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.

02/07/2018 IoT in energy Utility and energy companies are keen to advance towards Internet of Things solutions, research shows. However, there are also some key challenges that need to be faced, as Adam Offord reports » Read More

01/07/2018 When increased profit is a chain reaction The performance of existing plant and machinery can sometimes be markedly improved by the simplest of modifications, such as retrofitting a better quality transmission chain » Read More

30/06/2018 Driving forward Forklift truck manufacturer Combilift has opened its brand-new global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ireland. (NOTE: This article was originally printed in Manufacturing Management magazine) » Read More

30/04/2018 Minimising yaw brake noise Maintenance of wind turbine generators (WTGs) aims to sustain efficiency levels and ensure continued reliability, while also dealing with any other concerns that may be raised, as Mark Venables discovers » Read More

30/04/2018 Reaping the benefits Released at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2018, the ‘Readiness for the Future of Production’ report highlights Britain as one of 25 countries in a positive position to benefit from Industry 4.0, but is the plant engineering community ... » Read More

30/04/2018 On the right side of the law Understanding the current energy legislation and, more importantly, realising business benefit from it, is more important than ever before. Ashley Phillips, director of Ørsted UK, explains more » Read More

30/04/2018 Proper tipper maintenance to avoid liability It is possible to avoid the pitfalls of tipper maintenance and protect your fleet with a few simple steps, as Mark Venables explains » Read More

30/04/2018 Keeping the ball rolling Plant Engineer explores how to keep the ball rolling when standard bearing lubrication lets you down. » Read More

30/04/2018 Plant protectors Facilities managers look after buildings, but how can they mitigate the likelihood of a terrorist attack? Adam Offord examines guidance from the British Institute of Facilities Management » Read More

30/04/2018 Data-driven MRO Maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) items are used in production and plant maintenance, and include maintenance supplies, spare parts and consumables used in the production process. But, as Mark Venables explains, in the drive towards ... » Read More

30/04/2018 Meeting energy-efficiency expectations Using a digital twin can help manage energy efficiency across sectors, as Mark Venables reveals. » Read More

28/02/2018 What to consider when cleaning parts Every industry, from industrial to commercial, requires parts cleaning. The question for many facility managers is, however, is there a right way to clean parts? Well the answer is yes and, by choosing the right parts cleaning machine and ... » Read More

28/02/2018 High-temperature control for exhaust analysis The control of emissions from combustion engines has made several headlines in the past, bringing the subject to the fore on a number of occasions. » Read More

28/02/2018 Five questions you should ask before you invest in an economiser Economisers have the potential to slash the energy and environmental costs from boilers. However, the way economisers are designed and manufactured plays a major role in determining to what extent they can lower a boiler’s energy ... » Read More

28/02/2018 Putting the focus on energy The development of an energy efficiency programme has many direct and indirect benefits. It can significantly reduce a manufacturer’s energy use per unit of output, and thus the unit costs to ensure persistent profitability, and it can ... » Read More

28/02/2018 Spring cleaning Keeping machinery and work areas clean and tidy can often be seen as a chore by already busy workers. However, as Chris Beck discovers, the benefits of a good cleaning regime are wide-reaching » Read More

28/02/2018 Putting safety first Mark Venables looks at the potential hazards involved in compressed air use and asks how aware is industry of the preventive measures that can be taken, the current pressure regulations and the legal obligations of compliance » Read More

28/02/2018 Training to be the best Plant Engineer looks at what an employer can aim to achieve and how this can help other companies » Read More

28/02/2018 Transforming the engineering talent pipeline To get closer to the challenges and potential talent management solutions faced by clients, business management consultants Kiddy & Partners developed a white paper on ‘Transforming Engineering Talent Pipelines’. We caught up with Dr Zara ... » Read More

10/01/2018 The difference between rupture disc and buckling pin relief valves Buckling Pin Relief Valves (BPRVs) and rupture discs both have a similar primary function. They are used to protect against the over-pressurisation of a range of applications. Information from ASME VIII Division I suggests the two are ... » Read More

28/12/2017 Will new emissions legislation catch plant engineers unawares? The Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD) is due to be incorporated into UK law in December 2017. Unfortunately, there is currently a deafening silence from the industry over what this will mean for engineers. » Read More

28/12/2017 Hindering hackers Research suggests that companies, including manufacturers, acknowledge cyber threats are a risk to their business, but many are unprepared. Adam Offord asks what steps UK manufacturers can take to improve their cyber security and mitigate ... » Read More

28/12/2017 Safeguarding palletisers in the workplace Palletisers are some of the most widespread machine types in manufacturing and serious injuries occur on them each year. Paul Taylor, manager for machinery safety at TÜV SÜD Product Service, explains how to ensure their safe operation. » Read More

28/12/2017 The future of maintenance Mark Venables looks at the role of the maintenance engineer in the factory of the future » Read More

28/12/2017 CHP – an efficient, cost-effective solution With plant and factory operational costs rising, owners and operators are keen to identify efficiencies that save money without impacting performance. With this in mind, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technology can be an attractive ... » Read More