Warren DeBay, Maintenance Reliability Engineer at Ahlstrom’s Rhinelander plant, was honored with the prestigious "Innovator of the Year Award" by KCF Technologies during their Manufacturing the Future event.
This award acknowledges individuals who challenge conventional thinking, inspire their peers, and introduce groundbreaking technologies that catalyze meaningful change. Jeremy Frank, CEO & Co-founder of KCF Technologies, highlighted Warren’s significant achievements, stating, “Warren’s work at the Rhinelander plant demonstrates a significant push to driving value at scale and measuring success that not only affects his work but drives safety for employees, reduces downtime, and decreases industrial waste.”
Warren is at the forefront of predictive maintenance at the Rhinelander mill, using his expertise to detect not only obvious wear and tear but also operational anomalies, significantly extending the health of the plant’s equipment. He leverages an array of KCF Technologies' tools, including pressure sensors, ultrasound sensors, Piezo sensing modules, temperature and speed-binning models, and real-time speed integration via PLC data. Warren’s collaboration with KCF Technologies includes feature requests in KCF’s SMARTdiagnostics Software, hardware improvements, and monitoring complex assets such as transformers, hydro generators, low-speed applications, and lubrication systems.
“By leveraging KCF’s hardware and software technology, Warren has gained insights into multiple machine behaviors that optimize reliability and performance,” said TJ Rees, Ahlstrom Central Reliability Manager. “Understanding our equipment allows us to detect potential issues and determine severity while minimizing downtimes and maximizing efficiencies. Warren’s pioneering approach of blending technologies encompassing vibration, pressure, temperature, speed, real-time integration of PLC data, and more has significantly improved our Rhinelander, Wisconsin operations.”
About AHLSTROM
Ahlstrom is a global leader in the manufacturing of specialty papers and fiber-based materials. Founded in 1851 in Finland, the company is dedicated to providing sustainable and innovative solutions for a variety of industries, including filtration, wall coverings, technical papers, building materials, and more.
