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.

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 Power suits are out, Madonna is no longer on MTV and IBM’s first PC now looks extremely outdated.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

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