Hempel

Hempel

Implementation of AI models and a data platform for predictive maintenance

Implementation of AI models and a data platform for predictive maintenance

Delivery

Predictive Maintenance

Industry

Painting, Production and Maintenance

Area

Distribute maintenance insights worldwide

Impact

Real-time AI-models integrated in an App

Introduction

Optimizing maintenance in a global and complex operation.

Hempel is a global supplier of paints and surface protection solutions across a wide range of industries. The company is particularly known for its solutions in the maritime sector, where its products contribute to increased durability, lower fuel consumption, and reduced operational costs for ships. With operations in more than 80 countries, Hempel continuously works to develop new solutions that both strengthen the business and improve customer operations.

Challanges

Predictive Maintenance based on data-insights.

Ship maintenance is a constant balancing act. Surfaces need to be maintained to prevent wear, inefficiency, and failures, while at the same time, taking a vessel out of service too early is both costly and disruptive. In addition to the direct costs, poorly timed maintenance can result in significant revenue loss. The challenge is further compounded by the maritime environment, where conditions such as weather, operational loads, and sailing patterns are constantly changing. As a result, the actual condition of a vessel’s surfaces can be difficult to assess and is often partially hidden. This made it challenging to plan maintenance based on actual condition rather than fixed intervals or assumptions.

The Solution

Data and AI as the foundation for more precise and predictable maintenance.

Hempel’s goal was to use data and AI to shift maintenance from a reactive cost to a more predictable and value-creating discipline. In collaboration with Hempel, Codellent designed, developed, and implemented a data and AI platform in Azure to support this transformation. The platform was built using domain-specific data models and automated data pipelines from relevant sources, ensuring that information could be continuously updated and used in analysis. Based on this, Codellent developed AI models using neural networks to identify patterns and predict maintenance needs. To ensure long-term stability, an MLOps setup was established with continuous retraining, along with integrations into relevant applications and business systems.

Final thoughts

From reactive maintenance to data-driven decision-making.

From reactive maintenance to data-driven decision-making.

The project has established a new foundation for working more systematically and data-driven with maintenance in the maritime sector. Hempel can now plan service based on actual conditions rather than fixed intervals, improving both decision quality and resource utilization. The solution has also served as a pioneering project, demonstrating how data and AI can be applied in practice to develop more efficient processes, enhance insights, and support new, more flexible service solutions.

The project has established a new foundation for working more systematically and data-driven with maintenance in the maritime sector. Hempel can now plan service based on actual conditions rather than fixed intervals, improving both decision quality and resource utilization. The solution has also served as a pioneering project, demonstrating how data and AI can be applied in practice to develop more efficient processes, enhance insights, and support new, more flexible service solutions.