The pair, under the newly inked strategic alliance agreement, will help operations globally to improve safety and reduce equipment downtime with PCM, which uses the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to monitor assets and detect and predict corrosion issues, with data powered by BHGE's ultrasonic sensing technology and advanced analytics.

Specifically, the system can determine wall thickness and temperature measurements from Rightrax PM ultrasonic sensors placed on pipes, tanks, vessels and other equipment. Real-time data assessment is then provided much more rapidly than the traditional, time-consuming and risky method of manual inspections.

SGS noted that the corrosion monitoring capabilities are encompassed in a five-step process: a manual inspection, sensor installation, corrosion monitoring, data intelligence with cloud-based analytic tools and NDT reporting to the customer. Combined, the steps offer predictable maintenance management, as well as the enhancement of asset reliability, lower total cost of ownership, longer asset life and greater operational safety.

"PCM is one essential tool to help asset owners benefit from enhanced plant reliability and integrity programmes, while maximising operational safety and extending asset life," the companies said of the solution, which has applications in mining, as well as oil and gas.

As pointed out by BHGE inspection technologies CEO Holger Laubenthal, PCM can help customers make the invisible visible.

"We are looking forward to working with SGS to accelerate deployment of PCM, a predictive digital solution that is becoming a benchmark for corrosion monitoring across several industries. This agreement will play a key role in improving safety, reducing equipment downtime, and improving operations for our customers globally," he said.

The companies anticipate that combining SGS's broad network and asset integrity expertise with BHGE's technological expertise will allow for PCM's rapid deployment, while also driving scale in the market for inspection and maintenance services and technology.