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.

10/08/2010 High viscosity pharmaceutical pumping solved at Aeropak Aeropak (Chemical Products) in at Great Yarmouth reports success with three MasoSine sanitary pumps, mixing mainly aqueous and oil-based medicines, such as moisturising creams. » Read More

10/08/2010 Shampoo manufacturer doubles capacity with impeller mixing upgrade By upgrading the agitator assembly in an existing two-tonne process vessel, shampoo processor Herb UK reckons it will see a return on its investment in less than eight months. » Read More

10/08/2010 Don’t be misled by IP ratings, warns Schneider Electric A lack of understanding of IP ratings is leading to inappropriate specification of enclosures, according to Schneider Electric. » Read More

10/08/2010 Novel torque sensors aid tidal turbine development Novel non-contact torque sensors are playing an interesting part in the development of commercial-scale in tidal turbines, being built by Irish marine technology firm, OpenHydro. » Read More

10/08/2010 Alighting on lighting Equipment for illumination, both internal and external, is not standing still. Brian Tinham sheds some light on the technologies and their application » Read More

10/08/2010 Energy Event Energy efficiency and energy saving are right up there on plant engineers' agendas. Brian Wall previews the forthcoming Energy Event 2010 conference and exhibition » Read More

10/08/2010 Looking for trouble Diagnosing problems in rotating machinery well before anything has a chance to break makes a whole lot of sense. Dr Tom Shelley reports on the range of technological making a difference » Read More

10/08/2010 Comfort zone Protecting plant employees with state-of-the-art equipment and clothing is both the goal and bane of plant management, as Brian Wall reports » Read More

10/08/2010 Uplifting engineering Modern lifts are taking advantage of recent electronic and electromechanical technology advances to improve efficiency and cut emissions. Brian Tinham examines the background » Read More

10/08/2010 Cut your carbon Modern electromechanical technology can help plant engineers to reduce the environmental impact of their operations, says Phil Burge » Read More

10/08/2010 Making sustainability pay Following last year's launch of sustainability guidelines by the Engineering Council, Steed Webzell takes a look at today's key issues and responsibilities » Read More

10/08/2010 Embracing efficiency The technologies behind electric motors and variable speed drives are revolutionising plant efficiency and emissions. Brian Tinham looks under the covers » Read More

10/08/2010 The cost of complacency If there is one lesson that emerges in the wake of last month's conclusion to the 2005 Buncefield disaster prosecution, it surely is the importance of vigilance. And that applies to all plants, not just to those in the chemicals, oil and ... » Read More

07/06/2010 Manifolds cut time and cost of dp level installation by 85% A highly integrated manifold concept is offering plant engineers a radically simpler means of installing level measurement instrumentation to process tanks and vessels. » Read More

07/06/2010 Drives help power plant produce more electricity Västerås, Sweden-based power and district heating provider Mälarenergi, says it has increased the amount of energy it can sell by 35 GWh/year, following installation of medium voltage drives. » Read More

07/06/2010 Spherical plain bearings smooth Spanish solar generation plant More than 1,000 high precision plain bearing rod ends are enabling the efficient operation of the Andasol solar power plants in southern Spain, currently the largest parabolic trough solar power station in the world. » Read More

07/06/2010 Heraeus infrared helps Eurobond handle cold steel Carbon medium wave infra-red equipment is helping Eurobond to improve its adhesive processes for structural panel manufacture in cold weather. » Read More

07/06/2010 Peristaltic pump quenches brewery’s thirst for top quality Anheuser-Busch InBev UK's Magor Brewery, in Monmouthshire, South Wales, says it has installed six direct-coupled peristaltic hose pumps in place of previously failing piston pumps. » Read More

07/06/2010 Engineering the national interest So, with a new coalition government at the helm, what do our political masters (or is that now servants) have in store for the UK's future? And how exactly is that likely to stack up against the country's requirements, as identified ... » Read More

07/06/2010 Drives on the turn Variable speed drives have been a mainstay of plant engineering for many years, but the latest generation is changing the art of the possible. Brian Wall reports » Read More

07/06/2010 Zero tolerance Human nature dictates that issues around working at height and in confined spaces – accidents, deaths and outright negligence – will always be with us. Reality or defeatism? Brian Wall reports » Read More

07/06/2010 Regulating safety Plant engineers and managers bear a grave responsibility when it comes to health and safety. Brian Tinham examines what's available to help them do better » Read More

07/06/2010 Corporate manslaughter Ignorance of health and safety law is 'staggering', with only 10% fully aware, according to HSE figures. Brian Tinham looks at the risks » Read More

07/06/2010 Money for new energy Building energy strategies are changing thanks to the latest government incentives. Dr Tom Shelley reports » Read More

07/06/2010 Going with the flow Water treatment plants are facing increasing legislative and operational pressures Brian Tinham looks at some of their engineering solutions » Read More