Brush Strokes

Helwig, Carbex expand their i-BRUSH collaboration

Helwig Carbon Products, Inc., and Carbex are expanding implementation and support of the i-BRUSH Carbon Brush Remote Monitoring System across North American industrial markets with three model options designed to support a broad range of condition monitoring needs and operating environments. The i-BRUSH monitoring system is said to be well suited for power generation, manufacturing, mining, and other industrial applications where continuous performance and reliability are critical, according to a May 21 press release from Helwig.

Helwig Carbon and Carbex have entered into a strategic partnership that establishes Helwig as the exclusive North American distributor for the i-BRUSH monitoring system within select core market segments, helping operators improve reliability, reduce unplanned downtime, and strengthen predictive maintenance practices.

The partnership combines two powerhouses of the carbon brush world. Helwig, based in Milwaukee and highly familiar to Electrical Apparatus readers and EASAns, was founded in 1928. Carbex, meanwhile, has been making carbon brush products out of Sweden since 1887.

Developed by Carbex and "proven through years of successful implementation worldwide," the i-BRUSH system provides continuous, real-time insight into carbon brush condition and performance in rotating electrical equipment. The system measures brush wear, brush temperature, brush current, brush current density, ambient temperature and humidity, and brush vibration, helping operators prevent catastrophic failures such as flashover and fire, optimize performance of slip rings and components, and proactively plan maintenance.

Carbon brushes remain critical components in many AC and DC motors and generators across industries. However, brush condition has traditionally required manual inspection, limiting visibility into developing issues.

"By delivering continuous monitoring and early warning indicators, the i-BRUSH system helps maintenance teams better understand equipment behavior and identify potential problems before they impact operations," the press release added. "The expanded i-BRUSH system with three models allows operators to select the solution best suited to their operational requirements, maintenance strategies, and operating environments."

“Industrial operators are increasingly seeking practical ways to improve equipment reliability and reduce maintenance risk,” said Nitin Kulkarni, President of Helwig Carbon. “The i-BRUSH system gives customers greater flexibility to select the right solution for implementing predictive maintenance strategies across a broad range of applications.”

The partnership between Helwig and Carbex includes a licensing agreement that further aligns Carbex’s monitoring technology with Helwig’s North American manufacturing, engineering, and field support capabilities. The collaboration reflects a shared long-term commitment to expanding smart carbon brush solutions and predictive maintenance technologies across industrial markets. Both companies see the partnership as an important step in advancing condition monitoring solutions for critical rotating equipment.

“This partnership gives us a powerful platform in North America together with a highly respected partner and is a strategic step for Carbex in becoming the leader in connecting carbon brushes with smart monitoring,” said Joakim Hedlund, CEO of Carbex. “By combining our monitoring technology with Helwig’s strong market presence and decades of expertise, we are creating greater value for customers and accelerating long-term growth.”

Together, Carbex and Helwig are expanding access to advanced carbon brush monitoring solutions across North America.

For more information or to request a quote, contact Helwig Carbon at 414-354-2411 or carboncrew@helwigcarbon.com.