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.

16/01/2013 Human shield Keeping employees safe from workplace risks or hazards is a daily challenge for manufacturing employers. That's where personal protective equipment comes in, as Laura Cork reports. » Read More

16/01/2013 Power of convergence It's not that many years since industry was being pushed from pillar to post over the power of PLCs versus PCs, but all that has changed. » Read More

16/01/2013 Joined-up thinking Why waste the skills and first-hand knowledge of operators? Annie Gregory explores simpler strategies for involving them in asset care » Read More

06/12/2012 Fiddling while Rome burns As we rush headlong towards 2013, it is likely that, way ahead of Britain's obsession with industrial strategies, this year will be remembered for the ongoing Eurozone crisis, the West's struggle with recession, China's slowdown, president ... » Read More

06/12/2012 Leave well alone? It's both a strength and a weakness that boilers generally operate for years without problems. On the one hand, plant managers are happy, but on the other, no one knows how much better they could be doing. Brian Tinham reports » Read More

06/12/2012 In the driving seat Motors, drives and controls have been advancing fast, with a goal of improving plant operations, energy efficiency and the bottom line. Steed Webzell explores new systems, emerging best practice and top tips » Read More

06/12/2012 Fuel from air Following a flurry of news reporting the apparent achievement of practical fuel from air plant, Brian Tinham talks to the developers about the present and the future » Read More

06/12/2012 Liquid assets Water and waste treatment plants are among the oldest around anywhere, but don't imagine they're bereft of developments. Brian Tinham reports » Read More

06/12/2012 Taming the beast With applications for industrial compressors expanding, their demand for energy has reached unnecessarily dizzying levels. Brian Tinham and Brian Wall looks at how to put the beast back in its cage » Read More

06/12/2012 Get your bearings Selecting the right bearings for plant and equipment is a nicety that plant engineers under pressure often sidestep in favour of personal preference. Steed Webzell provides advice » Read More

06/12/2012 Making MRO matter Surprising as it may seem, some plants and factories may be expending too much of their maintenance effort in the wrong direction. Brian Wall reports » Read More

06/12/2012 Synchronous savings Synchronous motors offer the potential for significant energy savings in high power, heavy load applications. Brian Tinham talks to Marek Lukaszczyk, of Weg, about the pros and cons » Read More

05/10/2012 Absorbing practice Staying on the right side of the law might mean paying more attention to absorbents, spill kits and the professional services around them to prevent problems. Brian Wall reports » Read More

05/10/2012 NSK’s L-PPS bearings solve heat-induced failures problems NSK's L-PPS bearing cage technology has improved long-term performance and cost for an unnamed manufacturer of screw compressors in the refrigerant sector, according to the company. » Read More

05/10/2012 Steel-maker set to save £68,000 on pumping energy costs with ABB drives Tata Steel in Rotherham is set to save £68,000 a year on energy costs associated with pumping, following installation of five ABB motor drives. » Read More

05/10/2012 Automation opens doors on Seventh Century Cathedral Using a motor from Rotor UK, design engineers from Drive Lines Technologies have developed a discrete and sensitive solution to motorising a huge medieval door at Ripon Cathedral in North Yorkshire. » Read More

05/10/2012 Thwaites green upgrade is picture of efficiency Yellow dump truck manufacturer Thwaites' paint line has been refurbished – and improved its efficiency and environmental sustainability on the way. » Read More

05/10/2012 Laundry saves £30,000 thanks to flash steam recovery Commercial laundry Bates of London is reporting savings of tens of thousands of pounds in energy since installing FREME (flash recovery energy management equipment) plant, from Spirax Sarco. » Read More

05/10/2012 Hidden assassins Every year, thousands of people in Great Britain develop occupational asthma or die of lung diseases, because of airborne contaminants they inhale at work. Brian Wall reports » Read More

05/10/2012 So much more Intelligent instruments have been with us for years, but although many more plants are installing them, they're still missing some important tricks, says Brian Tinham » Read More

05/10/2012 Pressure on pumping Pump designs may be evolving only slowly, but that's far from the whole story. Brian Tinham examines developments and some cautionary tales around selection and installation » Read More

05/10/2012 Lifting the bar Case law demonstrates that courts are taking an increasingly tough line with lifting-related accidents, if companies and plant managers cannot prove due process, writes Crispin Kenyon » Read More

05/10/2012 Buyer’s market Try before you buy can make a lot of sense in all sorts of situations. But there are plenty of others where the shrewd option might well be plant hire. Brian Wall reports » Read More

05/10/2012 Academics to engineers Building up individuals' plant engineering skills is always rewarding, but for one training company that took on Nigeria, the experience has been mega. Brian Tinham reports » Read More

05/10/2012 Keep things fluid Innovation is continuing apace in the worlds of fluid power. Steed Webzell examines some of the developments most likely to be in demand » Read More