Coming Soon: Ferrous Debris Analysis with FerroQ

Out with PQ, in with FerroQ.

Starting September 11, 2025, POLARIS Laboratories® will transition all of our laboratory facilities from the PQ™ (Particle Quantifier) test method to the more advanced FerroQ™ instrument for ferrous debris analysis. This upgrade applies to both oil and grease sample testing and marks a significant improvement in how wear-related ferrous debris is measured, interpreted and reported.

To learn more about different types of wear, ferrous debris and tests performed to measure it, watch the webinar Ferrous Debris 101: What Your Lubricant is Telling You:

Enhanced Ferrous Debris Analysis with FerroQ

Instead of results reported in PQ Index (a unitless number), results will be reported in parts per million (ppm) on analysis reports delivered to customers. This change delivers greater accuracy, improved trendability and more reliable data for identifying wear and making informed maintenance decisions.

Why the change?

The FerroQ™ method provides a clearer, more quantifiable picture of ferrous contamination, making it easier to detect early-stage wear and better predict component failure. It also enhances consistency across sample reports and allows for easier integration with maintenance data systems.

For more technical information related to ferrous debris, testing limitations and particle debris measurement, read the blog Assessing Methods to Analyze Particles: PQ vs FerroQ or view the Technical Bulletin PQ vs FerroQ.

As your fluid analysis laboratory and reliability partner, our goal is to help you make smarter data-driven decisions based on the most reliable results and the FerroQ™ is the next step forward. Customers can expect to receive additional communication when the change goes into effect in the coming months.

If you have any questions, please contact service@eoilreports.com.

POLARIS Laboratories® and i-Care Announce Strategic Integration with I-see Technology

 

Industrial organizations are set to benefit from this collaboration, as it promotes more cohesive data collection and analysis that deliver timely insights into equipment performance and operational longevity.

I-care, a global leader in predictive maintenance and machine health, has announced a strategic integration with POLARIS Laboratories®. This integration connects I-see™, I-care’s AI-enhanced platform for oversight of PdM technologies, with advanced fluid analysis data from POLARIS Laboratories®. The integration was developed by POLARIS Laboratories® and is now available to I-see users through the company’s API, HORIZON® Connect.

“We’re excited to partner with I-care on this important advancement,” said Randy Clark, POLARIS Laboratories’ Manager of Reliability. “Integrating our fluid analysis insights with Wi-care’s predictive maintenance sensors provides a more holistic approach to equipment reliability and strengthens the maintenance strategies of our customers.”

The collaboration between I-care and POLARIS Laboratories® brings together two critical sources of machine health intelligence, providing maintenance teams with a more complete view of equipment performance and condition. Through the HORIZON® Connect API, fluid analysis results from POLARIS Laboratories® can now feed directly into the I-see platform, which provides maintenance personnel with actionable insights into mechanical systems without the need for manual data transfer.

Using AI workflows, I-see processes millions of data points, clearly categorizing data to indicate potential issues and critical failures, generating recommendations through a centralized dashboard with asset, plant, and global views, all accessible with a user-friendly interface.

Maintenance and reliability professionals will now be able to see lubricant condition, contamination and wear data, alongside vibration and temperature trends from Wi-care™ sensors. These combined insights facilitate more informed decisions and faster response times.

“This integration marks the beginning of a new chapter in data-driven maintenance,” says Ben Detober, Deputy CEO of I-care Group. “By linking POLARIS Laboratories® industry-leading fluid analysis with the I-see platform, we’re giving customers the power to see more, know more and do more to protect their critical assets. It’s the first of many partnerships we’re enabling through I-see’s open API to elevate reliability programs.”

Both companies see this as the first step in a broader strategy to deliver seamless interoperability between reliability tools. Together, they aim to enhance maintenance workflows and reduce unplanned downtime for asset-intensive industries.

View the Full Press Release here