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.

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

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