Control Automation Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

08/10/2020 Drive up installation success Selecting a drive based on specification alone does not guarantee its successful installation. Indeed, many potential pitfalls await the unwary » Read More

08/10/2020 Deep-dive drives Intelligent drives are coming to operational equipment. Smart and networked controls can help to transform the landscape of engineers who have previously only dealt with local control of motors and equipment. » Read More

01/10/2020 Making the right choice for industrial pH measurement In a wide range of industrial applications, accurate measurement of pH values is vital to ensure regulatory compliance and end product quality. The importance of effective pH measurement, and how to achieve it, is explained below By ... » Read More

01/10/2020 Tracking asset standards What do railway tracks and brand reputation have in common? Both are defined as assets within the ISO 55000 family of standards, driving asset management to be a multi-functional discipline. Laura Cork reports » Read More

24/09/2020 Portable industrial vacuums: powering up Industrial vacuums pack a powerful punch. They will clear up dry and wet waste at factory scale, yet are small enough to be wheeled around a site on a cart or by forklift. By Brian Wall » Read More

24/09/2020 Use the force: magnetic separators Magnetic separators are often installed in arduous conditions. How do they work, and what are their maintenance requirements? By Adam Offord » Read More

17/09/2020 Testing of safety systems A new publication from the Engineering Equipment and Materials Users Association offers practical guidance on some of the problems which have to be dealt with when testing real process plant equipment. Here, the organisation introduces the ... » Read More

17/09/2020 Water leaks and the ‘jaws of death’ Water demand in the UK will exceed supply in just 25 years, the head of the Environment Agency has warned – with part of the blame falling on leaking pipework. What can be done to avert this? By Brian Wall » Read More

10/09/2020 Brewery enters uncharted waters A new water recycling plant at the Fredericia, Denmark brewery of Carlsberg will reuse 90% of its process water and reduce overall site consumption by 10%. But how? By Steed Webzell » Read More

10/09/2020 Sensing safety: helping protect the public around rubbish collection vehicles Waste collectors take to the streets on a daily basis – picking up and disposing of household and industrial waste. Operating such large vehicles when pedestrians, cyclists and other motor users are around requires the utmost attention. ... » Read More

02/09/2020 Water travel by gas The Volkswagen Group has deployed a car freighter powered by liquefied natural gas, with a second due to enter service later this year. The move marks a new direction for heavy shipping. By Adam Offord » Read More

02/09/2020 Winded: new approaches to offshore wind turbine maintenance Not only are offshore wind turbines a long way from shore, their rotating machinery is housed tens of metres above the surface of the water. The financial incentive to minimise the need to perform inspections and carry out maintenance has ... » Read More

31/08/2020 Hose re-ending: the fallacies behind ‘saving a bit of money’ Fluid power hose re-ending is a dangerous business. Not only does it fly in the face of industry standards, but it can also prove highly destructive… and even lethal if the remade joint fails. Add a lack of warranty and supplier liability ... » Read More

24/08/2020 Smart moves Jody Muelaner explores how a building management system works and the range of equipment and systems with which it can work » Read More

24/08/2020 Community spirit The Environment Agency, along with a variety of partner organisations, is celebrating 10 years of successful soft engineering along rivers in Cumbria, England » Read More

17/08/2020 Suit up The International Space Station is a modular space station in the low Earth orbit and just like industrial, commercial and domestic facilities across our planet, it typically needs to be maintained, repaired and upgraded by its residents. ... » Read More

10/08/2020 No more clouds over cyber security Leading experts in cyber security have produced an authoritative guide that could help factories and process plants better protect their resources. Steed Webzell spoke to the guide’s project lead to find out more » Read More

03/08/2020 Watch your distance As UK industry tries to get back to some form of working normality, social distancing measures are still to be encouraged. Adam Offord finds guidance and products to help with social distancing in an industrial setting? » Read More

03/08/2020 Fever screening The Coronavirus epidemic has created a worldwide demand for infrared cameras as fever screening tools. Explaining how to be sure that the camera chosen can actually do the job it is supposed to do is Glenn Wedgbrow, business development ... » Read More

27/07/2020 Object deconstruction Operations Engineer explores the basic principles of the reverse engineering technique and how it can be carried out » Read More

20/07/2020 Air upgrading Midas Pattern Company has recently had a compressor system audit carried out at its premises in Bedford, UK, as part of a green initiative project. This has led to an equipment upgrade and has also helped the company to achieve energy ... » Read More

20/07/2020 Flowing smoothly in the field Operations Engineer explores what mobile workforce management software is and the benefits that it can bring to the field » Read More

13/07/2020 Lifting spirits The UK Coronavirus crisis has seen distilleries, breweries and other plants pivot their operations to hand sanitiser production. How easy was it to do in such a short space of time? » Read More

13/07/2020 Before & after There are a variety of health and safety regulations in the UK. In this article, Operations Engineer explores the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 » Read More

06/07/2020 Getting air Hemel Hempstead-based company Atlas Copco celebrated a century of UK operations in November. A few months on – and during the UK lockdown over Coronavirus – OE spoke to Alexander Pavlov, general manager at Atlas Copco Compressors UK & ... » Read More