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.

04/01/2019 Bright sparks Skanska and Volvo Construction Equipment have been testing the viability of an ‘electric site’ at a quarry near Gothenburg, Sweden. The results are in... » Read More

04/01/2019 Comment: Site to factory Volvo and Skanska’s project to electrify and automate operations in a Swedish quarry is profiled this month. It’s not the first such project for Volvo, which has tested self-driving mine trucks in Norway and South Africa, at least. This ... » Read More

04/01/2019 Brammer signals service focus with Midlands opening Operating 47 branches around the UK, industrial supply house Brammer, Buck and Hickman (BBH) supplies 500,000 parts a year from a catalogue amounting to 5.5 million items. It has opened the first of three new service centres launching over ... » Read More

04/01/2019 Searching for solid ground Performing service and maintenance tasks off-site need not be unsafe. But because risks could be less controlled than in a plant environment, engineers need to take care, and be particularly alert for changing situations » Read More

04/01/2019 ProMOTEed Changes have been made to the MOT, which have impacted on plant operators more than any other sector » Read More

04/01/2019 Sonic boom Ultrasound detectors empower users to track down and repair compressed air leaks. They also deliver the means to predict failures, control energy costs and improve product quality » Read More

04/01/2019 Tight rope Magnetic rope testing is a non-destructive testing method for wire ropes, a vital component on many types of lifting equipment.How does such technology work, and how does it fit into an inspection regime? » Read More

04/01/2019 Exposed to vibration Workers that frequently use hand-held power tools can become exposed to hand-arm vibration. However, this potentially disabling problem can be reduced and eliminated through different ways of working » Read More

04/01/2019 A defining moment A working group behind a ‘plant mechanic’ trailblazer apprenticeship submission seeks approval from the Institute for Apprenticeships » Read More

04/01/2019 Sensing Industry 4.0 Industry 4.0 promises improved performance and enhanced maintenance activities, but many companies are often unsure of where to start. Mike Lomax, electrification manager at Bosch Rexroth, spoke at the Maintec show at the NEC in November ... » Read More

05/12/2018 A cut above The Brent oil and gas field operation is all but over after 40 years. Now the first of its 24,200 tonne ‘topsides’ platforms is in the process of being dismantled, with components recycled, reused and disposed of in a highly complex ... » Read More

05/12/2018 Comment: Game on Video games promote violence and fuel obesity among our young people. That is the message we often hear, but now new research from the University of Surrey claims girls who play video games are more likely to choose physical science, ... » Read More

05/12/2018 Legal Update (December 2018) This page is brought to you by national law firm Weightmans » Read More

05/12/2018 Saving lives In a unique collaboration, a mining equipment manufacturer worked with a charity to adapt its rock crusher technology for destroying elusive land mines in Zimbabwe » Read More

05/12/2018 Signs of safety - quiz answers Health and safety signs are common throughout many sectors. The December magazine issue of Operations Engineer tasked readers with identifying some of these different signs through a health and safety quiz. Below are the answers. » Read More

05/12/2018 Statement of truth Method statements outline the hazards involved in a task and include a step-by-step guide on how to do the job safely. Yet there often remains confusion about their true purpose » Read More

05/12/2018 Immersed in technology Augmented and virtual reality are not new to industry, but a recent report from Capgemini has highlighted that repair and maintenance are the most popular focus of implementation efforts. In what ways can this technology aid workers in ... » Read More

05/12/2018 On the edge of tomorrow Sensors mounted in and around lift components provide data that can give early warning of potential problems. This speeds up the process of diagnosis and repair, helping to improve reliability and minimise downtime » Read More

05/12/2018 Avoiding landfill Plant items are often disposed of before reaching the end of their operational life. However, alternatives to disposal are emerging – not only selling on, but also repurposing – which help the environment as well as support community ... » Read More

05/12/2018 Load and behold Automated truck loading machines can be used as alternatives to forklift trucks and pallet trucks. How does this machinery work, and what installation and training requirements are needed? » Read More

02/11/2018 Making obsolescence obsolete 3D printing offers the opportunity to make parts when they are needed – anywhere in the world – provided a digital model is available. Might this provide a way to duplicate parts that are no longer available to buy? » Read More

02/11/2018 Comment: Welcome Gardeners treat autumn as the start of the new growing season; a time for clearing out, cleaning up and digging the ground in preparation for spring. So it is for this magazine; while the leaves of Plant Engineer magazine have now gone, a ... » Read More

02/11/2018 Ladder to success Working at height is one of the main causes of industrial fatalities, so using the right access equipment is imperative. What are the most important considerations to be made when choosing, and using, a ladder for access or work at height? » Read More

02/11/2018 Legal update (November 2018) This page is brought to you by national law firm Weightmans » Read More

02/11/2018 Oil circuit power check Servicing plant machinery or vehicles with hydraulic equipment is a job often overlooked. With the help of leading brands in excavators, truck-mounted cranes, lifting gear and body hoists, we present a guide to inspection, care and ... » Read More