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.

02/11/2018 Past, present and future Verity Davidge, head of education and skills policy at manufacturers’ organisation EEF, speaks about the current skills situation in maintenance-related occupations, and what the future may hold » Read More

02/11/2018 Driven round the bend While the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, conveyor systems must sometimes adapt to plant facility and operational constraints, which means changes in level and direction. We set out the fundamentals of conveyor ... » Read More

02/11/2018 Smarter CM Condition monitoring (CM) of bearings goes back to the birth of rotating machinery. But the rise of low cost digital sensors, the industrial internet and cloud computing has launched condition monitoring into a whole new era of ... » Read More

17/10/2018 Fire safety – after Grenfell In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, building inspectors and engineering surveyors must now assess the degree of fire protection in similar buildings. Brian Wall asks: Without adequate blueprints or records to fall back on, how are ... » Read More

17/10/2018 Show preview: Maintec 2018 set to return When? 10:00–16:00 on 6 & 7 November 2018 | Where? National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham, B40 1NT » Read More

17/10/2018 Let’s talk tyres Tyres on all modes of transport can become subject to wear and tear – even rider-operated forklift trucks. Adam Offord discovers what issues poor tyres can create and what operators and engineers need to be looking out for » Read More

17/10/2018 Colliding with fatbergs in FOG Technical guidance about the sizing and use of industrial grease traps is needed to combat the modern fatberg epidemic, according to a new industry association. Penny Hitchin dives in » Read More

17/10/2018 Tackling asbestos The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) has launched a Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management (FAAM). Adam Offord speaks to Colette Willoughby, director at Asbestos Compliance, BOHS principal examiner for asbestos, and FAAM ... » Read More

17/10/2018 Rise of the drones Recent research by PwC estimates that there will be more than 76,000 drones in use across the UK skies by 2030. What role can this technology play in industrial maintenance? Adam Offord investigates » Read More

17/10/2018 Playing it cool Global warming is a clear and present danger to the planet, but there are ways for engineers to help reduce its impact. Ian Vallely explains » Read More

17/10/2018 Now you see me High-visibility clothing has become an essential part of work in and around industrial environments and vehicles. Adam Offord explores the legal basis, performance standards and properties of the much-used personal protective equipment » Read More

17/10/2018 Staying skilled All forms of engineering require precision. Technological advancements are aiding employees with their measurement work, but learning and retaining practical measurement skills is also a must, as Adam Offord discovers » Read More

16/10/2018 Arc-breaker on the way New recommendations to install Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) in final AC circuits are aimed at cutting the chances of an electrical fi re in higher-risk locations. It’s early days, but the benefits of installing AFDDs are already ... » Read More

21/08/2018 Improving safety through connectivity in gas detection Honeywell explains how introducing a greater level of connectivity into gas detection can help optimise safety and improve productivity » Read More

21/08/2018 PMS motors deliver cost-effective and greener wastewater treatment The treatment of water and wastewater is an essential task to protect water resources and reduce our impact on the environment. However, the energy consumed in carrying out such treatment processes also have an impact on the environment; ... » Read More

21/08/2018 Getting smart Mark Venables speaks to Conal Brown, technical consultant at ABB, about how being smart allows maintenance of machinery to be carried out in a cheaper, faster and more effective way to enhance the bottom line » Read More

21/08/2018 Why monitor dust in the workplace? Airborne particulates in any industrial operation can have serious health effects for workers, making effective monitoring a vital tool, as Mark Venables discovers » Read More

21/08/2018 Signs of danger Oil & Gas UK held its Safety 30 conference in June to mark three decades since the Piper Alpha disaster. Lord Cullen, who conducted the inquiry into the tragedy, used the conference to illustrate how ‘signs of danger’ need to be recognised ... » Read More

21/08/2018 A new approach to SCADA Times have changed since the 1980s, says Tobias Antius, CEO of Novotek. Power suits are out, Madonna is no longer on MTV and IBM’s first PC now looks extremely outdated. So shouldn’t SCADA have developed, too? » Read More

21/08/2018 Catching up with the hype Since the phrase ‘Industry 4.0’ appeared at Hannover Fair in 2011, it has been on the lips of manufacturing managers and politicians – but is it now finally coming of age? Mark Venables investigates » Read More

02/07/2018 The challenges of maintaining the leading edge Daniel Petherbridge, technical service engineer at Belzona Polymerics, looks at the challenges of repairing and protecting wind turbine blades’ leading edges » Read More

02/07/2018 Improving gas turbine reliability Plant Engineer looks at the options for overhaul, repair and reliability improvement for the popular 501F gas turbine » Read More

02/07/2018 Developing an effective lubrication strategy It is predicted that the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) would eventually lead to the end of unplanned downtime in factories. While we’ve not yet reached this point, plant managers can improve their maintenance systems by following ... » Read More

02/07/2018 End game for maintenance Disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics are pushing maintenance into a digital future, as Mark Venables explains » Read More

02/07/2018 The maintenance dilemma For manufacturers, there are tough decisions to make about how much effort is required to maintain a plant of product at a level where breakdowns will be rare enough to ensure volume targets are met, as Mark Venables discovers » Read More