Insights from an interview with Robert Skeirik, Lead Instructor at Technical Associates and certified ISO trainer (Category I to IV).
With more than 300 different wireless vibration sensors on the market, it’s easy to think they all blend. However, according to Robert Skeirik, the Wi-care™ G23 sensor is not just another device; it’s the result of 20 years of field-driven innovation, built by reliability experts for reliability experts.
In this in-depth discussion, Robert unpacked what makes this sensor a game-changer for predictive maintenance and why it reflects I-care’s unique DNA.
What Sets I-care Apart from Other Wireless Vibration Sensors Providers?
“The answer starts with perspective,” Robert begins.
“There are over 300 wireless vibration sensors on the market. But while wireless vibration is new, I-care is not. I-care has provided vibration analysis for over 20 years and is now the largest independent vibration service company globally. They designed a product from reliability professionals, for reliability professionals.”
While many competitors focus solely on hardware, Robert emphasizes that I-care brings something deeper: two decades of vibration expertise. As the world’s largest independent provider of vibration services, I-care doesn’t just build sensors; it builds on experience. Wi-care™ has been battle-tested, continuously improved, and hardened for industrial realities.
What Types of Measurements Does the Wi-care™ Sensor Capture?
Robert explains: “From the same sensing element inside the same device, we have all the capabilities that the other options out there do with standard vibration, plus we have the impact from bearing and gear defect, plus we have a lubrication parameter. It’s all built into this. This is not three different sensors to measure these parameters. It’s the same sensor being processed three different ways.”
He sums it up simply: one sensor delivers three different insights:
- Standard vibration analysis: aligned with ISO methodologies, targeting shafts, casings, couplings, and foundations.
- Lubrication effectiveness: a patented algorithm that monitors proper lubrication of the asset
- I-DNA (Intelligent Decimation Numerical Analysis): patented high-frequency detection of early-stage bearing and gear defects.
Why Is I-DNA Important Beyond Traditional ISO Vibration Analysis?
Robert is clear about the limits of traditional approaches: “The thing that shuts down plant equipment overwhelmingly is rolling element bearing failure. And, the ISO standard is not the best, or even a reliable, indicator of that.”
This is where Wi-care’s™ patented method makes the difference: “I-DNA specifically listens for impacts in the high-frequency range caused by the two main plant killers: bearing defects and gear defects,” Robert explains
How Does Wi-care™ Address Lubrication, a Commonly Overlooked Factor?
“The root cause of bearing and gear defects overwhelmingly is lubrication,” Robert highlights. “We have radically fast sampling, the fastest sampling rate available from any wireless IoT device. That’s where we pick up the lubrication effectiveness.”
Once Collected, How Is the Data Processed and Used?
“All of that information is broadcast back to the I-see™ cloud platform, and from there, analysts can determine what’s actually happening on the machine.” Robert continues.
Here’s what that means in practice: the device performs onboard processing before transmitting to the I-see™ Cloud Platform, where analysts gain access to information such as:
- A quantified lubrication effectiveness metric
- Vibration waveform and spectrum
- I-DNA waveform and spectrum
How Does Wi-care™ Integrate into Broader Reliability Ecosystems?
Wi-care™ is not just a standalone device, it’s built to fit seamlessly into a broader reliability strategy with its analytics platform, I-see™.
As Robert explains, this solution goes beyond vibration alone: “Bidirectional links integrate vibration data with oil analysis data, thermographic imaging, ultrasonic scanning, and motor testing. Together, all these technologies can be combined to give you a holistic view of your rotating asset condition.”
Indeed, through its integration capabilities, I-care ecosystem ensures that reliability data doesn’t live in isolation but flows directly into other systems:
- PdM technologies like oil analysis, thermographic imaging, ultrasonic scanning, and motor circuit analysis.
- CMMS platforms (e.g., MVP One) enable proactive maintenance planning and seamless scheduling.
- Plant historians correlate asset health with process data to create a complete picture of performance.
What If a Facility Doesn’t Know Where Its Program Is Lacking?
Robert points out: “We can come into your facility, tell you where you have gaps in your reliability approach to asset monitoring, and help you identify the technologies that will address those gaps.”
This hands-on support is complemented by a broader offering: beyond technology, I-care offers consulting to help facilities design and strengthen reliability strategies, positioning itself as a strategic reliability partner.
Wrapping up
The Wi-care™ G23 sensor brings together over twenty years of predictive maintenance expertise into a single device. By combining vibration analysis, patented I-DNA fault detection, and lubrication effectiveness, it delivers fast, accurate insights directly at the asset level.
Seamless integration with the I-see™ platform and plant systems ensures vibration data connects to broader reliability strategies, while I-care’s consulting expertise helps organizations close gaps and build stronger predictive maintenance programs.
Contact our team and discover how the Wi-care™ G23 can transform your reliability strategy.