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.

04/04/2019 Interview: AI for industrial inspection Artificial Intelligence for Industrial Inspection was the title, and subject, of a January conference organised by the Bristol Robotics Lab and the Centre for Modelling & Simulation. The latter’s AI domain specialist, Kiran Krishnamurthy, ... » Read More

04/04/2019 Changing operations 5G communications networks and the rules that govern their use are evolving to transform industrial operations » Read More

04/04/2019 Facing digital Make UK (formerly EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation) held its National Manufacturing Conference in February. A panel of speakers in one workshop spoke about their own, very different digital journeys, and warned delegates not to get ... » Read More

04/04/2019 Turning up the heat Heat networks and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) have gained in popularity, as legislators and developers recognise them as a way to meet energy reduction targets. However, technical and operational challenges, and user acceptance issues, ... » Read More

07/03/2019 Artful Apprentices National Apprenticeship Week, 4-8 March, shines a light on future technicians and engineers, and the courses, teachers and employers that prepare them for success. Here, apprentices across industry say their piece. » Read More

07/03/2019 Comment: Don’t bottle it A cross-industry consortium set up in January, Alliance to End Plastic Waste, aims to reduce the amount of waste plastic that ends up in the world’s oceans, as it harms aquatic life and aquatic environments. » Read More

07/03/2019 Brainy benches Intelligent assembly workbenches go beyond a printed manual to instruct operators on how to perform tasks step-by-step with context-based lighting, graphical displays and other cues. What benefits can this bring for operators and ... » Read More

07/03/2019 Wat-er decision An extraordinarily cost-effective project at a UK theme park, involving the fitment of modern variable-speed drive electronics to existing pump motors, has won supplier Central Group an industry award » Read More

07/03/2019 Pressure cooker A move towards renewables is vital if we want to stop burning fossil fuels. But the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy has been a stumbling block. Promoters of two fluid-compressor plant technologies claim to have the solution » Read More

07/03/2019 Printing up performance Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies offer a wide range of benefits for short run products, prototyping and high-end superalloy components. Now, having built a foothold in niche products, AM is set to break out of its traditional mould » Read More

07/03/2019 Where there’s smoke… Recently-published HSE guidance has set the first UK limits for workplace exposure of nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen monoxide, as well as lowering the carbon monoxide value: that means that employers whose workers come into contact to ... » Read More

07/03/2019 Dust busting Exposure to dust and other particles can result in breathing and lung problems. Luckily there are different solutions available to employers and employees to reduce dust intake, and campaigns looking to shake things up » Read More

07/03/2019 Improvement works Following a pumping station pollution incident that led to a fine, Thames Water has made a series of improvement changes involving personnel, maintenance and data management » Read More

07/03/2019 Getting the shakes Vibration signals can identify the condition of a machine’s balance, lubrication, bearings and gears » Read More

07/03/2019 ComVac Show Preview ComVac, the trade fair for compressed air and vaccum technology, is being held in halls 25 and 26 from 1-5 April. See also: www.is.gd/asotur » Read More

05/02/2019 The wonders of waste United Utilities’ £200 million investment at its Davyhulme wastewater treatment works in greater Manchester has put the site right at the forefront when it comes to sewage treatment » Read More

05/02/2019 Comment: Monster of the deep A ‘monster’ fatberg, longer than six double-decker buses, has been found in Devon. South West Water says it’s the largest mass of oil, grease and wet wipes discovered in its service history. » Read More

05/02/2019 A matter of manganese Filtering out the naturally-occurring mineral from potable water in the North East is a new 37.3Mld pressure filtration plant » Read More

05/02/2019 Gas Train The Industrial Gas Operations Accreditation Scheme, designed to provide an independent determination of competence for those working on large-scale gas installations, is two years old. How is it faring? » Read More

05/02/2019 Raising the game Many commercial and industrial processes present widely variable or even intermittent demands for steam. Operations engineers looking to reduce costs and improve efficiency, whilst keeping emissions to a minimum, are turning to the ... » Read More

05/02/2019 Fuel for thought Liquefied natural gas is a relatively new fuel that is available to off-grid consumers. What benefits can this alternative to oil-based energy bring to site? » Read More

05/02/2019 Cleaning up Leaks and uncontrolled releases of diesel can have major impacts on nature and the environment if they aren’t dealt with properly. Luckily there are different measures, products and services available for operators and businesses in ... » Read More

05/02/2019 At sea Oil spills in the offshore oil and gas industry were put under the Health and Safety Executive’s spotlight over the past year » Read More

05/02/2019 Low-cost VOC sensors Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) perform many vital roles as fuels, solvents, feedstock and sterilants, to name a few. Monitoring their concentration is essential because of the potential health and safety risk that they pose. Alternative ... » Read More

05/02/2019 Infrared vessel inspection whatever the scale Thermal imaging is proving to be a quick and easy way of monitoring the integrity and content level of storage tanks. And now there are several infrared technologies that can be employed to sense particular gases, such as VOCs » Read More