Terra Analytical started its journey on 4 May 1973 as a Caterpillar Dealer Scheduled Oil Sampling (S.O.S) Lab. Over 50 years, the Christchurch lab has grown to become the major equipment fluid testing facility in New Zealand.
In the last five decades, the work taken on by Terra Analytical has evolved drastically. Growing customer demand and ever-increasing sample diversity and complexity mean the lab now processes around 10,000 samples a month. That's a big leap from the 200 samples a month processed by a team of three in 1973.
Staying ahead of the curve requires an ongoing commitment to innovation, says Asset Operations Manager Ian Pendle, "The fluid testing industry looked hugely different when Gough started up the lab in the 1970s. Labs were testing far fewer fluids from a relatively small number of expensive assets using very manual and time-consuming laboratory processes."
Now, thanks to emerging technologies and improvements in automation, the lab can test fluids such as engine oil, gear oil, hydraulic oil, coolants, grease, diesel fuel, diesel exhaust fluid and filter debris in record time. New technologies may have increased efficiency and throughput, but Ian says the lab's commitment to providing trusted results remains.
Setting the Standard
This hasn't gone unnoticed. Terra Analytical has been an ISO 9001 Accredited "Used Oil Testing Facility" since 1996, and in 2020 achieved Cat S·O·S Services Standardisation Accreditation.
"We're one of fewer than 20 out of 100+ dealer labs globally to have met these requirements. It's a significant achievement to be recognised in this way, and good news for our customers too." To achieve standardisation, tests must be performed by a professionally trained team in a safe environment, using calibrated equipment and meeting the ISO 9001 quality standard as a minimum. Customers benefit from us being the only Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in New Zealand with a dedicated fluid testing facility, Ian says it's a real competitive edge. "Not only do we have the in-house expertise and resources in New Zealand, but we've also got a huge network of technical people overseas and around the world to tap into if we face a unique or unusual challenge." Ian, who worked with Finning Cat in the United Kingdom for a decade before his 10+ years with Terra, says the lab and wider analytics team are crucial to this success.
"We've got a valuable mix of team members at the moment, with quite a few new team members who've brought in some new ideas. They're able to pick up on the evolving technology quickly, and they work well with our long-serving team members, who have valuable experience having seen the evolution of the lab over time." Caterpillar's invitation for Terra Analytical to work on developing onboard sensors and technologies was a recent highlight for the lab. As Terra Analytical serves so many different industries, technical specifications for contamination and requirements are constantly changing.
"It's about keeping abreast of updates, advancements in machine capabilities – as machines evolve and become faster, smarter, smoother, that means what we need to reference also needs to be updated."
Looking Ahead
Alongside celebrating the last 50 years, the team are scanning the horizon to see what changes the next half century will bring. New technologies for automation are emerging that will change the way Terra Analytical handles asset-generated data.
One of these is "auto interpretation," which is a technique that uses technology to interpret data explains Ian. It will allow the Interpretation Technical Team to focus on where they need to put their time, which is high-quality, value-added recommendations to customers about how to get the most from their machines. "While some new technology will undoubtedly make people's lives easier, we'll also be making sure we use it in the best way and remain masters of our destiny." To learn more about Terra Analytical's capabilities and order Test Kits visit oillab.co.nz
