The Objective
To create a proprietary real-time oil monitoring and predictive maintenance application that complements OFS’s Generation 2 Filtration™ systems, reduces downtime, improves oil management, and opens new revenue and export opportunities.
The Challenge
OFS operates in a competitive and technically demanding sector—servicing industrial, marine, and heavy equipment clients across Atlantic Canada and select international markets. While its oil filtration hardware is well-established, clients increasingly require smarter, data-driven solutions that deliver proactive insights and maximize equipment uptime.
To stay ahead of market demand and meet evolving expectations, OFS needed to develop a novel digital solution that would connect directly with their advanced filtration systems. The new technology had to be intuitive, scalable, and capable of processing real-time sensor data while delivering actionable insights through an integrated web and mobile platform.
Key challenges included:
- Designing predictive analytics tailored to oil degradation
- Integrating real-time sensor data into a secure, user-friendly application
- Delivering a functioning prototype within 12 months
- Protecting intellectual property to ensure long-term scalability
- Aligning development with NRC IRAP funding eligibility criteria
- Creating a sales funnel for European expansion
The Solution
Structured R&D Development
OFS mapped out a five-phase project plan over 12 months, beginning with architectural design and moving through software development, sensor integration, pilot testing, and final commercialization readiness. This modular approach enabled iterative prototyping, client feedback, and continuous risk mitigation.
Custom Application Development
OFS invested in a proprietary software platform that collects data from its next-generation oil sensors and processes it using predictive maintenance models. The system provides real-time performance metrics, condition-based alerts, and maintenance scheduling tools through a client-facing portal and mobile app.
Integration & IP Ownership
The system architecture was built for compatibility with OFS’s sensor hardware while maintaining full ownership of the underlying software IP. This allowed OFS to maintain full control over commercialization strategy and future enhancements.
NRC IRAP-Funded Innovation
With a $100,000 project budget and $75,000 requested from NRC IRAP, OFS ensured that every aspect of development—software design, testing, data modeling, pilot validation, and integration—met the program’s innovation and impact requirements.
The Results: Driving Innovation and Market Expansion
With support from NRC IRAP, OFS successfully transformed its concept into a working prototype with real-world validation.
Immediate outcomes included:
- A fully owned, scalable software platform
- Successful sensor-to-software integration
- Live oil condition data streamed to clients
- Predictive alerts for downtime reduction
- Streamlined maintenance scheduling
- Positioning for international export of digital services
- Strengthened value proposition across Atlantic Canada and abroad
The custom application not only modernizes OFS’s offering but also positions the company as a leader in data-driven oil management technology—bridging traditional hardware with cutting-edge digital intelligence.
