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.

09/01/2025 Transforming critical facilities: Unlock continuous improvement and operational ... Facilities management brings distinct challenges to healthcare. While some of these are shared with non-critical environments, there is added pressure for hospitals, patient care services, and life sciences labs to prioritise safety and ... » Read More

09/01/2025 Total recall A tech entrepreneur tells Louise Davis how his firm is bringing training out of the classroom and into the virtual world in a bid to deliver engaged engineers who remember what they have been taught » Read More

09/01/2025 Sustainable Pathway A new generation of semiconductors will radically reduce carbon footprint, according to photonics expert Antanas Laurutis, CEO of Altechna, a company specialising in custom laser optics and opto-mechanical assemblies for high-power laser ... » Read More

09/01/2025 Deterring corrosion with FRP Strainers constructed of fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) are designed to resist corrosion at a fraction of the cost of special stainless steels » Read More

09/01/2025 Intelligent motion control Specifying an embedded motion control system for gantry-based applications. Gerard Bush, engineer at motion specialist INMOCO, discusses motion system specification for gantry-based applications » Read More

09/12/2024 Rise of the robots Robotic systems are proving critical in the nuclear sector for challenging decommissioning and disposal applications. Louise Davis speaks to a technical expert about how this technology is evolving and what advantages robots are bringing ... » Read More

09/12/2024 Critical communications The CEO of a firm that specialises in mobile communications devices for hazardous areas, tells Louise Davis that although the role of communications in plant safety has begun to be prioritised, more work is needed to educate plant managers ... » Read More

09/12/2024 Lifting standards and reducing costs Improved forklift safety, lower running costs and reduced downtime are among the many benefits that lift truck operator training will bring to a business, explains Nick Faulkner, training manager of Toyota Material Handling UK » Read More

09/12/2024 A celebration of safety and resilience The Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) Safety and Resilience Engineering Awards 2024 took place on 17 October at the Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum. The event celebrated safety and resilience across the engineering landscape » Read More

09/12/2024 Comment: Academics over experience For many years now, the Test, Inspection and Certification (TIC) sector has experienced challenges associated with recruitment. Finding the right person with the appropriate amount of relevant experience and the appropriate academic ... » Read More

09/12/2024 Expert support as a service for plant facilities management Ongoing services bring dedicated expertise to engineering teams of all sizes, and facilities of all shapes. » Read More

05/12/2024 Towering achievement The only way to the top of the Elizabeth Tower (home to Big Ben) was up 334 narrow, ancient steps from street level. The installation of two lifts as part of a major restoration project has proved transformational. Brian Wall investigates » Read More

05/12/2024 Noise protection Machinery manufacturers are legally required to provide information about the noise emissions if machines exceed certain levels. Darren Hugheston-Roberts, senior manager for digital & industry solutions at TÜV SÜD – a leading expert in ... » Read More

05/12/2024 Enhancing efficiency Tom Austin-Morgan looks at some of the ways in which warehouses can be run more efficiently in a modern climate, where working at peak speed while delivering value is imperative » Read More

05/12/2024 Delivering efficiency Sustainable and energy-efficient technologies are what every industry is looking for. An opportunity lies in delivering HVAC efficiency with permanent magnet motors, according to drive systems firm Nidec Drives » Read More

07/11/2024 Final rusting place Tackling the costly issue of corrosion is an ongoing headache for plant managers in many industries. Louise Davis meets the specialists at a coatings expert whose aim is to empower the industry in its efforts to conquer corrosion » Read More

07/11/2024 GAP analysis With the industry facing a chronic shortage of skilled facilities engineers, the areas of talent attraction, training and upskilling have never been more important. Brian Wall checks out the current state of play and what solutions or ... » Read More

07/11/2024 Small but mighty Components such as bearings, belts and fans are no less critical to engineering operations than the giant bits of equipment they keep running. And innovation here is continuous: Louise Davis finds out what’s new in moving parts » Read More

07/11/2024 A centre of sustainability A novel sensor system has been developed to help data centres optimise the energy efficiency and sustainability of their operations. Anu Kätkä, product manager at measurement technology company Vaisala describes the technology, which has ... » Read More

07/11/2024 Comment: Community and congratulations It was a pleasure, a couple of months ago, to provide the keynote speech at the SOE event “Navigating Engineering” at the SOE offices in London. The event followed on from the “Pathways to Progress” initiative designed to provide guidance ... » Read More

07/11/2024 Proper preparation In the world of production, time is money and maximising efficiency is key. Tom Austin-Morgan looks at the best ways to undergo plant upgrades and minimising downtime when making repairs to essential equipment in the workplace » Read More

07/11/2024 Stay in control In industrial facilities, electric motors drive everything from conveyor belts to fans and compressors. Now, with the cost of energy rising, manufacturers are trying to find new ways to reduce consumption – and motors are in the spotlight. ... » Read More

07/11/2024 Take the time to transition Solving critical infrastructure challenges to meet the ever-changing industrial landscape requires a great deal of effort. However, the payoff of all of the hard work is an operation that ensures longevity, availability and reliability ... » Read More

07/11/2024 Made to measure In PCB manufacturing, smart displacement sensors can be used in pick-and-place machines, where they perform reliable quality inspection at micrometer accuracies. The sensors can also inspect the position of integrated components and ... » Read More

02/10/2024 A show of strength The predictive maintenance market is bulking up at a rapid rate, driven by the rising adoption of increasingly powerful emerging technologies. Brian Wall investigates the sector and finds out what the future might hold » Read More