AssetWatch - Booth C410

With more than a decade in manufacturing and factory automation, Eric Bradley, Solutions Architect at AssetWatch, is passionate about helping teams get ahead of costly downtime through smarter condition monitoring. Ahead of his presentation, “Keeping the Line Running: What Vibration and Oil Analysis Reveal About Extruder Health,” Eric shares how combining data sources can transform maintenance strategies and unlock new levels of reliability.

Could you tell us a bit about your background and what led you to your current role at AssetWatch?

I'm a Solutions Architect at AssetWatch, where I'm able to bring my 10+ years of experience in manufacturing with a specialized focus on factory automation to help companies enhance operational efficiencies and production processes across various sectors. I play a key role in leading the implementation of AssetWatch's innovative sensor technology, ensuring that clients achieve maximum value from their investments.

Your talk centers around vibration and oil analysis — what’s the key takeaway you hope attendees leave with?

The main idea I want attendees to walk away with is that vibration and oil analysis, when used together, can transform how maintenance teams understand the health of their extruders. These two data sources don’t just flag issues, they tell the story of what’s actually happening inside the machine. When you connect those insights and act early, you can keep the line running and avoid costly downtime.

Why is this conversation so important right now?

Now is the right time for this discussion because manufacturers everywhere are under increasing pressure to do more with less — fewer technicians, tighter budgets, and rising production demands. Extruders are central to the plastics process, and unplanned downtime on one line can ripple through the entire operation. With the tools we have today, vibration and oil analysis aren’t just diagnostic, they’re predictive.

What kind of challenges does your presentation help manufacturers overcome?

We’re helping plants stop treating critical machinery failures, like extruders, as surprises and start treating them as predictable, preventable events.

Can you give us a glimpse into one of the real-world examples you’ll be sharing during your session?

I’ll be sharing a real-world example where combining vibration and oil analysis helped a plastics manufacturer identify a gearbox issue early and plan maintenance before a breakdown occurred. It’s a simple story, but it really shows how connecting those two data streams can turn potential downtime into a success story.

Don’t miss Eric Bradley’s presentation, “Keeping the Line Running: What Vibration and Oil Analysis Reveal About Extruder Health,” at the Plastics Extrusion World Expo North America, November 12–13 in Cleveland.

Visit AssetWatch on Booth C410