| The techniques for monitoring machines – either off-line or on-line - in a steel manufacturing plant are similar to those employed in the paper industry. Many machines in a steel plant are also large and slow-running in rolling-element bearings. However, the environment is more hostile to components such as sensors, cables and electronic measuring instrumentation. These components should therefore be designed to operate in high-temperature and extremely dusty conditions. In some cases machines have a transient operation due to the nature of the manufacturing process. A monitoring system that can accept period-triggered measurements is required for this application. Data is then measured and stored only during the periods of steady-state operation. Event-oriented archiving is also especially advantageous in such an on-line operation. An integral on-line/off-line predictive monitoring system is particularly suitable since measurement points on the machines where access is not dangerous or the temperatures are not too high can be measured using portable instruments for data collection. Our unequalled range of sensors and offline/online monitoring systems, with extreme flexibility for configuration to any task, from a single machine to a plant-wide requirement, can provide the solution for the rugged, industrial environment of a steel plant. | 
