the data center, and how you can implement temperature monitoring in your data center.

Why Data Center Temperature Monitoring Is Important

Data center temperature monitoring helps:

• Protect equipment and extend its lifespan. Effective temperature monitoring prevents overheating, which can damage hardware and reduce the lifespan of critical equipment.

• Maintain uptime and reliability. Almost 30% of unplanned data center outages are a result of environment issues. By continuously tracking temperatures, data center managers can prevent thermal issues that lead to equipment failure, enabling better uptime and operational stability.

• Improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. Monitoring temperatures allows for optimized cooling strategies to reduce energy consumption and operational expenses while maintaining optimal conditions. Data centers can save 4% to 5% in energy costs for every 1°F increase in server inlet temperature.

Optimal Data Center Temperature and Humidity Ranges

Maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels are crucial for ensuring operational efficiency and hardware longevity. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends a data center temperature range of 64-81°F or 18-27°C and an allowable range of 59-90°F or 15-32°C), with relative humidity levels ideally set between 45% and 60%.

Deviating from these ideal temperatures can lead to significant consequences. A high temperature can create risk of overheating, resulting in hardware failures, downtime, and reduced lifespan of equipment. On the other hand, too low of a temperature wastes energy and money.

Common Challenges in Data Center Temperature Management

Effective temperature management in data centers faces several challenges that can undermine energy efficiency and reliability.

• Lack of comprehensive data and monitoring. Intelligent data center temperature management relies heavily on accurate, real-time data from temperature sensors. Limited or outdated monitoring systems can lead to inadequate insights into temperature variations and inefficiencies. Without sufficient data, it becomes challenging to identify hot spots, optimize cooling strategies, and proactively respond to temperature fluctuations.

• Balancing efficient and equipment protection. Striking the right balance between energy savings and maintaining safe temperatures for hardware is critical. Overcooling waste energy and inflates costs, while undercooling risks overheating and potential hardware failure.

• Hot spots and airflow optimization. Managing uneven temperature distribution and hot spots is complex due to factors like poorly configured cooling systems, airflow obstructions, and the layout of equipment in racks.

• High-density computing. Modern data centers often have high-density racks that generate significant heat, requiring more sophisticated cooling solutions. Standard cooling methods may not suffice, pushing the need for innovative approaches like liquid cooling.

• Scalability and adaptability. As data centers grow or change, temperature management systems need to scale or adapt accordingly. Implementing solutions that can be modified without significant infrastructure overhauls poses a challenge.

• Energy consumption and sustainability goals. Managing temperature efficiently while aligning with sustainability targets requires investments in advanced technologies and strategies. Achieving these goals can involve eco-friendly cooling methods and modern data center management software to optimize efficiency.

Addressing these challenges with a clear strategy requires holistic monitoring solutions and sensors to maintain optimal temperature for the data center.

How Data Center Temperature Monitoring Works

It is essential that data center temperature monitoring is a priority as it can directly influence equipment lifespan, energy efficiency, and uptime.

Here’s how it works:

• Deploying data center temperature sensors. Temperature sensors measure the temperature in real-time, providing data that can help inform good data center temperature management practices.

• Selecting reliable temperature sensor. Leading vendors like Legrand and CPI provide reliable, highly accurate sensors that integrate easily with DCIM software for seamless monitoring. Check out the most popular data center temperature sensors here.

• Placing temperature sensors. ASHRAE recommends six sensors in each rack: one at the top, middle, and bottom of both the front and back.

• Using DCIM software to simplify temperature monitoring. Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software streamlines temperature monitoring. It offers features like thermal map visualizations for quick identification of hot spots, customizable temperature thresholds with automatic alerts for proactive management, ASHRAE psychrometric cooling charts for visualizing cabinets that are outside of recommended and allowable ranges, and dashboard charts and reports to track temperature trends and cooling capacity to save time on manual data collection and reporting.

Case Study: How Vodafone Implemented Data Center Temperature Monitoring

In a real-world case, Vodafone, a telecommunications company trusted by hundreds of millions, was struggling to accurately monitor the temperature in their data center. Vodafone wanted to know if they could raise set points throughout the facility to save on energy costs but didn’t have the proper tools.

Andrew Marsh, Vodafone UK's Senior Manager for Infrastructure and Data Centers, noted that they “wanted to gain insight regarding power usage, cooling, and data and power connections,” and required a solution that offered visualization, an intuitive dashboard, a thorough asset inventory, and advanced reporting features.

To tackle this obstacle, Vodafone significantly expanded the number of temperature sensors from 16 to 800 in one facility and implemented DCIM software for comprehensive monitoring.

Marsh stated that they installed temperature sensors at the top, middle, and bottom of every rack and are using Sunbird’s leading DCIM software to measure the individual temperatures so they can see the Delta T. This has allowed them to safely increase temperatures, reducing energy consumption which contributes to sustainability and saves money.

Read the complete case study here.

Bringing It All Together

Effective temperature monitoring is essential for any data center aiming to balance operational efficiency, equipment protection, and cost savings. As global temperatures and data processing demands rise, maintaining optimal temperature in data centers can be challenging, especially when cooling alone consumes nearly half of the facility's power.

By implementing a robust temperature monitoring strategy and leveraging advanced solutions like DCIM software, data center managers can gain comprehensive insights into thermal patterns, reduce cooling-related expenses, and prevent unplanned outages due to environmental issues.

DCIM software simplifies temperature monitoring with capabilities like real-time visualization, threshold-based alerts, and detailed reporting. These tools empower data centers to make data-driven decisions that optimize cooling efficiency and extend equipment lifespan, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and cost-effective operation.

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