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.

04/07/2019 Smart moves Intelligent drives have evolved beyond simply providing high performance for a connected motor. They also offer detailed diagnostics information that can be an essential tool for maintenance. OE reviews the capability of standard equipment » Read More

03/06/2019 Inside job Manually-operated inspection vehicles are used to inspect pipelines and pipework. But the days of these vehicles may be numbered, as researchers look at truly autonomous inspection and repairs » Read More

03/06/2019 Comment: Engineering F.C. Anyone that caught the second leg Liverpool-Barcelona game last month will know how special it was. Magic was in the air at Anfield as Liverpool, 3-0 down from its first leg, won 4-0 (4-3 on aggregate) and progressed to the Champions ... » Read More

03/06/2019 Doing the dirty Recent research has suggested that more than four in five Brits want robots to ‘do the dirty work’. Luckily, such technology is starting to become a reality, able to take over different tasks in various sectors of industry » Read More

03/06/2019 Avoiding robo-flop Make UK launched a course last year to retrain and up-skill employees, covering the knowledge and practical skills involved with robotic and automation engineering. Commercial manager Mark Farrant, and commercial maintenance tutor Gordon ... » Read More

03/06/2019 Heart of the workhorse Forklift trucks that run on electricity are common throughout industry. So, what operational and maintenance-related advice and products are out there for users looking to get the most out of their batteries? » Read More

03/06/2019 Raising the bar Two lightweight gantry cranes from Reid Lifting continue to play an integral role in ongoing construction and testing as the planet’s most advanced straight-line racing car, Bloodhound SSC, is prepared for its landmark world record attempt » Read More

03/06/2019 Clean and green Driven by regulatory, financial and business needs, a new generation of more environmentally-friendly industrial degreasants is emerging that matches the performance of traditional hydrocarbon products. It is giving operators a greener, ... » Read More

03/06/2019 Clean break On the face of it, non-contact cleaning of hospitals and healthcare facilities – by employing, for example, nebuliser technology, or ultraviolet light – sounds more hygienic than wiping and washing. But is it as effective? » Read More

03/06/2019 Wet & healthy Who knew the humble tap could kill? OE takes a look at water safety in healthcare and how it should be managed » Read More

08/05/2019 Ploughing forward with safety Industry bodies are pushing ‘best practice’ to improve health and safety on farms. So, what are the issues for off-road agricultural vehicles and machinery and what safety checks should operators carry out? » Read More

08/05/2019 Comment: Give and take Over the years covering industry, I’ve written a lot about nature and the environment. Usually I channel my inner Attenborough, reiterating how we need to do more to protect our lands and oceans, help wildlife, and minimise air and waste ... » Read More

08/05/2019 Correct lubrication = longevity Industrial equipment can fail because of inadequate lubrication maintenance and incorrect lubrication. Getting it right, first time, every time, is therefore vital » Read More

08/05/2019 Asking AI about lube The complex chore of choosing the right lubrication is getting easier. With artificial intelligence (AI), a new generation of online, smart and mobile platforms could smooth the path to efficient lube procurement » Read More

08/05/2019 A clean start A spotless, well-maintained HVAC system not only reduces overheads, but also conserves natural resources by reducing energy and water consumption » Read More

08/05/2019 Cool pollution solution The transition to new refrigerants is being driven by environmental impact, energy efficiency, safety and cost effectiveness, as well as legislative pressure. R32 refrigerant is set to become a huge part of the future in air conditioning ... » Read More

08/05/2019 Tapping into nature A Queen’s Quay regeneration project in Clydebank is set to be the site of one of the UK’s most exciting energy projects, creating Scotland’s first large-scale water source heat pump scheme to connect to a district heating network » Read More

08/05/2019 Go with the flow The new Advanced Multiphase Facility will provide cutting-edge facilities necessary to address the technical challenges of extreme subsea operating conditions. The facility is a pressurised, closed loop flow circuit that offers a range of ... » Read More

08/05/2019 Energy cycle Turbo-compounding uses a turbine to recover energy from the exhaust gases of a piston engine, and supplies this additional energy to the engine’s output shaft. It is, in effect, a form of combined cycle power, with a piston engine ... » Read More

04/04/2019 They came… They thaw… They conquered Engineers and scientists have taken industry standard equipment to Antarctica and used a hot water drill to break through the ice. From there, a string of instruments has been used to understand ice flow and history » Read More

04/04/2019 Comment: Head in the sand? A workshop from Make UK’s National Manufacturing Conference is profiled this month. Entitled ‘monetising your digital future’, the session gave speakers from across different manufacturing sectors a chance to talk about their own, very ... » Read More

04/04/2019 Hydrophonical Water supply utility Anglian Water has begun installing thousands of leak sensors across its network, as well as trialling a new kind of pressure sensor to stop a big cause of leaks; transient surges » Read More

04/04/2019 A nuclear approach to seismic sensing This article discusses the latest trends in seismic monitoring and protection systems for nuclear plants, including technologies adopted and current best practice driven by enhanced risk management demands » Read More

04/04/2019 Current advice Eddy current testing locates flaws in metal structures. But how does it work? » Read More

04/04/2019 A measure of success Developments among industrial system and component suppliers are changing the rules of inspection of fixed industrial assets: goodbye clipboard, hello tablet. OE offers an overview of how these systems work, their benefits and drawbacks, ... » Read More