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.

06/07/2020 Work wearable Vehicle manufacturer Iveco has introduced a wearable ‘exoskeleton’ device from industrial automation specialist Comau. This is helping to reduce the fatigue on the upper limbs suffered by the operators engaged in activities inside the ... » Read More

29/06/2020 Preventing infection The Covid-19 pandemic has cast human hygiene into the spotlight with repeated messages of ‘wash your hands’. The vital importance of this is clear when it can directly impact on lives, but even at normal times, good hygiene should be the ... » Read More

29/06/2020 Legal - Brexit & Covid-19: double trouble for contract Michael Hiscock (pictured) is a partner and head of construction law at solicitors Wright Hassall, advising on construction and engineering procurement. In this article (from OE Summer 2020), he highlights an in-depth case study of an ... » Read More

22/06/2020 In times of change - message from SOE CEO Bruce McGill This comment piece comes from Bruce McGill, CEO at the Society of Operations Engineers, and first appeared in Operations Engineer's Summer 2020 print issue. » Read More

22/06/2020 Control room Good design can make the difference between comprehension and chaos, when depicting the actions and interactions of process system displays. New guidance interpreting an international standard codifies the latest norms » Read More

15/06/2020 Cutting effects Testing, inspection and compliance services provider Socotec discusses the health risks associated with respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and how best to protect against its harmful effects » Read More

15/06/2020 Driver not required Prototypes and concept designs are demonstrating the potential of commercial vehicles that are operated without one component traditionally thought to be operationally important: the driver. Although not all necessarily ready to go to ... » Read More

08/06/2020 Best practice shines through To ensure operators are not at risk, how often should a LEV (local exhaust ventilation) system be cleaned and maintained, and by who? » Read More

08/06/2020 Safe operations One of the many hazards to people posed by industrial environments is forklift trucks. To improve pedestrian safety, digital solutions have come to the fore » Read More

01/06/2020 A national effort The UK, like many parts of the world, has been constrained by the on-going Covid-19 pandemic. However, in such a time of need, UK industry has stepped up once again and continues to play a key role in the fight back » Read More

01/06/2020 Lifting (global) standards The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association published the ninth edition of its guide to lifting safety last year. Who is it aimed at and what has changed? » Read More

25/05/2020 Bouncing back from Buncefield Almost 15 years on from the Buncefield disaster, Operations Engineer looks back at what went wrong, why and the steps taken to try to ensure such an incident never happens again » Read More

25/05/2020 Cold comfort Air conditioning is not the only way to provide a comfortable indoor environment. And some of the alternatives have benefits of their own » Read More

18/05/2020 Electric motors shake-up A radical overhaul of the regulation governing electric motors is forecast to bring big cost savings for industry, along with a significant reduction in environmental impact » Read More

18/05/2020 Controlling the risks The Health and Safety Executive recently reminded companies to protect the health of workers by controlling the risks from welding fume. What measures can be put in place? » Read More

11/05/2020 Don’t slip up on lubrication Operatives and engineers must have the relevant knowledge and skills to perform lubrication. That is why comprehensive training is so vital » Read More

11/05/2020 Heave-ho Heave compensation systems are used to reduce the influence of waves upon offshore operations. We explore how these systems work and the benefits that they bring » Read More

04/05/2020 A bug’s life The world has been gripped by the on-going Covid-19 pandemic. Are buildings friends or enemies in the war on the spread of coronavirus? » Read More

04/05/2020 Plastic fantastic? At the one-day Engineering Solutions Live show in March, Matthew Jones, senior applications engineer for northeast EMEA and wider EMEA at Stratasys, described the benefits that additive manufacturing can bring to industry in terms of ... » Read More

28/04/2020 Let software take the strain OE considers the extent of the application of CMMS (computerised maintenance management system) software, and what gains can be achieved » Read More

28/04/2020 Opinion: Compressor care in times of crisis This opinion article comes from Alexander Pavlov (pictured), general manager at Atlas Copco Compressors UK & Ireland, and discusses the importance of not overlooking industrial compressors during Covid-19. » Read More

20/04/2020 Bearing the brunt Seismic isolation bearings decouple structures, such as buildings and bridges, from the ground. This allows such structures to behave more flexibly during seismic activity » Read More

20/04/2020 Ride along The complex task of designing and specifying mobile plant can be simplified by using an online configurator. These systems vary in sophistication and detail, but ultimately allow users to design and customise to individual need. OE takes a ... » Read More

13/04/2020 Pop culture AG Barr’s factory in Milton Keynes, UK, has worked with consultancy firm MCP to provide shopfloor staff with basic maintenance skills. Enter the ECO warriors » Read More

13/04/2020 Sensing a new era Rapid development of the electronics and manufacturing sectors, along with rising environmental concerns, are driving up demand for passive infrared sensors » Read More