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.

07/10/2019 Maintec 2019 – it’s show time When? 30-31 October 2019 | Where? National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham, UK, B40 1NT » Read More

07/10/2019 Fighting a lost cause How do you keep track of assets that could be easily lost or pilfered on a large or complex site: too big to sit on a shelf, but too small to be permanently installed. OE examines the technological options » Read More

07/10/2019 Gently does it Bringing together information from sensors has significantly reduced unwanted movement in extended booms and crane jibs when lifting materials » Read More

07/10/2019 Getting vocal Voice assisted technology has become very popular in the consumer market, with the likes of Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It is now starting to make inroads into the industrial market too » Read More

07/10/2019 Motor switching Last year, a guide from the Carbon Trust into the energy efficiency of plants suggested many ways to improve environmental efficiency. One suggestion was to switch off continuous motors when they are not used » Read More

07/10/2019 Defence snapshot The Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition aimed to connect governments, national armed forces, industry and the global defence & security supply chain. Highlights are below » Read More

06/09/2019 The wheel deal Bucket wheel reclaimers/excavators are among the largest machines ever built, shifting vast amounts of stored solid material – and all at remarkable speed. Operations Engineer gets up close to these Leviathans to find out more » Read More

06/09/2019 Comment: Tick tock There are just 20 Fridays until Christmas. That is the post that popped up on my social media newsfeed during August thanks to my mother-in-law. (Shakes head in despair). I jest of course, but knowing that Christmas is just around the ... » Read More

06/09/2019 Getting Europe connected The UK recently energised its latest power interconnector, this time connecting Britain with Belgium. It is just one of a swathe of new interconnector projects that are set to transform the UK’s generation portfolio – and that of our ... » Read More

06/09/2019 Engineering excellence Environment Agency engineer Ahmed Yusuf (inset) has been named ‘Professional Young Engineer of the Year’ by the Pump Centre. Here, the 27-year-old explains more about his work and plans for the future » Read More

06/09/2019 Solar powering industry High-temperature solar power has been used in a demonstration project to produce liquid hydrocarbons from CO2 and water. This breakthrough is expected to lead to new renewable solutions from energy-intensive industries » Read More

06/09/2019 A big step-change Nereda technology was originally presented to the UK water industry in 2013. Since then, the technology has been tested and implemented at more plants » Read More

06/09/2019 Motion picture Typical conveyors used in industrial settings include belt systems and over-head systems. But what about static conveyor systems? OE looks at some non-moving conveyor innovations already on the market » Read More

06/09/2019 Going above and below Technological advancements are having an impact in all sectors of industry, including the offshore oil and gas sector. There are a variety of autonomous and operator-controlled solutions now able to aid in the inspection of pipelines that ... » Read More

06/09/2019 Unwrapping the enigma At this year’s Siemens Digital Talks conference, TrakRap CEO Martin Leeming told the story of how the SME is disrupting the packaging industry– one sheet of plastic at a time » Read More

05/08/2019 A Swiss summit Infor held its Third Annual EAM European Summit at CERN in June. OE’s deputy editor discovered more about asset management at the research centre, while getting up close with its first accelerator, the Synchrocyclotron » Read More

05/08/2019 Comment: Ripple effect Provisional annual data released by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) recently has revealed that 147 workers were fatally injured between April 2018 and March 2019 – an increase of six workplace fatalities from 2017/18. » Read More

05/08/2019 Cushioned approach The latest pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders feature improved cushioning systems for higher speeds with reduced stress and vibration. But what is involved in the technology, how does it work, and what maintenance implications are there? » Read More

05/08/2019 Inching forward While manufacturers are now using electro hydraulics to power all types of ancillary equipment, bringing it to market is a slow process. OE looks at the in-roads already made » Read More

05/08/2019 Listen ear Noise exposure from tools and equipment can be damaging to personnel. A range of PPE and other solutions can mitigate the risks » Read More

05/08/2019 Down the pan Having designed, built and installed power systems throughout their careers, two directors saw first-hand how water produced by AC units was going down the drain, so decided to spend a penny on a new system » Read More

05/08/2019 Absolute safety… the impossible dream Something akin to an industry consensus may be emerging when it comes to establishing holistic cyber security right across the supply chain. But with whom does liability rest when chasing that goal? » Read More

05/08/2019 Hacked off As IT (information technology) systems and OT (operational technology) systems advance, so too are cyber-attacks. Having some knowledge on common attacker methods can go a long way » Read More

05/08/2019 Crime stoppers Cybercrime is usually associated with financial services. However, with plant and control systems being increasingly connected, facilities and industrial operations are under equal threat. Could certification schemes aid industrial ... » Read More

05/08/2019 What if… There are many different uses for virtual reality technology in industrial settings. Redesigning existing facilities, as well as imagining future industrial plants, is one of them » Read More